Hello, welcome, enjoy and another chapter.
Feb 17, 2023 5:32 pm
Well here we are, the middle of February. It's been unseasonably warm here but that's all set to change after the weekend, which makes wonderful writing weather!
My kids are off school next week but their activities still carry on so I can't hide in the house all week.
I have started on a sourdough bread journey, no I swear it's not 2020 again!! I made a started during the start of "lockdown" and made a few loaves but now I'm getting the itch to try new things in baking again. So Clarence is doing well and needed a new home last night because he out grew the jar he was in!
Ok enough about my baking hobby!
I just read this book by Ayla Asher and I really enjoyed it! It's available in KU!!
Two weary souls find each other against all odds…
Ashlyn Rivers left her cheating fiancé behind and moved to Ardor Creek to revamp her life. Done with men in general, she has plenty to focus on, like building her new business and renovating her house for the local haunted homes tour. Falling in love is definitely not on the agenda.
Scott Grillo lost his family in a tragic accident several years ago. Still processing the loss, he throws himself into his contracting business, pushing away the loneliness and heartache.
When Ashlyn blazes into Scott’s life, he turns down her request to renovate her house, vowing to squelch the desire she stirs deep inside. But Ashlyn is a force to be reckoned with and Scott finds himself longing for her embrace each day she remains in Ardor Creek.
Can these two disillusioned souls reclaim their hearts and choose to love again?
Welcome to Ardor Creek, the small Pennsylvania town where love is in the air! If you like a grumpy hero, a feisty heroine and steamy romance, this book is your jam. The main character is a widower who discusses the loss of his family so please take note of this before reading. Settle in and fall in love with Ardor Creek today!
If you haven't grabbed the My Darling Valentine you have 11 more days to get it!
Also don't forget to grab your Small Town Book of the Month! Next month is a new book (mine!) so don't miss out on grabbing Jaycee's book!
Kate McWilliams is a spicy small town author!
Her book Red Light is available for Pre Order and will be in KU so add it to your TBR!!
Here is a new opportunity, Kaci Rose, Eve London and Dylan Crush are doing a Kickstarter for their latest Mountain Man series! I can't wait for these books to be released every month!
They have some amazing rewards for backing this project. Ebooks, signed paperbacks, a T-shirt if they get 10 more backers. this is a fantastic opportunity to get exclusives from great authors!
Now on to chapter 2 of Conquering Her Mountain Man.
This book released On February 14, so it's available now!!
Copyright © 2023 by Bonnie Poirier All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the publisher or author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All names, characters and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious and a product of the author’s imagination. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places buildings and products is intended be should be inferred.
Cover by: Lunaria Cover Design Edited by: Eyes on Your Story
Published by: Bonnie Poirier
Chapter 2
With a thud, the woman in the red coat spun around. Her brown eyes were wide, and she was still holding the phone to her ear. “Gabby, I have to go.” She almost whispered those words as she ended her call. A red flush crept across her round, plump cheeks.
“Are you Hannah Retoli?”
She opened and closed her mouth like a fish, before she stuttered out, “Y-yes.” Clearing her throat, she straightened her shoulders and tried to paste a smile on her face.
“I’m Alrik Somerlad, your soon to be husband.” I towered over her. She must have only been just over five feet. She was so different from the women back home, who stood half a foot taller and weren’t curvy like Hannah. I wanted to pick her up and put her in my pocket and head for the plane. “Hopefully, I’ll meet your approval.” Arching my brow, I couldn’t help the smirk that crossed my face.
She closed her eyes tightly and grimaced. “You heard?” Hannah covered her mouth with her hands.
Leaning toward her, I whispered in her ear. “I heard.”
“You heard. That’s not me.” She shook her head, her eyes pleading with me to believe her. Smirking, I waited for her to say something. “Alrik, it really isn’t. I’ve been so stressed since getting the email and I’m exhausted.” Her shoulders slumped and tears welled in her eyes.
“Great,” I thought to myself. “I’ve made her cry and we haven’t even left the airport.”
“Come on, let’s get out to the plane. I’m afraid you won’t get much rest on the flight, but I will explain once we get out there.” I moved closer to her side and glanced around for her bags. “Where is your luggage?”
Hannah raised her arms and let them fall back down, making a slapping sound as they contented with her thighs. “Some tall, blond, viking-looking dude took them. I didn’t even try to stop him. I was afraid of what he would do to me.” Her chin quivered.
