Page 2 of The Mountain Man's Curvy Boss

But is a change of pace really what I need right now? Can I see myself living here full-time? Running a resort in the middle of nowhere?

I don't know. I just don't know. Chewing my bottom lip, I slowly make my way back towards the lodge, boots squelching in the mud.

As I approach the main lodge, I spot a few staff members milling about, going about their daily tasks. Taking a deep breath, I paste on a friendly smile and introduce myself.

"Hi there, I'm Madison, Eleanor's granddaughter. I guess I'm the new owner around here."

A middle-aged woman with kind eyes looks up from sweeping the porch. "Oh, Miss Madison! We've been expecting you. I'm so sorry for your loss; your grandmother was a wonderful woman."

"Thank you; that means a lot," I reply, feeling a lump form in my throat. "To be honest, I'm still trying to process it all."

An older man, perhaps in his sixties, steps forward and extends his hand. "Welcome back to Heartwood, Miss Madison. We're all here to help in any way we can. Just let us know what you need."

I shake his hand gratefully. "I appreciate that, thank you. I'm still getting my bearings, but I'll definitely keep that in-,”

My phone starts ringing insistently, cutting me off mid-sentence. I glance down at the screen and feel my stomach drop. It's him. Again.

Excusing myself with an apologetic smile, I step away and swipe to answer. "What do you want, Ashton?" I snap, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

"Mads, come on. You can't keep ignoring me like this. We need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," I say firmly. "We're done. I'm not coming back to the city, and I'm not changing my mind."

Ashton starts to argue, but I cut him off again. "I have to go. Don't call me again." I hang up abruptly and power down my phone for good measure.

Turning back to the staff members, I force another smile. "Sorry about that. You were saying?"

The woman gives me a sympathetic look. "No worries, dear. We understand. This must be a difficult time for you."

I nod, swallowing hard. "Yeah, it's... it's a lot to take in." My gaze drifts back towards the lake, my mind whirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions.

Lost in thought, I wander over to a nearby bench and sink down onto it, my impractical heels sinking into the soft earth. I came here looking for answers, but so far, all I've found are more questions.

Can I really see myself living in a place like this? Trading in my suits and stilettos for flannel and hiking boots? Leaving behind the fast-paced world of mergers and acquisitions for the slow, steady rhythm of small-town life?

It seems impossible. And yet...

There's a peace here, a sense of belonging that I haven't felt in a long time. Maybe ever. And as much as I hate to admit it, there's a tiny part of me, a part I've kept buried for far too long, that yearns for something more than the endless grind of corporate success.

But is that enough? Is it worth giving up everything I've worked so hard for?

I don't know.

2

ARCHER

The rain splatters down heavily around me as I stride across the parking lot toward the main lodge. I spot an unfamiliar woman struggling to pull suitcases out of a sleek silver sedan, completely underdressed for the weather in a designer skirt suit and heels. City slicker, I think to myself with a scoff. Probably some corporate hotshot here to change everything.

As she struggles with her luggage, I march over. "Need a hand?" I ask gruffly.

She turns, blinking away raindrops. She's stunning up close, with dark hair plastered to her face and curves a man would kill to explore. But looks won't get her far up here.

"Oh, thank you so much!" Her crimson lips curve into a smile as I easily hoist her bags. "I'm Madison Callahan. I'll be taking over management of the resort," she says brightly, extending a manicured hand.

I eye it for a moment before shifting the luggage to free up my calloused paw and quickly shake. "Archer Donovan. I'm the handyman."

"It's great to meet you, Archer. I look forward to working with you."

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