Taught by the Mountain Man, page 1
Taught by the Mountain Man
First Times in Trout Creek #1
By Hazel J. North
Copyright
Taught by the Mountain Man
© Hazel J. North, 2022
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Taught by the Mountain Man
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
Taught by the Mountain Man
Maxine
A serious case of writer’s block and a looming deadline bring me to a remote mountain cabin where I hope to finish my next book in peace. I hadn’t counted on the insanely hot mountain man distracting me, though. I’m pretty sure he can help me spice up my scenes but I'm too inexperienced and afraid to ask him.
Sawyer
The curvy brunette arriving at my doorstep to rent my guest room is going to be trouble. Too bad I can’t send her away because I desperately need the money. When I find out she’s a romance author who has no idea how to write steamy scenes, I’m tempted to help her learn a thing or two.
Will she let me be her first and make her mine or will she run away like all the other women in my life?
TAUGHT BY THE MOUNTAIN Man is a steamy short instalove romance full of heat and heart with NO cliffhangers, NO cheating, and a Guaranteed HEA. This book is part of the series First Times in Trout Creek, a steamy romance series set in a small mountain town where every insanely hot guy finds a sweet & inexperienced curvy woman to love.
Chapter One
Maxine
“Are you sure about this? It’s not too late to turn back,” Kaci says.
“I’m fine. Stop asking me.”
She laughs. “You know it’s my duty to ask. What kind of best friend would I be if I let you run off to a remote mountain cabin without checking you’re absolutely sure this is a good idea?”
“I promise you this is going to turn out exactly like I’ve planned. Besides, I’m not running. I need some peace and quiet to finish my novel.”
I tighten the grip on my phone as if that’s going to ease my nerves while the Uber snakes up Trout Creek Mountain. Part of me is truly excited about this trip. I’ll finally be able to finish my novel without the distracting noises from the pizza parlor where I rent a room. My poorly lit studio might be tiny and right next to the restaurant’s toilets, but it’s cheap as hell. Not that it matters at this point. If my books continue to make peanuts, it’s still too expensive. Thank goodness Joe—my landlord—is a top-notch guy. He occasionally brings me pizza slices and agreed to let me postpone my rent for a couple of months until I get back on my feet. He’s a real trooper. I sank all of my savings into my author career and still haven’t recovered financially.
My books have rave reviews about the plot and the characters, but several state that my sex scenes read as if they’re written by a virgin. Technically, they’re not wrong, but I won’t ever admit that to anyone.
Gosh, I hope hiding away in a cabin for a few weeks will help me focus and give me the inspiration I need to finally write panty-melting scenes. If I can’t pull it off, I’ll have to move back home and face the I told you so looks from my parents. A shudder runs through me as I picture them lecturing me about being a smart girl and getting a real job as if writing is something to be frowned upon.
The car slowly comes to a halt. “I’ve got to go, Kaci. I’ll call as soon as I’ve unpacked and settled in, okay?”
“What was that about unpacking? You’re breaking up.”
I look at my phone and wince. “I think there’s spotty cell service here. I’ll call as soon as I can.”
Before I can figure out whether or not she heard me, the line goes dead.
My Uber driver turns around in his seat. “This is as far as I can go.”
“Excuse me?”
He shrugs. “The cabin should be about a mile up ahead, but I can’t get there. Not with this car anyway. I didn’t know the roads would be this rugged. This is the first time someone has ever asked me to drive them up this mountain.”
Part of me hopes he’s joking, but the seriousness of his face tells me he’s not. I peer out of the window into the night. All I can make out are trees. The road ahead is not even lit.
Dread fills me as I step out of the car. Maybe Kaci was right. This might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. I barely survive living on my own in a bustling city. How am I going to find my way to this cabin I rented?
The driver puts my suitcase next to me and throws me a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry I have to leave you here like this.” He pauses for a second, then looks me straight in the eye. “Be careful out there, okay? Oh, and if you won’t let this negatively affect my rating, I’d appreciate it.”
He gets back into the car and spends another three minutes turning the vehicle back around on the small road while I’m thinking about how many stars I’ll knock off his rating for doing this to me. If he couldn’t drop me off at my destination, he should’ve told me so when I booked the ride.
The car disappears into the night, leaving nothing but eerie silence and darkness behind. I swallow. What if a bear jumps out of the woods? I don’t have any weapons on me. Not even a can of bear spray. I doubt hitting a blood-thirsty animal with my worn-out sports bag will do much.
I take a deep breath. The driver said the cabin should be straight ahead. Can’t be too difficult to find, right? I strap my sports bag around my shoulders and turn on my phone’s torch light. Careful not to trip over any loose branches or rocks, I start walking. Too bad I write romance instead of thrillers because this oppressive darkness is giving me lots of inspiration.
