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The Grizzly Grove isn’t often dead silent, but I’m not complaining. Even though I love running the bar with my brother, Benson, sometimes a girl needs peace and quiet to do admin work. A boring but necessary task that’s perfect to do on the bar’s closing days.

Not only do we run a popular bar with special whiskeys, food, and the occasional event, but my brother and I also make supplies packages for some of the locals who live an isolated existence in the mountains. These customers love driving down the mountain and picking up one box of supplies instead of stopping at three different stores and socializing. Two times a week, we also deliver the orders to their doorstep.

I don’t mind helping them out like we do. They’re happy their needs are met swiftly and easily, and Benson and I are glad for the additional income. My brother more than welcomes the money now that he’s a single dad with a cute daughter to take care of. Thinking about how his wife abandoned him makes my blood boil, so I focus on printing out this week’s orders instead.

Benson and I work like an oiled machine. I do all the administrative stuff, like sorting and packaging the orders, and Benson delivers them in his pickup truck. I don’t mind helping him out with that from time to time. Let’s just say these mountain men are nice to look at. Even though lots of them are real grumps, they all love me like a sister and would never treat me badly.

I attach the printed-out orders to the right boxes and double-check the list once more before calling my brother. Where the hell is he? It’s already lunchtime, and if he wants to ensure everything gets delivered before sunset, he should get a move on.

I tap my fingers impatiently on the bar while the phone rings. He finally picks up after the third ring.

“Benson? Where are you? All the orders are ready to be delivered.”

“Hi, sis. I’m sorry, I should’ve called you earlier. I can’t come in today.”

“What do you mean, you can’t come in?”

He sighs. “It’s Lily.”

My heart drops at the mention of my niece. “What’s wrong with her? Are you guys okay? Should I come over?”

“Relax, sis. She’s got a fever, that’s all. I don’t want to leave her with a sitter.”

“Oh, poor thing. Why don’t I come over and watch her while you deliver the orders?”

He hesitates for a second. “Um, yeah, she only wants her daddy. But thanks for the offer.”

“I get that. So I guess I’ll be driving up the mountain then? Can I at least borrow your truck?”

“Of course. Just don’t come in and say hi. Lily’s finally asleep.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll pop in after I bring back your truck.”

“Great. Talk later, sis.”

Before I can say anything else, he disconnects the call. I feel bad for Lily. A fever is the worst. I make a mental note to grab some food for them later. Knowing my brother, he hasn’t even thought about the logistics of dinner with a sick kid.

I walk the half mile to Benson’s house and get into the truck. The keys are right where they always are—under the visor. I drive back to the bar, load the orders, and get on my way.

We usually deliver at the top of the mountain first, working our way down to the valley, but I decide to do it the other way around today. A new customer lives in one of the most isolated cabins, and I don’t want to rush when dropping off their order. I enjoy getting to know my customers and treating them like humans instead of another number or sales transaction.

My first stop is Falcon’s place. He’s one of the four Stryker brothers who run Ridgeroam Adventures. As I walk over to his porch, I wonder what it would be like to live out here instead of down in the valley. The views here are magnificent, and the smell of fir trees is nothing short of intoxicating. The silence is another big plus. All you hear are birds, the wind rustling tree leaves, and the occasional mountain lion call in the distance.

What I don’t like is how the sky is getting darker by the minute, though. I hope the weather isn’t going to suddenly change this afternoon because I hate driving in the rain, especially in the mountains.

“Hi, Sloane,” Falcon says as he opens the door. “Your brother not working today?”

I shake my head and hand him his order. “Nope. Lily has a fever.”

“Tell him I hope his little girl feels better soon. And thanks for this,” he adds, flicking his gaze to the box of supplies.

“Any time, Falcon. See you around.”

“See you, Sloane. Take care.”

I sprint to the truck and drive to the next address. After three more deliveries, the sky has turned cloudy and dark, and I know my prayers for a sunny afternoon will get washed away soon. I’d better get a move on. My next stop is Hannah and Grizz. He runs the local Wildlife Rehabilitation center and orders from us every week without fail.

Right when I knock on Hannah and Grizz’s door, big raindrops splatter on the roof of their cabin. I pull the hood of my sweater over my head and shiver.

The door swings open, and I’m met by the adorable sight of Hannah holding her sleeping newborn in her arms.

“Hi, Sloane,” she says with a big smile.

“Hi, Hannah. I’ve got your order with me.”

