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If you love enemies-to-lovers romance and rugged mountain men, then this next book is for you!! Keep scrolling for a two-chapter preview!
I moved to the mountains to get away from everyone and everything. All I want is peace and quiet and it’s worked well for me over the last decade. But then she moves in next door and disrupts my solitude.
Kylie—my new neighbor—with her smartass mouth and destructive dog. It’s obvious she doesn’t belong here with her designer boots and city girl attitude but she’s stubborn and won’t listen to reason. Despite all that, there’s no denying I want her. Her sass and defiance get under my skin and admittedly turn me on. It’s a love/hate relationship in the most inconvenient way possible.
When a snowstorm comes barreling through, it’s Kylie who’s at my doorstep needing heat and food because she’s completely unprepared. Although I’d warned her, she finally admits I was right. Between my hatred for her dog and her distaste for me, things are bound to get complicated.
Secluded in my cabin together means the temperature rises, the gloves come off—but most of all—the arousal and chemistry moving between us reaches its breaking point.
1
KYLIE
As I watch the movers unload the last box and pull away, it really sets in that this is my new home. I never anticipated moving to the mountains of Clearview, but after my great-aunt passed and left me her cabin, I knew it was the best place to start fresh.
“What do you think, Kozmo?” I ask my German Shepherd mix who’s sniffing around with my French Bulldog, Rosie. Kozmo barks in response and continues scampering around the unfamiliar room. The cabin could definitely use a good, thorough cleaning since no one's been here in years. I took a month off work and plan to get this place back in mint condition while I can.
Over the next three days, I continue unpacking the boxes and cleaning. My dishes are washed and put away. I make my bed with fresh linens and even set up my little desk and bookshelf in the corner. The bathroom and kitchen need the most work, so I save that for last. Starting out with the easiest tasks first, I’ll knock through my to-do list much faster.
It’s chilly even for October, but it’s bright and sunny out, so I decide to take the dogs out for an afternoon walk. I’ve been letting them wander outside to explore, but I could use the fresh air myself. My blonde hair is piled on top of my head like a wild rat’s nest, and I’m still in the same leggings I went to sleep in the night before. Instead of worrying about it, I pull on my winter jacket and boots before heading out.
“Let’s go!” I tell Kozmo and Rosie. The moment we step out, I feel the crisp coolness of the air against my face. I pull my hoodie up, but it doesn’t do much to shield me from the wind. Hell, even the air feels thinner up here.
Regardless of the weather, I love it in the mountains. It’s so quiet and peaceful. The neighboring homes are far enough apart to have privacy, but close enough to feel like you’re not completely alone.
Once my time off ends, I’ll have to decide if I’ll commute to work every day or rent a small apartment in town until I find a job closer to my new home. I know I don’t want to let this place go. It’s far too beautiful and serene here for me to sell.
“Kozmo, stay here,” I remind him, but his nose has a mind of its own. He’s my baby though he’s bigger than Rosie. Filled with so much life and energy, he definitely keeps my boring life interesting. Rosie doesn’t stray far from me; she’s my sweetheart, but Kozmo loves to explore and wander. “Kozmo, get back here!” I yell when I see him running toward the cabin that’s closest to mine.
“Dammit,” I mutter, following behind in his trail. Once his nose gets a hint of something, he’s on a mission, and no amount of yelling at him will snap him out of it. “C’mon, Rosie,” I encourage when she hesitates.
Halfway up the snowy cliff, I hear chopping noises and Kozmo’s barking.
“Shit.” I try climbing faster, but my body is sore from unpacking and cleaning nonstop so I slip and fall more times than I’d like to admit. Once I finally make it over, I
follow the sound to the side of the cabin.
“Kozmo?” I cup my hands around my mouth, hoping my voice echoes. He continues barking, and when I finally round the corner, my breath hitches the moment I spot who he’s barking at.
A six-foot plus god of a man who’s holding a massive ax over his head and throwing it down against a block of wood. Sweet Jesus. He’s wearing a heavy plaid jacket, dark jeans, and Carhartt boots. He looks like he came out of one of those men’s outdoor fashion magazines. Unruly dark hair and all.
“Excuse me,” I shout, but he doesn’t hear me over Kozmo or the rustling of the wind that’s suddenly picked up. Stepping closer, I try to get his attention, but by the way his jaw is firmly set, I can tell he’s too focused to hear me approaching.
“Kozmo, get over here!” I walk over, ready to grab his collar but before I can reach him, I’m pushed to the ground in a bank of snow. The weight of his body presses into mine, and it feels oddly intimate as he wraps his muscular arms around me. I miss it the moment he leans back.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he growls at me before noticeably studying my face and wandering his gaze down my body. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
His remark has me flinching because I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about.
“What? No! You’re the one who pummeled me to the ground like an animal,” I retort, blinking the dryness from my eyes.
He stands and holds his hand out for me. Once I grab it, he pulls me up to my feet. Staring up at him, I realize how much taller and bigger than me he is. Much, much bigger.
“You don’t just go up to a strange dog,” he says, breaking the tension. I realize he’s referring to Kozmo whose bark is much bigger than his bite. “He’s been barking at me for the last ten minutes and probably has rabies.”
I burst out laughing at this massive, rugged man worried about a dog who’s now rolling around in the snow and kicking his legs up to the sky.
Narrowing his eyes at me, he stands taller and crosses his arms over his chest. “What’s so funny?”
