It was around 3 a.m. last night. I was pretending to go to sleep but really, I was thinking about going outside to catch a picture of the Milky Way as the core rose above the cactus.

Because March in the northern hemisphere is the time when night owl photographers celebrate the return of Milky Way season.

But when I looked out the window, I saw that after 2 days of skies so clear they've been bland, clouds had gathered and completely obscured the stars. Although, there was one of those cool-looking halos around the moon.

So I went back to pretending to go to sleep--

This is where I had one of those sudden panic moments when I realized that it, in fact, technically, already Saturday and did I send out an email this week?

Uh. No. I did not.

Oops.

Well, I'm here to tell you what I have been doing this week: Writing Terra and Hawk's story.

It's an almost-but-not-quite enemies to lovers story and it has just been one of the most fun-to-write books I've ever written. I adore Terra (she might have some things in common with her author) and it's been interesting to also see Hawk through her eyes and fall in love with him along with her. (When Hawk first came to the Ridge, I didn't expect him to get his own book and I certainly never expected to be thinking such naughty things about him.)

Major tropes to expect in this book: Age gap (14 years,) forbidden/off-limits, opposites attract/enemies-to-lovers sorta kinda, and also, I'm really bad at naming tropes. Is there one for "I never noticed you were hot before?"

Mountain Man's Need is still on schedule to be available on April 3 and I promise not to forget the email announcing when releases!

Scroll down a tad for a sneak peek at the story--

Terra:

How do I want to play this?

I mean, I don't want to be too obvious in front of my brother. He'll give me hell if he sees me flirting with one of his buddies. But if I wait till they part ways, I might miss a chance to meet the guy.

I straighten my back and do my very best casual stroll back to my cottage-- being careful to take a route that goes directly by my brother and his sinfully hot friend, of course.

As I get a little closer to them, I'm able to make out a few more details about the guy. He's a couple inches shorter than Vale so I'm guessing he must be around six, three. His hair is definitely a dark brown. It's combed neatly to the side and away from his face where it's longer on top and I wonder what it would look like after my hands had been in it while he had his face between my legs.

That little fantasy hits me harder than expected and I have to pause for a second and catch my breath. Because, hell yeah, I would definitely let this man scratch my thighs with his beard.

I get about twenty feet away from them before Vale sees me.

My brother shoots me a grin that makes me feel like I'm the butt of a joke I didn't hear-- with three annoying older brothers, I know that grin well-- then he lifts off from where he was leaning against the side of his truck and slaps the other guy on the shoulder as he turns to look over at me too.

My steps slow down as I try to process the complete scene as it comes into full view.

"There she is, man." I hear Vale tell the other guy. "Check in with us later so we know you're still alive, right?"

"Hey, Tee." Vale lifts his arm in a wave toward me but doesn't wait for me to approach. He just laughs again, jumps in his truck, and takes off, leaving his friend standing alone in the semi-darkness while he watches me come closer.

Weird.

The guy and I both stare after Vale's truck as the tail lights disappear down the drive.

I'd expected my brother would stick around to at least introduce me to his friend.

Maybe glower at the guy a little to warn him him not to mess with me.

Guess I don't warrant the same protective big brother act that Meadow got.

The way Vale took off, it's like he thinks I already know this guy-- and definitely doesn't think the guy is going to do anything inappropriate.

Well, the joke's on my brother, because I plan on making sure his friend does all kinds of inappropriate things to me.

"Good evening, Terra."

I know that voice.

"I was hoping I'd get to see you here tonight."

The man closes the distance between us while my brain scrambles to make sense of how Deputy Hawkin's voice is possibly coming out of the man I've been drooling over for last few hours.

I feel like I've been cat-fished.

Mountain Man's Need is coming soon!

~Rocklyn