A shudder runs through me. I need to redirect my focus and stop thinking about wolves, bears, and people with bad intentions. I softly hum one of my favorite songs in a futile attempt to calm my nerves.
My thoughts drift away to the cabin I rented through an online ad. I recall it word for word as I spent four days reading it repeatedly before finally gathering the courage to reply. Besides, the ad wasn’t hard to memorize since it was so concise and to the point.
Room and board for rent in remote cabin (Montana) with shared bathroom. Price includes utilities. Must love peace and quiet. Preferably a renter who likes to keep to himself.
It sounded right up my alley. Lover of peace and quiet? Check. Keeping to myself? Another check.
The only thing that worries me is the shared bathroom, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. As long as the cabin owner isn’t some kind of deranged person, I can handle it. Not that I have a choice. I’ve already wired the money, so there’s no turning back now.
Another swirl of dread snakes up my spine. What if this cabin doesn’t even exist, and I gave my last dollars to a scammer?
The wind rustles through the trees lining the road. In the distance, I hear a pack of wolves howling. There’s not a living soul or a cabin in sight. I bite my lip to stop myself from crying. How could I have been so stupid? The only thing I have of this person is an email address. Anyone can create one of those and take money from naïve strangers, right?
I start to run, but I don’t notice the thick tree root lining the road. I flail my arms, but it’s no use. I hit the ground. Hard. And so does my phone.
I groan. A sharp pain shoots through my ankle as I try to stand up. Shit! I must’ve sprained it. To top it off, my phone screen is cracked, and there’s no cell service. I focus the torch light on my hand and cringe. Blood is seeping out of my palm. Great. Just fucking great.
What do I do? Turning back isn’t an option. The nearest town is about ten miles from here. The only choice I have is to head further up the mountain in the hopes that I’ll finally arrive at the cabin—or some other cabin, for that matter.
My ankle hurts like hell with every step I take. I curse myself and these woods. If I had been savvier with marketing my books or if I’d banged out better sex scenes, I wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with. I’d be reading a book under a comfy blanket in a cozy apartment right now.
I grit my teeth. I know better than to put myself down like this. Perseverance and determination combined with hard work will get me where I want to be. I won’t give up.
A good five minutes later, I see the faint glow of light and my body finally relaxes. As I get closer, I can make out the contours of a cabin, smoke circling out of the chimney.
I hobble up the driveway and step onto the porch. There’s no doorbell, so I use my uninjured hand to knock on the wooden door as hard as I can.
A dog barks from inside the cabin. The sound is followed by approaching footsteps and locks being opened.
The door swings open, and as I look up, my breath hitches in my throat. A huge guy towers in front of me, and his beard does
I don’t know who or what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t this hot as a chili pepper mountain dude.
“What do you want?” the gorgeous guy barks at me.
Wow. Not exactly the warm welcome I was hoping for.
I extend my hand, ready to shake his and tell him my name, when my eye drops to his big hands. Is that... the glint of a knife blade?
Chapter Two
Sawyer
The curvy brunette at my cabin door looks terrified when she spots the knife in my hands. I was cutting up some fresh meat when she came knocking, disturbing my peace.
“I’m cooking,” I tell her. “What are you doing here?” Hopefully, she’ll grace me with an answer this time.
“I, um, rented a room from you?” She drops her extended hand and pushes it deep into her coat pocket.
“Sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong address.”
She frowns as she opens a crumpled piece of paper. “So you aren’t Sawyer Stone?”
“I am, but I’m expecting a guy called Max.”
A smile lights up her face. “That’s me. Max. Short for Maxine.”
Fuck. This can’t be right. What am I going to do with a stunning girl like her around? “No way. Not going to happen. You’ll have to find another place to crash.”
Her eyes grow wide. “Are you crazy? I already paid you. In full! I’m staying.” She crosses her arms over her chest and takes a step forward.
I offer her an amused smile in return. What is she going to do? Use physical force? I could pick her up with one hand and throw her out if I wanted to.
“Let me in,” she says through gritted teeth.
My mind needs a minute to process this. The guy I thought I rented my room to for the next couple of weeks turns out to be a girl. Having her here will be a distraction I don’t need, but leaving her outside in the dark isn’t cool either. I can already hear the disappointment and disapproval in my sister’s voice when I tell her I turned Max—sorry, Maxine—away.
“Why are you here?”
She harrumphs. “That’s none of your business.”
I cock an eyebrow.
“Fine, I’m here to write a book. I’m an author. So if you’re worried about me getting in your way, don’t. I prefer to be alone.”
“Same. Come on in.”
“You better believe I’m coming in. I’ve paid you.”
“I know.” I open the door for her, and she limps over the threshold.
“What’s wrong with your foot?”