Gently, I placed my arm around her and pulled her to me. “Perfect, that was Hans. He’s part of my security team.”
“What do you need a security team for?” she asked, sniffling and wiping her nose.
“I will explain when we are on the flight.” Placing my hand on her lower back, I gently guided her to move. I needed to get out of the airport before I was spotted. News of this meeting didn’t need to arrive home before I did.
Leaving the terminal, we walked out to the airplane, but I was suddenly aware that the woman who was supposed to be next to me wasn’t. Looking around, I spotted her behind me, standing like she was frozen in place. Heading back, I stood in front of her. “Now what’s wrong?” Folding my arms across my chest, I sighed, waiting for an answer.
“That’s a private plane.”
“It’s actually a private jet.”
“Is it yours?”
“Well, yes, and no. It belongs to my family and right now I’m about the only one using it. Come on, we need to get going before the flight becomes delayed.” I took a step behind Hannah and forced her to move. This position was one I would not be taking again in public because of my status. The decision to tell her who I am was bubbling to the forefront, and I would have to do it on the plane.
“Sir, ma’am.” The flight attendant curtsied to us. Hannah turned back to look at me, her eyes wide with confusion, searching for a reason for this behavior.
Shaking my head, I hoped she would hold her questions for a moment. We walked to the seats, and I directed her to the chair across from mine. Her eyes were searching the plane. I tried to see it through her eyes, but I’d been immersed in this life since I was born and it didn’t seem odd to me.
The flight attendant from the door walked over to us. “Sir, we will be leaving shortly. If there is anything you need prior to takeoff, we can get that now, and if not, then we will check back when we are in the air.” She stood there waiting for my answer.
“Thank you, Natalia, I think we will be fine. Is everyone ready in the back?” I asked, glancing at my soon-to-be wife and saw a look of fear flash through her eyes.
“They are, sir.” With another simple, understated curtsy, she walked to the rear of the aircraft.
Hannah narrowed her eyes and arched her brow. Sighing, I knew time had run out and it was time to tell her. “Have you ever heard of the small island of Fjordbjorn?” She shook her head, and I wasn’t surprised. “The island is at the edge of the Arctic Circle, and almost never in mainstream thoughts.”
“The Arctic Circle? So it’s cold all the time?” She nodded and rubbed her arms like she was already imagining the freezing temperatures and year round snow that was a common misconception of the outside world.
A slight chuckle bubbled out of me. Looking at her, all I really wanted to do was take her in my arms and warm her up. My head drew back to reality and to the fact that I had only known this woman for twenty minutes. I had no business thinking of her in my arms or my hands running over her curvaceous body. Suddenly thankful there was a table separating us, I was able to hide my unexpected arousal. Clearing my throat, I needed to stop imagining what this woman looked like under the sweater she was wearing. “Well, it’s not California, but it’s pleasant.”
“And what do you do on this mysterious island that nobody has ever heard of?” She smiled sweetly and waited for my reply.
The captain came across the speakers of the plane and advised us we were ready to take off. While the safety talk was happening, the conversation we were about to have could wait for a few moments. A few moments passed, and the engines sped up. Glancing at Hannah, she was biting her lip and fidgeting. “Are you alright?” I whispered, leaning across the table.
“Well, I don’t really enjoy flying. Oh, flying is fine. It’s the up and the down I could do without.” She shook her head and waved her hand as if to brush the thought away. “No, it’s nothing, really. I’m just silly.” Her nervous giggle made my heart break for her, and I wondered how many times she had heard she was just being silly.
The main cabin was empty, except for the two of us, so I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and moved to sit in the empty chair beside her. “You aren’t silly. Take my hand and don’t let go until you feel comfortable again.”
“I might never let it go then.” Her words were so quiet, I wondered if she meant to say them out loud.
Matching her volume, I replied, “I won’t complain.” Her long eyelashes fluttered as she blinked rapidly and was speechless as the plane lifted off the runway into the air.
Well this took longer to write than planned, I had to go be the gate blocker while my husband fed the cows. Here's the stragglers coming in to eat. They don't have a care in the world, they know they will get food every day, a short walk to water. They are living the life. My father in law has bred really good animals and I can't say any of them worry me when I have to go stand amongst them!
p.s. I might have let one cow through while taking this picture! Good thing my husband was out of the sight line ha ha ha!!
That's it for me, talk to you in March!
B