Owned By The Mountain Man (Montana Mountain Men Book 2)

by Gemma Weir

  Opening the refrigerator, I pull out the milk, strawberries, and blueberries and place them on the counter. Then I grab a banana, oats, honey and an apple and start to chop them all up before I add them to my blender. Five minutes later, I have my breakfast in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other as I cross my small apartment and flop down onto the couch.

  I hum happily as I sip my smoothie and the sweet fruity goodness coats my tongue. Placing my coffee on the table at the side of the couch, I swing my legs up and twist so I’m lying along the length of the cushions and brace myself as I pull my cell from my pocket.

  Five missed calls and fifteen texts.

  I click into the missed calls first. More than one from my mom or dad… I’ll call them back later. “Hmm,” the sound falls from my lips as I stare at the list of numbers. One from my dad, one from my mom, and three from a number I don’t recognize saved as HB. Who the hell is HB?

  Sliding into my texts next there’s two from Bonnie, two from my mom, one from my brother… and ten from HB. Seriously, who the hell is HB? Did I meet a guy last night? I don’t remember any guys getting within ten feet of Bonnie and I after Beau went all beast mode on Eric and Brett. No, I know I didn’t meet anyone last night, and I haven’t given my number to anyone in months.

  Clicking into the text messages, I start to read the content.

  HB – Text me if you get sick.

  HB – Getting that drunk is dangerous.

  HB – You need someone to take care of you.

  HB – Make sure that key doesn’t go back under your doormat.

  HB – I’m so pissed about that key, Peaches.

  HB – Why isn’t anyone taking care of you?

  HB – Why aren’t you answering your cell?

  HB – Peaches?

  HB – Text me so I know you’re okay.

  HB – I’m coming over if you haven’t text or called me in the next ten minutes.

  The more I read, the more confused I get. Who the hell is HB? And how does he know I keep a key under my doormat? A frisson of fear prickles at my skin. Did this guy follow me home? Did he watch me use my hider key to let myself into my apartment last night?

  My fingers are shaking as I type out a response to him.

  Me – Who is this?

  For the very first time since I moved in almost a year ago, I don’t feel safe. These texts have made me feel like my home has been violated and it’s my own fault. I got drunk and then somehow let a stranger into my apartment, into my home, my safe space.

  There’s a knock at the door at the same time as my cell beeps to tell me I have a new text. Wrapping my fingers around my cell, I grip it tightly as I get up and cross the apartment to my front door. A tremor of fear ripples along my arm as I reach up to the catch to open the door, then pause and instead press my eye against the peephole.

  “Huck?” I mutter aloud, shock and relief bursting from me at the sight of Beau’s brother standing at my door.

  “Open up, Peaches,” he growls, his eyes locked on the peephole as if he knows I’m looking at him.

  “Peaches?” I whisper, as my fingers are unclasping the lock… that I don’t remember putting in place before I passed out last night. Pulling open the door half way, I peer at him, my brow furrowed with confusion as to why Huck Barnett would be at my door. “Hey Huck,” I say.

  Barely glancing in my direction, Huck lifts his arm and presses his palm above my head against the wood of my front door, and pushes it open. Shocked, I release my grip and it swings into my apartment allowing him access. Huck steps past me as if I just cordially invited him in and strides straight into the kitchen.

  “Hey,” I cry, leaving the door open as I stomp over to where he seems to be making himself at home at my kitchen counter. “Hey,” I cry again when he ignores me. “What the hell are you doing barging in here?”

  Turning his head slowly, his predatory, piercing gaze falls on me and I shudder beneath his scrutiny. “You didn’t answer my calls, or reply to my texts. I warned you I was coming,” he says slowly, his voice laced with an anger that I don’t understand.

  “What?” I ask, bemused, my voice shaky.

  Huck stares at me for a moment, his eyes roving over my body before eventually settling on my face. “What do you remember about last night?”

