Page 2 of The Mountain Man's Chance

I squeezed my hands together and tried to think of any excuse. My mom, Vivian, walked out of the kitchen and smiled in my direction. “Hey, sweetie, why don’t you get going? I’ll head home with Dad later.”

My shoulders instantly relaxed. She could always read me so well. I hugged her close. No longer did I need an excuse to leave. “Thanks. It’s been a long week.”

Ever since I could remember, this diner was a second home to me. It’d been in the family for years, and my parents took it over from my maternal grandparents and renamed itCamille’s Placeafter their newborn daughter, little old me. The diner had a classic fifties feel, and while my parents upgraded a lot over the years, they never strayed from the original decor, keeping the diner feel alive.

One day, the diner would be mine, and while some people might run from a small town they’d lived in their whole life, I embraced it.

Appleridge was my home, and that would never change.

My mom rubbed my shoulder like she always did when she comforted me. “I know you’re worried about tomorrow, but don’t be. He’s still just Zach. The brown-eyed boy from next door with the dirt smudges and bare feet.”

If only it were that simple, Ma.

A big part of me wished she knew the truth. But I refused to ruin her and my father’s image of him. I couldn’t do that. We grew up together, my parents knew Zach very well as he was like a son to them. It wouldn’t be fair.

A long sigh escaped my lips. “A lot has changed in four years. I don’t know what man is showing up tomorrow. A version of Zach I’ve never met, I imagine.”

“Oh, my sweet girl,” my mother said as she brushed a stray hair of mine behind my ear. “Deep down, he’ll still always be the Zach you know and love. He may just have a few more layers now.”

“Yeah, maybe. Anyway, see you later.” I gave her one last hug before disappearing into the back office to say goodbye to my father and grab my things.

On my way out the back door, I checked my phone for any missed calls or messages, hoping maybe Lena or Sloane, the only other two ladies in our friend group who aren’t pregnant, wanted to grab a drink but nothing.

Ah well, I could use a self-care night anyway. A long bath, a movie, and a…bam!

It was as if I hit a steel wall.

A steel wall with a familiar scent…averyfamiliar scent.

An almost woodsy…wait…Zach!

Zach!

ZACH!

Blank.

My mind went blank.

At moments like this, people usually did one of three things—fight, flight, or freeze.

I did what I do best.

I froze.

But Zach?

He didn’t do any of the three.

Nope. Never the easy way with him.

Instead, he took me in his arms and kissed me.

The jerk fucking kissed me.

CHAPTERTWO

Zach

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