Page 2 of Devotion By the Mountain Man

“What do you want, Steve?” Tessa asks, not mincing around and I love her for it.

“To talk to my ‘bosssss,’” he says, placing the word “boss” in air quotes, again displaying his lack of respect for me.

I roll my eyes. “I think you need to go home,” I say to him, lifting his arm off my chair and hoping he will just walk away.

“What, too good to talk to me outside of work? Too much of a Miss Perfect to have a conversation?” His pale face is turning red with anger and I’ve had enough of him. People around the brewery are starting to stare, sensing his agitation.

“That’s enough,” a deep voice says from across the bar. Wade.

My eyes snap to his and the look on his face tells me he’s had enough of Steve’s shit too. Steve starts stuttering, trying to defend himself, but Wade is having none of it. He rounds the bar and stands in front of Steve, I can tell he has about 50 pounds of muscle and a good six inches on Steve’s mediocre frame.

“Clearly, you’ve been overserved, let’s get you out of here,” Wade says to Steve, leading him outside the doors. I watch as Wade and Steve have what appears to be a contentious conversation, but my heart leaps when I see a car pull up and Wade open the door, ushering Steve inside.

He cared enough to make sure he got home safely, despite his asshole-ish behavior.

Maybe this is the man I have been waiting for.

Chapter Two

Wade

I open the door to the brewery after getting Steve in a cab that will take him home. As much of a dick as he was being to the woman at the bar, I knew I would feel terrible if he got in a car and ruined his life—or someone else’s.

I walk back in and see Ava, Luna, Tessa, and their friend all staring at me. The three girls go back to whispering amongst each other, but the other just keeps looking, piercing me with her ocean-like blue eyes. Her pale skin a voluminous brown curls create the most beautiful, doll-like face I’ve ever seen and my heart skips a beat when I get closer and notice the smattering of freckles across her face.

I have to talk to her.

“Hi,” I say simply. Her cheeks redden.

“Hi,” she replies, blush creeping down her neck. Ava breaks away from the conversation.

“Wade, this is Rosie, she’s a history teacher at the school. The guy you just kicked out was her asshole coworker.”

Rosie.The name fits her, and her rosy cheeks, perfectly.

“Ah. Well, I’m sorry you have to deal with him on a daily basis. Those ten minutes were enough to last me a lifetime,” I say with a laugh. She laughs too and I think it might be the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.

She brushes a rogue curl behind her ear, and I can’t help but wish it was me doing it.

What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve never felt this kind of instant attraction to anyone before.

“Trust me, it’s not easy. Thanks for taking care of him, he was really ruining my night.”

“Well, we couldn’t have that, could we?” I ask, rounding the bar and grabbing her a fresh cider.

There’s plenty of other people at the bar, but I can’t seem to stay away from here. I see Ava and Luna share another glance and they both come behind the bar as I’m pouring drinks.

“Go talk to her more,” Ava whisper-yells at me. She’s always been nosy, but in the last year it’s really taken another level. Can’t say I mind it now though; I jump at the opportunity to get back to Rosie.

As I round the bar I see Tessa stand and head over to her fiancé, Luke, who is waiting for her at the door with a curling finger and a massive grin on his face. It gives me the perfect chance to slide in next to Rosie.

“Hi,” I say to her again, taking the stool next to her and promptly pulling hers closer to me again. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea. I’m veryveryinterested in her.

“Hi, Wade,” she says, a soft smile lighting up her face. “Is it okay for you to be over here? I don’t want to disrupt your shift any more than I already have.”

“It’s no problem. I think my busybody cousin has it covered.” I gesture to Ava who looks right at home slinging drinks and when she meets my eyes she gives me a wink that tells me everything is going according to her plan.

“How long have you lived in Whiskey Mountain?” Rosie asks, breaking the small silence.

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