  My heart starts to beat faster, until I can feel my pulse in my throat as I swallow thickly. “I remember going out, drinking and dancing. I remember Beau appearing and dragging Bonnie off. I remember dancing more and lots of shots. Then I remember getting in a car with Bonnie to go home,” I tell him, my voice quiet and unusually meek.

  “That’s it?”

  “Yes,” I answer slowly.

  “So, you were so drunk you forgot that you could barely walk? That I had to haul you over my shoulder and carry you to the car? That I brought you back here, found your key under the mat and let us in?”

  Unable to meet his eyes, I stare down at my hands that’s are twisted together. “You bought me home?”

  “Yep,” he says curtly. “You were a mess, Peaches. You put yourself at risk. Why the hell don’t you have someone looking out for you? Does your daddy and your brother know you’ve got a key to your apartment hidden under your doormat? That anyone could just let themselves in here and hurt you.”

  “I can look after myself,” I say weakly.

  “You couldn’t last night,” he snarls angrily.

  “Bonnie was supposed to be staying the night with me. I wasn’t going to be alone.”

  “And Bonnie was in almost as bad a state as you. What the fuck do you think she could have done to protect you both?” he hisses.

  “Look,” I start.

  “I ought to tan your ass for being so fucking irresponsible.”

  “Excuse me,” I gasp, my eyes wide.

  “You heard me, Peaches. You deserve a spanking, maybe that’d teach you not to put yourself at risk.”

  “You…” I faulter, my voice breaking a little. “You want to spank me?”

  “I said you deserved a spanking. I bet you’d think twice at being so fucking stupid in the future if you remembered how red and sore your butt was.”

  Suddenly indignant with anger, I splutter, “Who the hell do you think you are? I don’t know you. I think last night was the first time we’ve spoken maybe ever. We’re not friends, it’s probably a push to suggest we’re even acquaintances. So what the fuck makes you think you have the right to barge into my apartment and start giving me shit about my safety?” I shout.

  “You’re right,” he says, shocking me.

  “What?”

  “You’re right. You aren’t my business, or you weren’t.”

  “I’m still not.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Peaches. Last night I made you my business.”

  “Well, I absolve you of your obligations,” I drawl sarcastically.

  “It doesn’t work that way,” he says, smiling menacingly at me.

  “Look—”

  “You made yourself my business last night. Cora, you were so drunk you couldn’t walk, if it hadn’t been for me, anyone could have just scooped you up and taken advantage of the state you got yourself in. You need someone to look after you, until you grow up enough to look after yourself. It should be your daddy or your brother who protects you, but if they can’t do it, I will.”

  His expression is stern and unyielding. I’ve never spent any time with him to know if this is how he is usually, but something tells me it isn’t. The fine lines around his mouth suggest that he’s usually smiling and happy, but not today. Today he’s pissed, but despite everything he’s said, I still don’t understand why.

  “Look, I appreciate you looking after me last night. I admit I drank too much and I know that’s dangerous. Thank you for your concern, but despite how it appeared last night, I’m more than capable of looking after myself.” Crossing the room to where my apartment door is still open, I stand with my hand on the edge of the wood, my
body turned outwards in an obvious gesture of get the hell out of my apartment. But instead of taking the huge hint to leave, Huck ignores me, reaches down a mug from a shelf and pours himself a cup of my coffee.

  “You can stand by that door all day, but I’m not leaving until I’m good and ready,” he warns, not looking at me as he adds sugar to his mug and grabs a teaspoon from my silverware drawer.

  “Huck, I’d like you to leave,” I say clearly.

  “I’d like you not to put yourself in dangerous situations or leave a key for anyone to use underneath your door mat, but we don’t always get what we want, do we?” he drawls.

  I feel my eyes get comically wide as he blatantly ignores me and moves to my couch, sitting down and getting comfortable while I stay standing stiffly by the door.

  “Peaches, get your ass over here and drink your coffee and whatever this purple mush is in this glass,” Huck orders, his gaze dismissive even though his voice is steely and unyielding.

  Sighing wearily, I close the door and make my way across the apartment, lifting my smoothie from where I left it on the coffee table and sinking down into the furthest chair away from my unwelcome visitor.

