Property Of The Mountain Man (Montana Mountain Men Book 1)

Pulling my cell from my pocket I check for the hundredth time to see if she’s replied to any of my texts, but she hasn’t. I’m antsy to see her, I don’t like the way we left things last night, I don’t like thinking she’s mad at me and that this thing between us isn’t settled. To me it’s obvious, she’s mine and we’re together, but for some reason she doesn’t seem to think it’s that easy.

I don’t do girlfriends, the last time I did, I was a wet behind the ears high school senior dating a cheerleader. That’s not to say that Mary-Ann wasn’t a nice girl, but when we broke up and she immediately started dating my buddy, Brad, I was happy for them both. They’ve been married almost twenty years and have a brood of kids.

I haven’t been a fucking monk; I’ve indulged in women the last twenty odd years when the mood’s taken me. Snow bunnies in the winter and out of towners in the summer are always up for a quick fling with a fit, attractive townie. But I never date, I just fuck. Bonnie is the first woman I’ve seen myself having anything permanent with, and now I know she’s attracted to me, I just don’t see what the problem is.

The age gap could be a sticking point, but she hasn’t mentioned the twenty-two-year age difference at all. For some reason she seems really hung up on the fact that I haven’t asked her out on a date. But really, who the fuck cares about dates when we’re talking about forever? When I saw her, really saw her with honesty in my eyes, I knew she was it for me. She’s my chance at a future filled with real, raw, brutal love, so dating seems inconsequential to me. I’m ready to hand her my heart on a platter, and she wants to make small talk over wine and steak.

Apparently, I want to make her happy more than I care about my own dignity, that’s why I’m in slacks and a button down when I park my truck outside her house and make my way to the front door. I told her I’d pick her up at eight, and I’m right on time as I lift my hand and rap at the door.

“Beau?” Hal says when he opens the door.

“Good evening, Hal, I’m here to pick up Bonnie,” I say, pulling at my uncomfortable collar.

“She’s not here,” he says, confusion lacing his tone. “I thought she was out with you.”

“What? I told her I’d be here to pick her up at eight. Where’s she gone?”

“No clue, she just said she was eating out tonight, I assumed you were going out on a date. Her car’s gone, so did she think she was supposed to meet you at your place?”

Pulling my cell from my pocket I check it again, but there’s still no texts or missed calls from her. “I told her I was picking her up. I’ll give her a call and see where she’s at,” I tell him, walking away from the front door as I lift my cell to my ear. It rings several times, before her answerphone message plays in my ear and I end the call.

Turning back to Hal, I find him watching me, a concerned expression etched across his weathered face. “She didn’t answer. Maybe we got our wires crossed, she’s probably at my place waiting for me,” I say to placate him. I know she’s not at mine, but I don’t want to worry him by telling him I have no fucking clue where his daughter is. “I’ll go find her, then I’ll give you a call and let you know she’s with me.”

Hal nods, disappears into the house for a minute, then comes back and hands me a slip of paper, “that’s the house number and my blasted cell phone too.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking it from him and immediately turning for my truck. Climbing in I start the engine and peel away from the house, driving a little too quickly down the drive and onto the highway.

The advantage to having six brothers and living in a town this small, is that when you need to find someone you can just engage the Barnett brothers telephone tree, and that’s what I do now. Instead of making six calls, I just hit dial on the video chat app and invite the family group. Within seconds, I’m looking at all of my brothers’ faces as I slide my cell into the holder on my dash.

“Beau, what’s going on? You okay?” Granger asks.

“Bonnie’s gone AWOL; I was supposed to pick her up to take her out tonight but I just got to her place and she’s not here. Her daddy thought she was with me, so now he’s freaking out. Where you all at?” I ask.

“Bay and I are home,” Teddy says.

“I’m still at the garage,” Penn says, but the camera is moving and a moment later I recognize the office at the back of the shop.

“Cody and me will head into town, see if she’s here,” Huck says.

“No need, I’ve got eyes on her,” Granger tells us.

“What? Where is she?” I snarl.

“She’s just walked into Rochelle’s, looks like she’s on a date, bro,” Granger chuckles.

“Hell fucking no, the guy blond, from out of town?” Bay snaps.

“I didn’t get a good look, but I don’t recognize him, so he’s not from round here,” Granger says.

“That little…” I trail off, my teeth grinding together so hard it actually hurts.

“What the fuck, Beau, I thought you had things settled with Bonnie?” Penn hisses.

“Me too,” I growl.

Glancing at my cell, I see my brothers’ faces reflected back at me, all of their expressions a mix of concern and amusement. They think it’s funny that I’m panting after a girl who apparently hasn’t got the memo, that when I claim a woman, I don’t fucking share.

We all stay on the video chat, but no one really speaks as I do the twenty-minute journey into town in ten minutes. Abandoning my truck in a side street, I find Granger on the street opposite Rochelle’s.

“He’s here,” Granger says into his cell and I hear a chorus of “okay’s” and “don’t let him kill the guy” before he presses a button and slides his cell back into his pocket. “You good?” he asks.

“Nope,” I seethe.

“I’ll wait, make sure your crazy ass doesn’t get arrested,” he laughs, slapping me on the back as I stomp towards the restaurant and my infuriating woman.

Claudia, one of Rochelle’s daughters, smiles at me as I throw open the restaurant door, but when she sees my face her smile falls away and she just steps aside without a word. It only takes me a moment to spot Bonnie, and the soon to be deceased Dan from the coffee shop, sitting at a table together.

Staring at her, I take a moment to forcibly unclench my fists and inhale sharply. I’m managing to stay pretty calm until Dan lifts his head and looks at me. Surprise and then fear flashes across his pretty boy expression. His lips move and Bonnie’s head snaps around to look at me.