Page 1 of Rescued By the Brooding Mountain Hero

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JADE

14,000 feet. 14,000! That's the altitude my GPS unit is saying as I pull up to the parking lot of the Heartwood Lakefront Resort.

I knew traveling to the Colorado Rockies would be an experience like no other, but I did not expect to be struggling to breathe already. Am I coming down with altitude sickness, or is the pressure I've put on myself to make my next novel a success finally becoming too much to bear?

"You're being ridiculous," I chastise myself as I pull my brand-new backpack from the rental car and drop it at my feet. Three more oversized bags later, and I think I've got everything. Yes, it might be overkill for a five-night stay in the mountains, but I never know exactly what I’m going to need when I’m writing, and it pays to be prepared.

The cool mountain air fills my lungs as I trudge up the cobbled path toward the resort, my oversized bags bumping against my hips. I huff, blowing a stray lock of chestnut hair out of my face.

As I step through the grand wooden doors into the Heartwood Lakefront lobby, the bags suddenly feel three timesheavier. I can barely see over the stack of them in my arms. Stumbling forward, I collide with what feels like a brick wall.

"Oof!" The impact sends me staggering back, my bags tumbling out of my grip and scattering across the floor. Steadying myself, I glance up to see that the "wall" I ran into is actually a man. A mountain of a man, easily 6'4" with shoulders as broad as a bull.

He looks down at me, amusement twinkling in his striking blue eyes. "Whoa there. You alright, miss?"

"I, uh..." Very coherent, Jade. I mentally facepalm. "I'm fine. Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going."

"No worries." He flashes me a disarming smile, then crouches to gather my spilled belongings. "Quite a lot of bags for a petite woman like you."

I bristle slightly at that. "I can handle it. I'm stronger than I look." Never mind that I was struggling a minute ago.

He chuckles, a deep, warm sound. "I don't doubt that. But there's no shame in accepting a little help now and then." He stands, easily hoisting my two heaviest bags.

I open my mouth to protest, but something in his expression stops me. It's not condescension I see, but a genuine offer of assistance. My pride deflates a little.

"Thank you," I say, and I mean it. "I'm Jade, by the way. Jade Westbrook."

"Beau Morgan." He shifts the bags to one muscular arm so he can shake my hand. His palm is warm and calloused against mine. "Welcome to Heartwood Lakefront Resort, Jade."

As I approach the front desk, I can't help but tug self-consciously at my oversized sweater. It's a habit I've developed over the years, a futile attempt to hide my hourglass figure. In the city, I blend in just fine, but out here in the middle of nowhere Colorado, I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. Especially surrounded by true hiker types.

The receptionist, an older woman with kind eyes and silver hair pulled back in a bun, gives me a warm smile as I reach the desk. "Welcome to Heartwood Lakefront Resort," she says. "I'm Ivy. How can I help you today?"

I return her smile, instantly put at ease by her grandmotherly demeanor. "Hi, I'm Jade Westbrook. I have a reservation for one of your cabins."

Ivy nods, typing something into her computer. "Ah yes, here you are. Staying with us for five nights, correct?"

"That's right." I drum my fingers nervously on the polished wood of the desk. "I'm here to do some research for my next novel. It's going to be a romantic thriller set in the Colorado mountains, so I figured what better place to get inspiration than right here in the heart of the Rockies?"

Ivy's face lights up at that. "Oh, how exciting! We've had a few authors stay with us over the years, but I don't think any were writing about our little slice of paradise. I'm sure you'll find plenty of inspiration here. The mountains have a way of sparking creativity."

I nod, feeling a flicker of hope in my chest. "That's what I'm counting on. My last couple of novels did okay, but I really need this one to be a hit for my publisher to keep me on. I'm hoping that doing some on-site research will help me capture the essence of the place and make the story feel more authentic."

Ivy reaches across the desk to pat my hand reassuringly. "I have a feeling you're going to do just fine, dear. There's something special about these mountains. They have a way of giving people exactly what they need, even if they don't know it yet."

Her words wash over me like a balm, soothing some of the anxiety that's been building in my chest for weeks. Maybe she's right. Maybe this trip is exactly what I need to break through my writer's block and create something truly amazing.

Beau steps up to the desk, his commanding presence overwhelming my senses in an instant.

"Excuse me for overhearing, but did you say you're planning on hiking the trails while you're here?" His blue eyes lock onto mine as he speaks.

I nod, trying not to get distracted by the way his broad shoulders fill out his flannel shirt. "Yeah, I was hoping to do some exploring and get a feel for the area so I can make the descriptions as authentic as possible.”

Beau's brow furrows slightly. "Well, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. There's a big thunderstorm predicted to roll in tomorrow. If you do go out on the trails, make sure you check the weather forecast first and keep an eye on the sky. Storms can come on fast up here in the mountains and be pretty intense."

I appreciate his concern, but I can't help feeling a little defensive. "I'm sure I'll be fine. I've done plenty of hiking before." That's a big fat lie.

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