  His chuckle is amused and indulgent. Leaning back against the couch cushions he lifts his mug to his lips and sips, smiling at me the whole time. If he wasn’t annoying the hell out of me, I’d notice how attractive he is. His hair is brown, thick on the top, but cut short on the sides. His chin is coated in stubble that I’m sure will become a full beard in a day or two, and his skin is tanned like he spends all his time outside, which would make sense if he works up on the mountain with his brother.

  If he wasn’t being so much of a dick, I’d probably think he was pretty gorgeous. He’s tall, filling my couch and making it look small even when he’s the only one sitting on it. He’s wearing worn jeans and a simple button-down shirt that looks soft and comfortable. I’m not blind, I’ve noticed how good looking the entire Barnett family is, but I’ve never been this close to Huck before to really study him.

  He’s hot, the kind of hot that you don’t see in real life, but unlike Mitchell who’s pretty, Huck is sexy. Raw and rugged and real, he has a proper job, one where he gets his hands dirty, he has a brood of brothers that if what Bonnie says is true, he’s really close to and for some reason, even though he’s being a real asshole about it, he seems to be worried about me.

  “Huck, I’m not really sure why you’re here,” I say.

  Sipping his coffee, he sighs. “I’m not really sure either.”

  2

  Huck

  What the hell am I doing here? Cora’s staring at me like I’m a mental patient and honestly, I’m not surprised. We aren’t friends, or at least we weren’t. Now her best friend is going to be my sister, I feel responsible for making sure that Cora is looked after, for Bonnie’s sake.

  Hell, who am I kidding, this has nothing to do with Bonnie.

  Rockhead Point is a small town, I know who Cora’s family are, I think I even vaguely knew who Cora was, or at least I knew she was Cameron Cunningham’s little sister anyway. But nothing could have prepared me for seeing her walking into that bar last night.

  She’s only twenty-one, like Beau’s girl, but she’s all fucking grown up, and the tight white top and skirt that looked like it had been painted onto her skin made my dick twitch in a way that was all kinds of fucked up.

  I enjoy women, and I’ve got a few regular hook-ups who help me scratch an itch whenever I fancy, but I’ve never been interested in getting married or having babies. I know Beau’s been waiting for a love like our mom and dad shared, but as much as I loved how our parents adored each other, I’ve always thought they were just really fucking lucky, not that they had this epic fated match or whatever.

  I don’t have a type, confidence is hot to me, so blonde or brunette, skinny, or curvy, tall or short doesn’t matter to me. Hot is hot in all shapes and sizes. But Cora is something else. Her hair is bright red, her body tight and curvy but more than that, she has this aura of self-confidence that’s impossible to ignore.

  If she was a stranger, I’d want to fuck her. I’d enjoy spreading her legs and eating her sweet, young pussy. Hell, I spent hours when I got home last night imagining how she’d look with her tits bouncing as she rode my dick. What sounds she’d make when her cunt was stretched full of my cock. How her creamy skin would look covered in my cum. But she’s not a stranger, and with Beau and Bonnie getting so serious, I can’t be the asshole brother who screws my new sister-in-law’s best friend and then never calls her again.

  That should be enough to deter me, but there’s something about Cora that just won’t let me walk away. Last night she was a hot mess, drunk, slurring her words, she could barely walk, and so I took charge and got her home and safe. That should have been it, I’d done my duty to Bonnie and looked after her mess of a friend. But then she fetched her house key from under her fucking doormat and something inside of me snapped. This girl might think she’s capable of looking after herself, but putting herself at risk like that proves that she needs someone to take care of her.

  That person shouldn’t be me, but obviously her brother and dad aren’t stepping up, so I’ll have to, until I can speak to Cameron and find out why the hell no one’s looking out for her properly.

  “If I don’t know why you’re here, and you don’t know why you’re here, maybe you should leave,” Cora says, pulling my attention back to her, amusement making her lips twitch up at the corners as if she’s fighting a smile.

