Page 1 of Trouble for the Mountain Man

Chapter 1

Hazel

Just go knock on the door, dummy.

I sit there in my car tapping my fingers on the wheel. It’s a big house. A nice front porch. If he happened to look out the window he would see me sitting in the car having my mild panic attack.

I’m not a dating app kind of girl. I’m not adatingkind of girl. I’m the one at a party sitting in the corner reading a book. I’m the girl who thought she had a boyfriend until she found out he was only using me to get close to my sister!

My fingers stop tapping and instead ball into fists so tight my nails press hard into my skin.

But still I don’t move. This is the scariest thing I have ever done in my whole life. I’m not a do-er. I don’t do anything. When I was young I had dreams of traveling the world but, well, they were just childish dreams. I don’t do anything. I don’t go anywhere.

But I came here.

I look over to the house. It stands alone, surrounded by trees, no neighbours for miles. It was a scary thirty minute drive through the rain. Uphill all the way. Up the mountain towards the unknown.

And now I’m here, with no idea what is waiting for me inside that house.

Well, that’s not quite true. I’ve seen his picture. Talked to him online. I’ve never been on a dating app but when the girls at work signed me up on the Mountain Mates website I just thought it was funny. When I got a message I had matched and there was a message waiting for me I couldn’t help but take a look.

Aidan Dare.

Scientist.

Likes reading, research, cooking and nights in front of the fireplace.

Describes himself as boring and cares about the environment.

I had responded to his first email just out of interest. We had talked about books and I had been thrilled he liked the same books that I do. He seemed nice and I liked his picture but I didn’t read too much into it until my life fell apart.

A wave of fresh anger rushes through me. Giving me the motivation I need to get out of the car. It’s mid morning but the clouds are dark and the rain is heavy. And cold. But I haul my suitcase down a little pathway towards the front door.

This will be fine!

This is the new me.

All my life I have wished I could be someone who goes after what they want. I’m not really even going after what I want now. More running away from what I don’t want.

According to his profile, Aidan is a nice, quiet scientist. We can sit around and read books and roast marshmallows. Hewasn’t very sexual or suggestive in his messages and that is perfect for me. A nice, sensible relationship. If nothing else, this is my first ever holiday. An escape from all the drama in my life. What could possibly go wrong?

Chapter 2

Aidan

“You didwhat?” I fix my sister with my darkest frown.

She dances from foot to foot, wringing her hands as the words fall out.

“I worry about you up there all alone. I just thought it was a great idea. When I heard about this Mountain Mates dating website, I signed you up. And you matched with this really nice girl... And, well, I was going to tell you straight away but it turns out we were reading the same book and so we got talking.”

“Kia.” It comes out as a growl. I’m sick of my sister trying to set me up, but talking on a website with some stranger? “It could be some crazy nutjob.”

“No, no, she’s so nice. Her name is Hazel and she is pretty and she works in a museum.”

I finish loading up my supplies into the back of my truck. We are on the street in front of the general store and Kia should be getting herself home before the wind picks up.

“I’m not going to talk to some girl I don’t know on a website.” My tone indicates that is the end of the conversation.

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