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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 withhoney.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 himhoney.
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.
