Page 2 of Marrying the Mountain Man

A hush wrapped around us; the bar crowd seemed enthralled. My heart sank. This was about the worst possible outcome. My big city confidence, so solid in corporate boardrooms, faltered under the weight of instant social humiliation.

“Levi,” I repeated, quieter, “you texted me. We met on the app, remember? Mountain Mates? You said you had a cabin; you sent me a key…” In a near-frenzied motion, I dug through my pocket, producing the small metal key for him to see. “I literally have a moving truck outside with all our stuff. You said you’d help unload it. You said…” My voice cracked. “You said you looked forward to meeting the boys. That you wanted us. Here. With you.”

Across from me, Levi’s gaze bounced from the key to my children, then back to my face. His shoulders tensed as though bracing for an avalanche. “A key to my place?” he echoed. “I…definitely didn’t send any key. I…” He suddenly stopped, cursing under his breath. “Oh my god. Tessa. My sister. She must’ve…” He pressed the heel of his palm to his forehead. “Fuck, this is insane.” His eyes landed again on the boys. “Oops, sorry.”

Connor rolled his eyes. “We’ve heard the F word before, mister. We’re eight, after all.

I stared at Levi, my throat tight. “So you’re telling me you never wrote me any messages?” My brain reeled at the thought of an entire conversation with a man who wasn’t actually him.

Levi exhaled a short, pained breath. “I run Skyline and handle supply runs. I barely have time to check email, let alone chat with someone about adopting kids.” His tone carried equal parts regret and frustration. “My sister’s been on some crusade to fix my single status. I guess she…took it too far.”

Hollow disbelief rippled through me. This had to be a bizarre prank. Yet the sincerity in his eyes said otherwise. “But you said…she typed…you were excited to be a father figure, that you wanted the pitter-patter of little feet in your life.” My lips trembled, bitterness coating each syllable. “I quit my job, Levi. I gave up my place in the city. We came here because I believed you.”

His jaw clenched, and for a moment I caught a flicker of sympathy softening the lines of his rugged features. “I’m sorry,” he said, voice low. “I had no clue Tessa was impersonating me on that app. But if you came all this way expecting…well, I definitely didn’t ask for…” He gestured to Connor and Cody, who were now squabbling in hushed tones about how weird this fiasco had become. “I’m not about to throw you in the street. Just…just let me think for a second.”

I swallowed the sting in my throat, glancing back at the table of curious patrons. “Could we maybe…talk outside? I don’t love having an audience for my meltdown.” Because that was exactly what this was: a meltdown in slow motion.

Levi nodded rapidly. “Yeah, sure, outside.” He half turned, addressing the bar. “Be right back, guys,” he called, in a tone that dared them to comment further. A few folks winked or raised drinks in aWe’ll be waitinggesture. I could’ve died on the spot from embarrassment.

I herded the twins out the door, ignoring their continual commentary about “What a weird first impression.” The cold slapped my cheeks once more, and I shivered despite my puffy coat. Levi followed, a swirl of snow gusting around his boots. My gaze flicked to them—scuffed, well-worn leather, matching a pair of muscular legs that tapered into narrow hips and a broad chest. He was distractingly good-looking, even if he was basically a stranger.

He pulled his flannel tighter against the chill. For a split second, I noticed the lines of his biceps under that shirt. My stomach fluttered, cursedly aware that, had things gone right, I might’ve been leaping into those arms. Instead, I faced the raw truth that his sister’s manipulations had led us all here.

Cody pressed into my side, trying to avoid the wind. Connor toed a patch of ice, scowling. Levi looked at them with an unreadable expression—maybe guilt, maybe pity.

“Look,” he began softly. “I’m sorry Tessa did this. She’s been on a get Levi a wife mission since…well, for a while. I never thought she’d go as far as forging messages or mailing keys. If I had known, I’d have stopped her.”

“But you didn’t know,” I said flatly. “So…what happens now?” My chest felt like it might implode. We had a truck full of boxes, a driver I’d promised it would be a quick unload, and two kids who’d pinned their hopes on a man who apparently wanted none of it. “I can’t just magically get our old life back. Everything’s gone.”

Levi raked a hand through his sandy-brown hair. Even in the gloom of evening, I could see flecks of gold in it like I’d seen beneath the lights of the bar.

“I…I get that and I’m not a heartless jerk. At least let me help you find a place to stay tonight. We don’t have many hotels here, but maybe there’s a bed-and-breakfast…”

Connor let out a sarcastic grunt. “Oh, goodie, a B&B. Exactly what we wanted, right, Cody?”

Cody sniffed. “We were supposed to have our own rooms in a cabin…With a dad.”

Their words stabbed my heart, but they also flickered something protective in Levi’s gaze. He pressed his lips together. “I wasn’t prepared for visitors, but I do have a cabin—one bedroom plus a loft. It’s not fancy or child-proof, but it’s warm.” He paused, grimacing. “I can’t promise bunk beds or immediate fatherhood, but it’s a roof if you need one tonight.”

A wave of relief warred with my embarrassment. “You’d…let us stay with you, even though you never planned on us?”

He shrugged, color flushing his cheeks. “I’m not gonna toss a family out into the snow. I can talk to Tessa, figure out something more permanent. But for now, I guess the least I can do is honor her insane invitation.” His mouth quirked at the corner, like he was forcing a wry grin.

Connor narrowed his eyes. “You better not snore.”

Cody poked him. “Stop. Mom, are we seriously crashing at a random dude’s house? I mean, we just met him.”

Levi cleared his throat. “Anyway…your truck driver’s probably impatient. Let’s get them directions. There’s a narrow mountain road leading to my place, but I can guide them if we caravan.” He seemed uneasy, like he’d never guided unsuspecting families to his home before. Which, presumably, he hadn’t.

I mustered a shaky nod. “Thank you. I appreciate you helping, even though I see how messed-up this is.” Messed-up was mild compared to the swirl of betrayal I felt at Tessa. But I also couldn’t direct all my anger at Levi, who’d been equally blindsided.

Cody dug his boot into a snow pile. “So…no raccoons, right?”

Levi blinked. “I do not have a raccoon.”

Connor snorted. “Fine. Let’s just get it over with.”

I cast Levi an apologetic glance. “They’re…not usually this mouthy,” I lied, or at least partially lied. Stress had them in full meltdown mode. My entire brand pitch was teetering on meltdown mode too, so I couldn’t blame them.

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