“I sprained my ankle while walking up to your cabin. My Uber driver left me about two miles from here.”
“Why didn’t you tell me straight away? You need to ice that ankle and put it up. Oh, and report that driver.” My blood boils at the thought. What kind of person leaves a woman on the side of the road in a dark forest? A bear could’ve gotten to her before she got to me. Some people don’t use their brains.
She stares me down. “I would’ve told you if you’d given me a warmer welcome.”
Feisty. I like that in a girl. I grunt. Stop thinking about her in that way. I’m not in the market for a relationship or a fling or whatever.
Cooper jumps from the couch to sniff our guest. Maxine rubs his head while he tries to jump on her.
“Cooper, down,” I tell my Bernese Mountain Dog. With his weight, he’ll knock the girl right over.
“Oh, it’s okay. He looks so sweet.” She laughs when he licks her hand. “That tickles, Coop.”
I frown. Coop? She sure feels at home fast.
“Ready for the tour?” I ask, scooping up her sports bag from the floor.
She nods. “Yeah, that would be great. I’ve been in the air and on the road for hours. I’m exhausted.”
I nod. “Before you head off to bed, I’ll get you an ice pack for your ankle.”
“Thanks.”
I spread my arms. “This is the living room, as I’m sure you can tell. To your right is the kitchen. I was just making stew. If you want some, it’ll be ready in a few hours.”
She peeks her head into the kitchen. “Cozy. I like it.”
I know the cabin isn’t big, but it’s enough for a guy like me who lives alone. I don’t need a chef’s kitchen with marble countertops. My stove, oven, and small counter space are more than enough. For me anyway. Maxine probably lives in some chic apartment in the city.
I open the freezer door, take out an icepack and wrap it in a kitchen towel before handing it over. “You’re going to need this.”
“Thanks.”
“Next up is the bathroom,” I announce.
We cross the living room to the bathroom, and I lead her inside, immediately regretting it. The space is so small that we’re standing way too close together.
“Bath-shower combo, sink, toilet. Just your normal bathroom. Clean towels are over there.” I point to the wooden cabinet under the sink.
“Great.”
“Glad you like it. Let’s move on.” I lead her through the small hallway. “Here is my room. Sorry, keeping the door closed.”
She shrugs. “Okay, I get it. You’re a private man. I respect that.”
“Right next to my bedroom is yours.” I swing the door open and drop her sports bag on the bed.
She lets her gaze travel over the double bed with clean sheets, the wooden dresser, and the small wooden desk in the corner.
“Oh, there’s even a sink in here. Neat.”
“Only runs cold water, though.”
She smiles at me. “That’s okay. I’ll use it for freshening up and brushing my teeth.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Take your time unpacking and catching up on some sleep. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
I close the door behind me and let out a big breath of air. Having a woman arrive instead of a man was quite the surprise. I hope it’ll all work out fine. Maxine looks sweet enough, but there’s something about her that I can’t find the words for.
I throw some extra logs on the fire and get back to the kitchen. As I slice through a piece of fresh meat, the word hits me. Innocent. That’s what she is. Or at least, that’s how she comes across, despite her feistiness.
I can’t believe I assumed Max was a guy. I never thought a girl would travel to my cabin to live in isolation for weeks on end. Then again, it does make sense since she’s a writer. Don’t people always say that writers need solitude to get words on the page? I wonder what kind of books she writes. Probably syrupy-sweet love stories. Not that it’s any of my business. If she likes it and it pays her bills, more power to her.
Renting out the spare room wasn’t my first choice either, but I’m neck-deep in debt thanks to the fucked up medical system that racks up bills faster than you can blink. It was either posting the ad about renting a room or risking further debt and selling my cabin. No way am I ever going to let that happen. At least now, I’m confident I’ll get through the next few months until the tourist season starts back up and I can make more money.
I pour some olive oil into a frying pan and add the venison meat. After adding the vegetables, herbs, potatoes, and sauce, I let everything boil for a good amount of time before turning the stove down and letting it simmer. The stew should be ready in an hour or two.
Cooper lazily lifts his head in my direction when I enter the living room. He’s spread out on the blanket in front of the fire, exhausted from a full day of hiking.
I settle myself on the couch with a thriller. There’s not much to do around here besides read and contemplate. I don’t have a TV, and cell phones only have service about ten percent of the time in this part of the mountains.
The story about an ex-SEAL trying to catch a kidnapper doesn’t hold my attention tonight as my thoughts keep drifting to Max. I look at her closed door. Is she sleeping? Staring at the ceiling, wondering why she came here? Writing her book?
I shake my head. Her being here is a pure business transaction. I need the money, and she needs a quiet place to write. Me thinking about what she’s doing in her bedroom can’t be part of that simple agreement.
