Adored By the Mountain Man by Hallie Bennett

PROLOGUE

LUNA

“How long is this going to take?” My mom’s disgruntled question pokes a hole in the bubble of pride I’ve been floating in since learning the Chamber of Commerce wanted to honor me. After helping multiple local businesses launch their websites, someone nominated me for the Emerging Leaders award, and this morning’s chamber meeting is when I’ll receive the commendation.

A part of me had hoped my mom would be proud of me—would care that her only daughter is being recognized before the entire town of Suitor’s Crossing. But her apparent disinterest proves how wrong I’d been to think this time would be different from every other time we’re together.

“Meetings are usually an hour. I’m not sure when they’ll mention the award, though.” Most of the attendees are speaking along the edges of the room with cups of the provided hot coffee in hand. No one seems in a particular hurry to start the meeting early since there are ten minutes before it's officially slated to begin.

Mom huffs in annoyance and pulls out her phone. “Just remember, I have to pick up Bob’s groceries at eleven-thirty, so this better not run long. Shouldn’t have even come,” she mumbles under her breath. “Now you’ve got me stressed about work.”

A guilty flush heats my cheeks as I focus on the bright screen of my own phone, my skin tingling in shame and disappointment. She’d mentioned the odd job when I asked her to come with me last week, but I convinced her to attend anyway, promising it wouldn’t interfere with her schedule. Then on the drive here, she brought it up again, deflating my sense of accomplishment even more.

Colors blur on the screen as I bite my tongue and rapidly blink away tears. I should have known she’d ruin this for me.

Everyone comes before you.

Even Bob, a random man in her neighborhood that she somehow agreed to run small errands for. Since my dad died, Mom lives off spousal checks from Veteran Affairs, and to make ends meet, she picks up gigs around town when she feels like it.

They’re always at strange times and never pressing, but somehow they become a matter of life or death when one falls during a time I need her. Like when I had surgery for my wisdom teeth and needed a ride home—Mom was an hour late picking me up because she wanted to start a load of laundry for a friend. Or when I booked us a mother/daughter spa package for her birthday, and she told me that another friend asked to be driven to the library.

Every errand is vague with “friends” I don’t know, yet they take priority over me.

It was stupid asking her to come today.

But I’ll make the same mistake again and again. Because no matter how many times she lets me down, my optimistic personality refuses to let me quit trying—refuses to let me quit with all of my family, really. Relatives who think I’m “weird” or “too much” until a gift-giving occasion where they’re the center of attention. Then I’m tolerated enough to receive whatever I bought them.

Geez, this is not how I want to feel before being honored by the Chamber.

A notification appears at the top of my screen, and I eagerly click on it to view my “Music Year Unwrapped.” I love insights like these and enjoy the snapshot they provide of who I am.

Music plays once the app opens, spurring me on to quickly lower the volume before someone hears as slides showcase my top artists and my listening personality. “Hey, Mom, look. They deemed me an ‘Out of this World Explorer.’ Check out the rest of my traits.” I offer her my phone, but she ignores my outstretched hand.

“No, I don’t want to.” She rolls her eyes and a grimace tightens her mouth. “When is this damn thing going to start?”

Deflated, I sink back into the chair. It’s not a big deal, just a stupid app, but my heart squeezes painfully as if it's a personal affront. Like she doesn’t even care to learn this tiny thing about me.

“Can I see?” A low male voice sounds behind us, and I turn to find Austin Fielding, The Ole Aces bar owner. Scars pucker his face from time spent in the military, while his large frame barely fits the small folding chair he’s seated in.

“What?”

He motions toward my phone. “Your listening personality. Learning about other people’s preferences always fascinates me. Plus, the song that was playing is one of my favorites, so I’m curious to see how we match up. But if that’s weird or…”

“No!” My body twists to face him more fully, though chamber members are taking their seats to start the meeting. “I mean, you can look, if you want. Everybody jokes about seeing the repetitive shares on social media, but I like seeing what people listen to, too,” I finish dumbly, pausing on the second “too.”

Try to act normal.

To be fair, I realize I’m pretty quirky for our small town—everyone thinks I’m named after Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter because of our similarities—but I’m working on toning it down around strangers. Not that Austin’s a complete stranger. I’ve been to his bar a couple of times and our friends are dating, so we’re aware of each other. But he tends to stick to himself.

“I’m Luna, by the way.” In case he forgot.

A strange light enters his eyes as his lips quirk upward. “Yeah, I know who you are, Luna.”

Oh.

“If we can have everyone’s attention, we’ll get started,” Dr. Avery announces from his center position up front, and the room quiets. Austin returns my phone, his fingertips brushing mine as if we’re in slow motion—each pinpoint of his touch eliciting a spark of recognition.

Heart sparks.

No, it can’t be.

Suitor’s Crossing has a town legend about finding your soul mate or heart spark, which I wholly believe is true, but surely Austin can’t be mine. We’ve been in each other’s company before and nothing happened. Yes, I find him attractive in a brooding mountain man kind of way, but that’s not how heart sparks work.

Maybe it just requires a touch.

“First order of business…” Another chamber member reads down the agenda as I straighten in my seat, contemplating the burst of heat between us.

The possibility of discovering my heart spark consumes my thoughts the entire meeting.

Overshadowing my acceptance of the award.

Distracting me from my mom’s attitude.

Is Austin Fielding the man meant to be mine—my heart spark?