  “I don’t want you leaving a key under your doormat anymore. It’s dangerous and honestly, Peaches, just kind of fucking stupid,” I scold, keeping my voice stern so she knows I’m being serious.

  “This is a secure apartment building and my brother lives on the floor above me,” she laughs.

  “Then how come he hasn’t hunted me down to find out what the hell I was doing carrying your unconscious ass into your bedroom and stripping you out of those ridiculous clothes last night?” I growl.

  “You undressed me?” she shrieks.

  “You insisted,” I growl, willing my dick to calm down, even though remembering how she looked last night in nothing but that tiny white bra and panties is enough to have my cock surging back to attention. “It was all I could do to get you to keep your underwear on.”

  That’s not entirely true, she wasn’t trying to strip off for me, she just kept giggling and complaining that she was hot.

  “If I was so out of it, how did I lock the door after you?” she questions, her eyes narrowed.

  “After I made you drink some water and take some Advil, I made you follow me out and I stood at the door until you locked it,” I growl.

  Sighing, she lets her head fall forward into her waiting hands. “Okay, so last night was obviously not my finest hour. I understand that I put myself at risk and I appreciate your help in getting me home. I’m not really sure what else you expect me to say. I’ll make sure that I don’t drink that much in the future.”

  Her head lifts from her hands and she flashes a tired smile at me. Pushing up from her chair, she glances from me to the door expectantly and even though I really don’t want to, I reluctantly stand. “I just want you to be safe.”

  Her jaw tenses, but she smiles. “I appreciate that. Tell Bonnie I said hey.”

  I’m moving towards the door, even though it’s going against every instinct I have. “Your family needs to take better care of you,” I snap, as she opens the door and waits next to it for me to leave.

  “I’m sure they’ll get right on that,” she mumbles sarcastically.

  I move before I can think better of it, lifting her off her feet and pushing her back against the wood of her door, pressing my body into hers, intimidating her with my size and presence. “This isn’t a joke, Peaches. I don’t think you putting yourself in danger and taking risks with your own safety is fucking funny,” I growl. I shouldn’t be doing this, I shouldn’t be touching her, but I just ca
n’t help myself. The thought of her being hurt, of someone taking advantage of her is driving me crazy.

  Her eyes are wide, but she doesn’t resist my hold on her. She’s completely still apart from the fast beating of her heart and the lift and fall of each breath. “You’re right, letting strange men walk straight into my apartment isn’t very sensible, so I think it’s time you left,” she says slowly and calmly.

  The sound of her voice pulls me back to my senses and I slowly lower her to the ground, dragging her body down the front of mine until her feet are on the floor and I’m looking down at her, noticing again how much smaller she is than me.

  My dick is so hard I feel light headed from where all the blood has drained to my crotch. I know she must have felt how hard I was when I put her down, but her eyes haven’t dropped from my face.

  “I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I whisper, my voice low and gruff.

  “I get it, you’re just looking out for Bonnie’s friend,” Cora nods.

  Stepping back, I clear my throat. “Exactly.”

  “Thanks for checking up on me, as you can see, I’m fine and I promise I’ll be more careful in the future.”

  “Good,” I snap, taking another step away from her, even though the very last thing I want to do is walk away.

  “Bye Huck,” she says as she closes the door in my face.

  Staring at the door, painted a jaunty red, I swallow thickly, reaching down and adjusting my dick in my jeans. I can’t move, don’t want to move, because she’s alone on the other side of the door and this urge, this drive inside of me is telling me to stay, to take care of her, to protect her. But she’s not my girl, this isn’t some cosmic moment where the cloud’s part and the sun beams down on her. Cora isn’t my responsibility, she’s just my new sister’s friend.

  Forcing my feet to move, I turn away, striding purposefully towards the exit. When I reach the elevator and hit the call button, the doors open immediately, but instead of pushing the button for the lobby, I press the one for the floor above and before I’m even aware of what I’m doing, my fist is pounding on the door of the apartment immediately above hers.