Page 29 of The Silent Mountain Man

"We do. And we have the rest of our lives to do it, Princess."

I beam. "Is it wrong how much I love you calling me that?"

"Not at all. Is it wrong how much I love calling you that?"

We laugh, then we make out like teenagers for a while.

Because we can.

Because no one is going to tear us apart ever again.

There are still practical life things to work out. Like calling insurance about my car. Having to sell Pa's old place. Dealing with the practicalities of moving from the city to the mountains and getting used to small-town life. It'll be an adjustment for sure, but so much of my hatred of the mountains came down to the bad association I had with them.

But I also had lots of good memories, too, both from my childhood with Pa and from the summer with Mich—Harrick. And now I have an opportunity to create a whole bunch of new, amazing memories.

"I'm happier than I can describe."

"Me, too, Princess."

We start kissing again.

I never thought it was possible for two human beings to be so connected to one another, but when it feels as good as it does between Harrick and me, Iknowwe'll get through whatever challenges come our way, and everything will work out just fine.

Now that we've found each other again, nothing is going to stand in our way.

* * *

Want more mountain man yummy-ness?

Flip the page for a sneak peek of The Curious Mountain Man!

SNEAK PEEK AT THE CURIOUS MOUNTAIN MAN

I'm a nerdy, neurodivergent librarian who lives a quiet life in the mountains. While out birdwatching one day, I stumble upon a giant of a mountain man bathing in the lake.

Naked.

I manage to run away, hoping he didn't see me.

And then he shows up at my library.

Something about him lures me in. Sure, he's tall, bearded, and insanely gorgeous, but there's a gentle curiosity in his eyes. And when he looks at me, it's like he's trying to understand me…

Orrrrmaybe I'm imagining it.

Yeah, that's probably it. I mean, why would a handsome, barrel-chested lumberjack like Branum be interested in a Mr. Plain and Boring like me?

Chapter 1

Branum

My skin prickles… Eyes are on me.

I canfeelit.

My survival instincts are well-honed.

A childhood spent on the run with a father hiding from the law, needing to keep a low profile, constantly keeping a lookout over my shoulder, has equipped me with a sixth sense for these things.

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