Page 1 of Her Grumpy Mountain Man

one

Maddox

The white T-shirt lies spread across my kitchen table, its message printed in bold black letters—LAST MAN STANDING. Below the words, six stick figures hold hands with six others—a seventh stands beside a question mark. Jude left the shirt here after my birthday last month, and every time I try to hide it, he finds it again with the spare key I never should have given him when I’m away, which isn’t very often.

The joke means something extra to us. When we left the Navy, all seven of us were single and virgins. Our official military designation was SEAL Team Titan X, but we were better known as the suicide squad because of the dangerous nature of our assignments. Among the seven of us, we called ourselves the virgin squad once we realized we were all virgins.

We had all grown up without much love or trust. It wasn’t until Rafe met and fell in love with Tara that the rest of us began to believe we were worthy of love. Now Jude is with Kat, Rafe has Tara, Trace has Ember, Jack has Elsa, Hollander has Hadley, and Riker has Ashton. I’m the only one left without someone by my side to love.

I’ve always been more of a loner among the seven of us—so much so that some people call me grumpy, even though I enjoy the solitude that comes with working remotely from my cabin in cybersecurity at Woodbridge Falls Security. But ever since my SEAL brothers started finding love, my life has felt lonelier.

My phone vibrates against the table, and I glance down to see Jude's name on the screen. I answer on the second ring. “If you're calling about the shirt, I'm burning it.” I fold the fabric in half and toss it back onto the kitchen table. It lands face up, the little stick figures staring at me, mocking my lack of a love life.

“Keep it for ten more minutes—Kat and I are bringing someone who might appreciate the warning.” His amusement vanishes before I can respond. “We need your help, Maddox.”

“Anything, Jude. You know that.” It’s true, I would do anything for my SEAL brothers, and I know they would do anything for me—no matter the risk.

“Her name is Ava Evans. She’s twenty-three and works with a watershed group.” Jude's voice loses its teasing edge. “She gave an environmental attorney evidence of illegal dumping—now someone wants her to regret it.”

“Where is she now?” I lift my tablet and pull up the security feed for my cabin.

“With Kat and me. Nobody's followed us.” He lowers his voice. “The evidence is already secured. She just needs somewhere they can't find her until the last person is arrested.”

“How long?” I open the camera feed to check my cabin's perimeter.

“Through Sunday, if things go as expected.” Jude pauses. “The others are searching for the threat. Can you take her?”

When Jude says, "the others," I know he means the rest of my SEAL brothers. It’s been a long time since the seven of us have been on a mission together; each of us lives in a different town and works for a different security company. But it’s always been our dream to save enough money to open our own security company and work together.

“Bring her.” I check the cameras—two cover the driveway, and another covers the back clearing. My cabin is small, with only one bedroom, and so deep in the mountains that the road is so rough most delivery drivers won't attempt it—only our group knows where it is.

I hurry to my bedroom, empty two dresser drawers, and put fresh towels in the bathroom to prepare for my guest. I return to the kitchen as the driveway alert sounds.

Jude's SUV rounds the last bend. I stand at the open door, watching him get out. Kat appears on the other side. Then a gorgeous young woman steps out of the back seat, a bag clutched to her chest. Even from the porch, I can see how tightly she's holding it. She’s clearly scared—and it’s my job to keep her safe.

A strange possessiveness settles in my chest. I’ve worked on many assignments with different clients, but none of them have ever made me feel the way this woman does with just one look.

“Maddox, this is Ava.” Kat brings her friend toward the steps, a hand on her shoulder.

Ava lifts her eyes to mine, and I’m left speechless by her deep brown eyes, framed by long, dark brown lashes that match her hair.

“Come in.” I step away from the doorway, take the suitcase Jude is carrying, and finally come to my senses.

Jude places a secure phone on the table and lays a folder beside it, but before he can open it, Ava shifts toward us.

“I already gave you everything I know.” She tightens her grip on the strap as she sits down at the kitchen table. She looks so exhausted—definitely not the fun-loving, spitfire Kat once described her as.

One of the first times I met Kat, when she and Jude were just starting to date, she told me about her best friend Ava and said she thought we would be a perfect couple. Instead of letting her set us up on a date, I did what I always do—I shut down and ended the conversation.

“I know.” Jude leaves the folder closed. “This is for Maddox. You don't have to do it again.” His hand moves away from the folder—he’s careful not to startle.

Kat takes off her jacket and hangs it over the back of the chair, then crouches beside Ava, bringing their faces level. “You can put that down.” Kat touches the canvas bag. Ava looks at Kat's fingers. Slowly, she lifts the bag from her lap and lets Kat lower it beside the chair. The pale marks on her palms remain after she lets go. I move the footstool a little closer, careful not to crowd her. Kat looks up at me, then turns back to Ava. “You're safe here.” Kat rests her hand on Ava's knee. “And I'm only a call away.”

Ava's shoulders drop. Jude watches until she settles back, then turns the secure phone toward me. “Call through this. I'll check in even if there's nothing new.” He taps the screen.

“And if there is something new?” Ava looks past him toward me.

“You'll hear it.” I hold her gaze. “Nobody will hide anything from you.”