Tempting the Mountain Man (Sweetheart Falls)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

GABE

I heft another sheet of plywood onto the truck bed. The air is thick with the scent of fresh-cut lumber and hot asphalt. Chuck grunts beside me, his muscles straining under the weight of a bundle of two-by-fours. The parking lot of the home supply store is busy with trucks being loaded and the chatter of weekend warriors tackling their latest projects.

“Last one,” Chuck pants, shoving the lumber into place with a satisfying thud.

I nod, taking a moment to survey our haul. Our trucks are loaded to capacity, but this should be the last load like this for a while. The weight of the vehicles has them sitting noticeably lower on their suspensions. As I reach for my water bottle, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

“Gabe here,” I answer, not recognizing the number. I slide into the driver’s seat of my truck to get out of the hot sun.

“Gabe! It’s Jake from Ghost Security. Got a minute?”

My eyebrows shoot up, and adrenaline surges through me. Ghost Security is a big deal in our circles, known for its high- profile clients and cutting-edge operations. “Yeah, go ahead,” I reply, moving to a quieter spot near the store’s brick wall.

Jake’s voice crackles with excitement. “We have some friends in common. To be specific, Waylon mentioned you to me. We’ve got an opening, and one of my guys put your name forward, saying you’d be a perfect fit. Your military background, your skills—we could use someone with your skill-set on our team.”

Chuck glances at me as if to ask if everything’s okay, and I hold up a finger to tell him to hold on. My heart rate quickens, a mix of anticipation and…something else that feels like dread. “I appreciate the call, Jake. I’m listening.”

“It’s a lucrative gig, Gabe. You’d be looking at a six-figure salary, benefits, the works. But...” He pauses, and I can almost hear him wincing. “I hear you’re up north right now. We’d need you based here in Jefferson, but there’d be a fair bit of travel. We’d need you at our HQ.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, the bustling parking lot fades away. Relocate. Leave Sweetheart Falls. Leave Polly. An image of her flashes through my mind–her infectious laugh, the way her eyes crinkle when she smiles, the delicious curve of her ass.

“That’s a generous offer,” I manage, my mouth suddenly dry.

“I get it,” Jake says, his tone understanding. “Take some time, think it over. But don’t wait too long. There are other guys on my list, but you were my top choice and first call.”

I end the call and toss my phone on the seat beside me. The air feels heavy as I consider the offer. Chuck approaches, wiping a bandana across his forehead.

“Everything okay?” he asks, noticing my furrowed brow.

I nod, still processing. “Yeah, I just got a job offer. A big one.”

Chuck’s eyebrows rise, his interest piqued. “No kidding? Well, let’s grab some lunch, and you can tell me all about it.”

Twenty minutes later, we’re settled into a corner booth at the local bar. The aroma of fried food mingles with the twang of country music, and I relax as the air conditioning cools us down.

“So, spill,” Chuck says, taking a swig of his beer. The condensation on the glass catches the light, reminding me of the way Polly’s eyes sparkle when she laughs.

I lean back, running a hand through my hair. “Ghost Security. They want me on their team. It’s a dream job. This is the kind of job you don’t turn down.”

“But?” Chuck prompts, his eyes sharp, reading the conflict on my face.

I sigh, my gaze drifting to the window. “I’d have to leave Sweetheart Falls.”

Understanding dawns on Chuck’s face, and he nods slowly. “Ah. And by Sweetheart Falls, you mean Polly.”

“Yeah.”

“But?” Chuck prompts again, leaning in.

I meet his gaze. “But Polly. What we have...I don’t think I can walk away from her.”

Chuck nods slowly, understanding showing in his eyes. “And you’re unsure if you’re ready to give Polly up for a job.”

“Exactly.” I sigh, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. The jukebox switches to a slow country ballad, the melancholy twang matching my mood.

Chuck leans forward, his expression turning serious. “Can I ask you something, Gabe? And I want you to be honest.”

I nod, bracing myself. The bar seems to fade into the background as I focus on Chuck’s words.

“Are you really over what happened with your ex?”

The question hits me like a bucket of cold water. I open my mouth to protest, but the words die on my lips. Am I? The memory of that betrayal flashes through my mind, a stark contrast to the warmth I feel when I think of Polly.

“I...I thought I was,” I admit, my voice low. “But maybe I’m not as over it as I thought. Or maybe I’m not over the emotional fallout. I couldn’t care less about ever seeing Sarah again. She’s dead to me.”

Chuck waits patiently as I gather my thoughts.

“Her cheating on me broke my heart. Bad. I swore off having a woman in my life again,” I say, the old pain flaring briefly. “I mean, I’ve moved on from her specifically, but the scars...they’re harder to move past.”

Chuck’s eyes are sympathetic. “So now you’re wondering if you can trust someone again? If you can open up fully?”

“Yeah,” I say, relief flooding me at being understood. The bar’s ambient noise fades as I focus on putting my feelings into words. “I want to be with Polly. Fuck, how I want her. But I don’t want to get hurt again. I also don’t want to fuck things up and hurt her . She deserves to be worshipped.”

Chuck takes a thoughtful sip of his beer. “You can’t compare Polly to your ex, Gabe. If you want her, man up and win her. Life’s too short to let ghosts ruin your future.”

His words hit home, and some of the tightness in my chest loosens. He’s right. I know he is. But the weight of the decision still presses on me, as heavy as the lumber we loaded earlier.

My mind whirls with possibilities. The job offer is attractive, promising adventure and financial security. But…Polly. Her smile is bright enough to outshine the sun; the warmth in her eyes when she looks at me, a warmth that seems to reach into the depths of my soul. I know we share the same attraction.

It’s foolish to consider declining the job. It’s even more foolish to give up on Polly.

But I know what I want to do.