“Thanks. I’ll ask Grizz to give you a hand with the boxes. My arms are full,” she says with a laugh before calling out to her husband. “Honey, it’s Sloane from The Grizzly Grove.”

I still think it’s funny how she addresses him with honey. Not that there’s anything wrong with a nickname like that. It’s just that Grizz is this grumpy, big, bearded guy. He’s not exactly the kind of man you’d imagine seeing when hearing someone call him honey.

Hannah’s husband appears in the doorway and walks to the truck with me. As the rain falls on us, he looks up at the sky and frowns.

“I think there’s a storm brewing. Do you still have a lot to deliver?”

“A few addresses. It should be okay.”

He stacks three boxes on top of each other and carries them to his house as if they weigh nothing. “Stay safe out there, Sloane. I’d hate to see you get into a dangerous situation up here. If things get too bad, postpone the rest of your deliveries to tomorrow.”

Hannah smiles at her husband. “Honey, I’m sure Sloane knows what she’s doing.”

He nods in agreement. “I know she does, but no one is immune to the forces of nature.”

“Well, I’d better get a move on, guys. Sorry I can’t stay and talk for longer.”

“We understand. Take care, Sloane,” Hannah says.

“Don’t be afraid to reach out if anything goes wrong,” Grizz adds before disappearing inside with his wife and baby.

I race through the remaining deliveries, the wind gains strength, and I realize Grizz was spot-on with his prediction. A storm is brewing, and it’s not going to spare the mountain of its impact. I should turn back, but what about our new customer? Skipping the delivery wouldn’t exactly instill confidence in our ability to meet delivery deadlines.

Against my better judgment, I guide the truck further up the mountain. The rain beats against my windshield, and my wipers struggle to keep up.

I didn’t even know there were houses this far up. Whoever lives here must love solitude. A lot.

I park the truck in front of the cabin, a pit forming in my stomach as I think about navigating back to the bar in this storm.

I get out, wipe some strands of wet hair out of my face, and jog up to the front door. I knock two times, short and loud.

A lock turns, and the door swings open. I nearly get knocked off my feet. I don’t know who I was expecting, but it sure as hell wasn’t this guy.

He only just fits in the doorframe; that’s how big he is. He has a full beard, ruffled dark hair, and abs to die for.

Yes, abs. For some reason, he didn’t bother putting on a shirt. I’m getting the full-frontal view of his naked torso with his grey sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips.

I swallow. He’s grown into an even hotter man since I last saw him.

My eyes lift to his gorgeous face, and he grins. “Sloane? What a nice surprise.”

“Yeah, a real surprise,” I manage to say.

Honestly, Maverick Cole is the last man on earth I thought I’d be delivering to today, yet here I am, face-to-face with my brother’s best friend. With the guy I had a crush on when we were growing up.

The guy who was responsible for almost burning our house down. Not that he held a match or was even around, but Maverick was the recipient of one of those love spells I tried out in my bedroom. The magazine swore it could make someone fall in love with you. Too bad they didn’t warn about the dangers of having a fire indoors.

Anyway, it didn’t work, obviously.

“Sloane? Are you okay?”

“Huh?” I blink rapidly, trying to get back to the here and now. “Um, I’ve got your order from the bar. My brother couldn’t make it, so it’s just me today.”

I hand him the box of supplies, our fingertips briefly touching during the exchange. “I brought you everything you ordered and included your nuts. I mean, nuts for you.”

The corner of his mouth ticks up, but he refrains from laughing in my face. “You brought me nuts?”

“I did. Special nuts. I mean, free special nuts because this is your first order with us.”

“Okay,” he says, looking amused while I’m hoping for a sinkhole to appear.

Yeah, I should get out of here before I embarrass myself any further.

“Anyway, I’ve got to go. There’s a storm, and it’s not safe to be driving now. Bye.”

I hightail it out of there and fumble with the car keys.

“Sloane, wait, don’t go,” he calls after me.

“I’m okay,” I reply and get in the car.

It sounds like an order, and for a split second, I want to do as he says and stop, but I don’t. I turn on the engine and see him running toward me, barefooted. He waves his arms at me to make me stop, but I can’t. I’m too shocked to act reasonably.

How long has it been since I’ve seen the guy? Gah, I don’t even remember. All I know is that my feelings for him, the ones I thought I’d left behind, come rushing back all at once, and it’s too much to deal with right now.

A splatter of dirt flies in the air and soils my windshield as I rev the engine of my brother’s truck right before a deafening crack and thud causes the world to go black.