My Mountain Man’s Desire (Rock Creek #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Griffin

“ A nd you remembered your rain jacket?”

“It’s not going to rain.” William rolls his eyes and it takes everything in me not to call him on it. Truthfully, if I wasn’t so distracted by the fact that he was about to head out into the woods for the night without me, I might. As it was, I let it pass.

“Griff. We’ve got it all covered.” My father puts his hand on my shoulder and stills me. To my son, he says, “Run in and get check with Gran. She has a surprise for dinner tonight.” William did not need to be told twice and the moment he’d disappears into the house, my father turns to me.

“Son, you’re acting like I’m taking him away for a month. We’re going to the hunting cabin for two nights. We’ll be back in time for your ma’s lasagna Sunday night. He’ll be fine.”

He’s not wrong. Pa rarely was.

I tale a deep breath and straighten my shoulders, moments before my six year old son appears at the front door, his grandmother right behind him.

“Gran made us cinnamon buns.”

I can’t help it. I raise an eyebrow. “For a camping trip, Ma? Really?”

“Don’t worry, Griffin. I made you some, too.” She winks in my direction. Ma runs the kitchen at The Den, the only place to eat in town—or stay in one of the few rooms—her cinnamon buns are a draw for miles around. “Now let these boys go on their trip. They’ll be fine. You forget your father raised five sons of his own.” She appears at my side and squeezes my arm before whispering in my ear. “A little time off will be good for you.”

She’s not wrong either. As a single dad, I very rarely get a night off. Let alone two in a row. Not that I have any exciting plans. Unless you consider stocking the wood sheds exciting.

I manage to bite my tongue and without any further interference, Pa loads my son into his old pick up truck and with only a tousle of his thick dark hair, no kisses for my big boy when others are watching, they’re off for their camping trip.

It feels like a piece of myself driving off in that rusty old Ford. Which only proves my folks right. I could use a break from being a full time dad.

I give Ma a kiss and gratefully take the package of cinnamon buns before driving away from the little town of Rock Creek and back to the comfort of my mountain and the cozy log cabin I call home. With a night to myself stretching out before me, the thought of a good cigar and a glass of whiskey feels like just the right way to spend the time. Two vices I don’t allow myself to indulge in often when William is around.

The sun has just dipped behind the jagged peaks, which is the only reason why I see the flash of yellow in the distance, followed by the orange and the tell tale puff of smoke. A fire.

Fuck.

It’s likely only some stupid kids having a campfire down by the river, but any fire is bad news these days. The forest is dry, and in the height of fire season, people should know better. Just one spark could create a very dangerous situation. Very quickly.

It’s the last thing I want to do, but as a member of Rock Creek Search and Rescue, and the volunteer fire department, one way or another I’ll have to deal with it. Might as well be on my terms, telling some jackasses to put out their campfire rather than rescuing them from a full fledged forest fire.

With a groan, I tug the steering wheel to the left onto the dirt track that leads down to the river. The whisky is going to have to wait.

Sophie

“I don’t think we’re supposed to have fires.”

No. Strike that. I know we aren’t supposed to have fires. There was a county wide fire ban in place. I cross my arms over my chest and hug myself to give me enough strength to stand up to my stupid step brother and his friends.

“Seth, we really shouldn’t?—”

“Shut up, Sophie.” Seth holds another log aloft. “The only reason you’re here is because mom begged me to bring you to get you out of the house for a few days.” He tosses the log on the fire causing a shower of sparks to fly up around me. But it’s not the embers that burn.

There’s no point telling him that it was my dad that asked me to accompany Seth and his dumb friends into the woods to make sure they stayed out of trouble. “It’s not like you have any other plans, do you, Sophie?”

Ouch.

But he’s not wrong. I didn’t have any other plans. Because all I do is go to class and study because that’s all there’s ever time for in law school.

At least, that’s all I used to do. Before I dropped out last week.

But I’m not about to share that particular detail with anyone yet, so I did what I always do when my dad asks me to do something. I said yes.

And now I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere with stupid Seth and his neanderthal friends who are about to burn the forest down.

With a sigh, I drop my arms and step toward my step brother as he lifts yet another log to drop on the already massive bonfire. “I really don’t think?—”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

The deep voice rumbles through my body, directly to something inside me I didn’t even know existed.

With the log still raised above his head, Seth turns in my direction, but he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at someone behind me.

The man that belongs to the sexy voice.

“Who the hell are you?”

It’s one of Seth’s stupid friends who asks as he appears from the shadows with a case of beer in his hand.

I turn at the same moment the owner of the voice, steps into the light. I must have made a sound, because all eyes turn to stare at me. But I can’t help it. The man is huge.

He’s at least 6’5”. His arms are thick around as the trees we’re surrounded by. His beard is thick, but it doesn’t mask how gorgeous he is. Even in the dim light I can see the crystal blue of his eyes, like lasers, they’re focused directly on my step brother and his jackass friends.

My stomach clenches and more than anything, I want him to look in my direction. I’m standing so close to him, I could reach out and touch his hard, chiseled chest if I wasn’t so mesmerized by what’s happening in front of me.

“I’m the man who is going to make sure you don’t burn the whole forest down tonight, kid.” The mountain of a man steps forward and without missing a beat, plucks the log from my step brother’s hand as if it’s nothing more than a twig.

I swallow a giggle. It’s not often I see the golden child put in his place, and I’m ready to revel in every moment of it.

“Oh yeah, old man. And I suppose you’re going to make us?”

Without missing a beat, the mountain man turns to look at Seth’s friends who look like little boys next to this incredible man. True, he’s older than us. Maybe in his mid to late thirties. Not that I’m a good judge of age. Especially when it comes to men, considering I have little to no experience with the opposite sex unless they’re in my study groups at school. And those guys are definitely more boys than men.

I can’t take my eyes off this man as he casually walks toward the boys, and explains to them how they’re all going to go down to the river and fetch buckets of water to put the fire out before he leaves or he’ll drag their asses all into the sheriff’s office himself.

He still hasn’t looked in my direction, but as my brother and his friends scramble to get to work, I have a moment of clarity. There’s no way I’m going to spend one more second with these morons. And the huge mountain man, who although incredibly intimidating, seems like a much better option than bunking down in a tent next to these idiots. If I hurry and grab my things, maybe I can convince him to drive me back to town. I’ll figure things out from there.

Before I can change my mind, I slip away to grab my back pack and the few things I brought with me. I’m only gone a few minutes, but when I return, the campfire’s out and he’s gone.

Seth and his friends sit on stumps around the now smouldering fire, heads in their hands sulking after being brought down a few pegs by the incredible mountain man. If I had time, I would totally take the opportunity to gloat a little. But I needed to focus.

“Where did he go?”

“Why do you care?” Seth hardly spares me a glance. “Make yourself useful and grab us some beer from the cooler.”

I clench my teeth and swallow back a retort. Theres no point. I know from experience anything I say will only be used against me with my dad and step mom. Instead, I move to the edge of the trees where the coolers are stashed. I’m going to do what Seth asked, and everyone knows it.

His laughter as I walk away grates on every nerve but when I hear him open his mouth to his buddies and say, “Stupid cow. It’s the only thing she’s good for,” followed by their laughter, something inside me snaps. Hot tears prick at my eyes, but these boys aren’t worth it. I won’t cry.

Instead, I tighten the straps of my pack and keep walking. If I can’t get a ride out, I’ll walk. It’s better than staying there.