Of course he saw the whole damn thing. Just my luck.

Mr. Ruthless Mountain Man stood and watched while I nearly fell face-first into a snowbank trying to get Kozmo back into the house. He’s been more stubborn than usual, which is probably due to moving and having new land to explore.

The internet service out here is choppy and unreliable, which is why it takes me twenty minutes just to check my email. Though it was a waste of time considering it was all junk mail.

“Alright, back to cleaning I go,” I say to myself though Rosie looks up at me as if she can understand me. “You wanna help?” I muse, petting her on the head. Rosie nuzzles her nose closer and licks my face. “I’ll take that as a yes.” I laugh when Kozmo trots over and starts whining. “Stop being so jealous.”

I clean and do laundry for the next few hours. When the sun starts to set, I make a fire and a mental note to double-check the wood stock in the morning. It’s been years since anyone in our family’s been up here, but I’m determined to get this place up and running for the winter months.

Just as I settle into the loveseat with a mystery murder book, Kozmo starts whining to go outside.

“Stay in the yard,” I warn him as he bolts out. Rosie follows behind, but I can’t see a damn thing past the patio.

Keeping the door slightly ajar, I stay inside and go back to my book while I wait. I’m right in the middle of the story where the pieces start to come together yet the heroine is still in the dark about who the man she’s sleeping with really is. I’ve been obsessed with this author for years and usually binge read every new book that she releases but when Aunt Mae passed, I helped with the funeral and then started packing.

Rosie comes to my side and that’s when I realize I got sidetracked and forgot to call the dogs back in.

“What the hell is that smell?” I wrinkle my nose as Rosie gets closer. “What did you get into?” I lean down, and it gets stronger. “Is that…skunk?”

Oh God, no. I didn’t even think skunks would be around this time of year. Then again, I don’t know much about the mountains in general.

“Fuck.” I run to the door and start calling for Kozmo. No surprise he doesn’t come, and I’m forced to put on my jacket and boots and go look for him. I remember I have a flashlight under the sink, so I grab that first before heading out.

“Kozmo!” I shout, trying to shield the blowing snow from my face. The wind has picked up, and when I checked online earlier, there was a weather advisory for an early snowfall coming. It’s not supposed to come until this weekend, but it’s obviously starting to circulate in the mountains.

I hear a loud metal clanking noise echo through the air followed by barking. Shit.

“Kozmo!” I start running toward the asshole neighbor’s cabin, certain one of his stupid traps caught my dog. Climbing up the cliff and slipping, I cut my hand on a rock and curse. “Motherfucker!”

I finally make it up and run with my flashlight, following the sounds of Kozmo’s constant barking. Realizing there might be more traps, I slow down and take extra caution of where I’m walking.

The smell hits me like a ton of bricks, and that’s when I know my suspicions were right. Kozmo must’ve been chasing after a skunk, got sprayed, and then ran into a trap. God. This keeps getting better and better.

“Kozmo?” I say softly when I see his brown fur in the distance. He’s barking nonstop in one direction, obviously scared and feeling threatened, and that’s when I start to worry that the skunk may still be around.

Walking closer with cautious steps, I plan to grab Kozmo’s collar and get us the hell out of here. Before I can reach him, I’m pummeled to the ground again with heavy weight on top of me. I don’t even have to look over my shoulder to see who it is, but before I can chew his ass, he covers my mouth with his large hand and shushes me to stay quiet.

He reaches for the flashlight and clicks it off, making everything go dark around us. I shift underneath him, feeling his body go hard as he pins me down.

“Unless you want to get sprayed, I suggest you stop wiggling your tight little ass against my cock so I can get us out of here quietly,” he growls against my ear, sending shivers down my spine—and not because of the cold.

“What are you talking about?” I whisper once he removes his hand.

“C’mon.” He stands up slowly and pulls me up. “Go inside, and I’ll get your stupid dog,” he grumbles, nodding his head toward his cabin. I’m thoroughly confused when he hands the flashlight back and gives me an encouraging push in the other direction.

I should give him a piece of my mind for calling Kozmo stupid, but the fact that he probably saved me from getting sprayed by a skunk just might save his ass from getting a mouthful. Not to mention the words he whispered in my ear.

Less than ten minutes later, he walks up the porch carrying Kozmo in his arms.

“Oh my God, is he hurt?” I rush over, tripping over something on the floor and catching myself just in time. Could this night get any fucking worse?

“No, he’s fine. Stubborn as fuck though. The skunk got caught in the trap, and he wouldn’t stop barking at it, so I picked his ass up instead.” He finally releases my dog, and I kneel in front of him.

“Kozmo!” I scold, wrapping my arms around his neck even though he reeks. The skunk must’ve sprayed and missed him, but I can vaguely smell it on his fur. “What did I tell you about staying in the yard?”

“Kozmo?” He grunts, grabbing my attention. “I warned ya about the traps.”

I look up at him and scowl. “Not about the skunks though.”

“Nope.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest. Even though he’s wearing his heavy jacket again, I can tell he’s built. Probably from all that damn chopping he does. “That was a surprise to me, too, but that’s what happens when trash gets tracked all over the damn place because someone lets their fucking dog run loose.”

I narrow my eyes at him and stand up. “What are you talking about?”

“Kozmo…” He says his name was such distaste, it makes me want to slap the smugness right off his perfect face. His chiseled jawline doesn’t help matters either. “Got into one of my garbage bins and emptied it throughout my property, attracting wildlife, such as skunks.”

“How do you know it was Kozmo? Maybe the skunk got into it in the first place, and Kozmo is being wrongfully accused.” I stand my ground, not willing to let this man belittle my dog.

He leans down until he’s directly in my face. “Because I saw him do it, sweetheart. And the fact I’ve been living out here for years without any issue. You move your sweet ass in next door, let your dog run wild, and all this shit starts happening.” He grunts as if he’s made the point of the century. “Even after I tried to shoo him away, he shoved his nose so deep in the bin, he nearly got himself stuck inside.”

My heart is beating with anger as he talks down to me like I’m an idiot. “Kylie,” I say stupidly. “My name is Kylie.” He doesn’t get to call me sweetheart. Not after being an asshole since the moment we met five days ago.

“Like it matters.”

I roll my eyes, wondering what the hell climbed up his ass to make him so damn bitter and angry.

Probably a skunk, I think to myself and chuckle. He notices my laughter, and I immediately press my lips together. He arches a brow, but I ignore him.

“Let’s go, Kozmo.” I keep my gaze on him, wrapping my fingers around his collar.

Just as I’m about to walk out the door, his words stop me in my tracks. “You can come clean up his shit and all the trash he left in the morning. Be in your best interest to do it before the blizzard comes though.”

Looking over my shoulder, I reply, “It’s not supposed to come until this weekend.”

“Forecast changed.”

I snort, not believing a damn word he says. “Okay, Mr. Rude and Arrogant.”

“I think you meant to say, ‘Mr. Who Saved my Dog and Me From Being Sprayed.’ Not that I’m really surprised.”

That makes me turn around with a scowl on my face. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I know your type. City girl came up here for some kind of adventure. You have no clue what you’re doing up here or how to live. You think because you have land you can just let your animals roam free without consequence. I’m guessing you don’t even have firewood for the season. Am I right?” He cocks a brow with a smug grin on his face.

Ugh! He infuriates me!

When I don’t respond, he chuckles. “That’s what I thought. Hope you make it out alive after the blizzard hits. Supposed to be a nasty one.”

“Well, I’m sure if I don’t, you’ll throw a party in my honor.” And with that, I take Kozmo and leave.