Page 1 of Infatuated with the Mountain Man

CHAPTER ONE

Veda

There wasnothing like starting a Monday with a road trip.

My business,V’s Planning Adventures, had hit a speed bump. With less work in my hometown, I needed to expand my horizons to stay afloat.

After a lot of market research, I offered my services in surrounding towns, farther out than I normally would, and luckily, the business rolled in.

With Apple Falls over an hour away, I rented a small cottage for the week, where I could plan and execute the party for the coming weekend to make sure it went off without a hitch. I arrived early this morning, settled in and unpacked, and now I was making my way to my client’s house for our first meeting.

After I parked my car down the road from the large cabin, I checked my reflection in the visor mirror. My long, wavy hair was pulled back in a tight, low bun, the sides smoothed down with hairspray. A few flyaway hairs had come loose, so I smoothed them back into place, trying hard to ignore the grays popping through.

I’ve dyed my hair for the past twenty years, and honestly, I was sick of losing the battle, but I wasn’t so sure I was ready to go fully gray at the age of forty.

Not like I had anyone to impress. My love life was basically a shit show, which scared me, considering I wasn’t getting any younger. The older I got, the more my family dreams seemed out of reach.

But there was a time to dwell on that later. I needed to shift into work mode and ready myself to plan an amazing two-year-old’s birthday party.

With a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and climbed out of my car, locking it behind me.

Time to make some money and have fun doing it.

As my newclient Cash and his fiancée, Leighton, showed me around their large fenced-in backyard, visions of the birthday party they described popped into my head. I grabbed my notebook and pen from my bag and immediately scribbled down the ideas. Since turning forty last year, my memory was complete shit. Aging was a barrel of fun.

After they showed me around, we gathered in front of their large cabin. The more I saw of Apple Falls, the more I loved it, with the rich apple orchards and beautiful mountains.

“So what do you think?” Leighton asked me excitedly and clapped her hands. “Is the theme doable?”

“Oh, one hundred percent. I already have so many ideas. Let me gather everything and put together a vision board. We can meet back up and discuss what you like and don’t like.” I tucked my notebook back into my bag.

Leighton smiled and looked at Cash, who looked back at her with so much love, my heart ached. “Sammy is going to love it.”

“He sure is. Thanks again, Veda, for all your help in planning his party. I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with.” Cash wrapped an arm around Leighton’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

I swooned.

Jesus. I needed to get a grip. All this fresh mountain air was doing something to my insides.

Or maybe it was the hot mountain man head over heels for his girl.

“How come I wasn’t invited to the meeting?” A deep voice sounded from behind us, and my body instantly reacted.

Who the hell?—

I turned and took in the sight of the most handsome, rugged man I’d ever laid eyes on. His bright blue eyes shone in the afternoon sun, deep turquoise pools I could easily lose myself in, sandy-brown hair cut short on the sides with some shagginess on the top, tanned skin, a trimmed beard, and muscles for days.

His tall frame held me captive, his biceps outlined perfectly in his flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing inked forearms. Tight jeans followed along with work boots, and I couldn’t stop picturing him naked.

“Veda? You okay?” Leighton’s question broke through my fog, and I blinked.

Instantly, the handsome man smirked, and my cheeks flushed.

“Yes, sorry, what did you say?”

“This is Caden, my business partner. He works on the orchard with me.”

“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Veda.”

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