Shared by the Mountain Men

CHAPTER ONE

Ellie

I peered through the windshield, trying to see through the rain that was coming down. I heard it was supposed to turn to snow soon, and I pressed my lips together.

“Damn it, Bree.”

My best friend had offered me her family’s cabin for the week after a bad breakup with my fiancée. He was cheating on me after three years together and when I caught him in bed with a friend of mine at our apartment, I was devastated. In one day; I lost my relationship, a place to live, and our dog. I had no plans other than to end things with Brent, but he wasn’t giving with Cocoa. He told me that he planned to ask the new girl to move in. I’d have to take care of myself.

I ended up picking up my packed boxes in the hallway of the apartment a few days later. I was lost. I’d given my life to Brent and planned a future. Now, my things were stacked in Bree’s spare room. I was in between jobs and frankly miserable.

That was when she suggested staying at the cabin for a few days out in the wilderness of Colorado. She told me that the house would be stocked and that it had a top-notch security system. Bree didn’t want me to worry about my safety, promising me that they’d been going for years. I thought it over for a day and finally agreed. I was driving my worn but loved Cherokee and there was not supposed to be any bad weather. I was going to clear skies and cool temperatures, typical Spring weather.

Only it wasn’t.

The rain started halfway there when I was already in the mountains. It was light in the beginning, making me think it was just a quick rainfall that would go away. Instead, it got harder until the water was coming down in sheets, making me grip the steering wheel with white-knuckled hands. I took a look at my phone to see how far I had to go but the signal was lost. I started crying in frustration and decided to just turn around and head back to Aurora. I was staying there with Bree until I got back on my feet. I hated the idea of not having the peace for the few days that I’d expected it, but life changes. If anything, I knew that well.

I looked ahead through the water hitting my windshield, trying to see a spot where I could turn around. I just wanted to be safe, and I noticed a driveway on the right. It looked to be a dirt one, but I’d make it. I turned the wheel and entered the wide road with the plan of winding back around, finding myself stuck in the mud.

“No, no, no.” I cried out, trying in vain to move my car. I started sobbing, having no idea what to do. I had no cell signal here, and I was stuck here for the moment. There was a driveway that suggested someone might live out here, but wasn’t that the plot of many horror movies? I reached for my phone to check and there was not a signal. I turned the car off and leaned my head on the steering wheel, praying for something to happen to change this day, my life. I listened to the water hitting the car, not wanting to go out in this weather. I knew that I wasn’t in the safest place to begin with and it was going to grow cold in here quickly. I wouldn’t last long.

I lifted my head and surveyed the surrounding scene. I couldn’t see any houses though I assumed that there were people living here. It was remote and to me, frightening but I suppose some people liked that type of thing, I reached for my thick purple beanie and pulled it over my messy red bun, making sure it would keep me as dry as possible. I then reached for my thick scarf and wrapped it all the way around my neck I was already wearing my thick coat from my last stop at a gas station just before entering the woods.

I took a deep breath and hitched my backpack over my shoulder before stepping out in the rain. I pocketed my keys but when I glanced at the wheels stuck in the mud, it was plain to see that one of them was flat.

“Fuck! How much worse can this get?” I yelled out, barely hearing my own voice. I never cursed. Brent had always called me his good girl and from what I’d seen in our bedroom the day that he was caught, that was not his jam. The memory flashed through my mind before I blinked and stared down the driveway. There was a whole row of trees blocking any view, but this was my only shot at the moment. I checked my pockets and then stepped carefully through the dirt so as not to fall, coming around the bend to see a spacious log cabin several feet ahead of me. I could make out the shapes of two vehicles ahead of me and lights on in the lower windows. “Please make this some sweet family and not serial killers,” I chanted softly under my breath as I found some grass to walk on.

Making my way up the steps and under the large front porch, I wiped the water from my face. I was soaked now and wanted a hot shower and some food. I mainly wanted to wish myself out of here. Even the tiny spare room at Bree’s sounded better than being stuck in this weather, possibly murdered by some weirdo that lived in the middle of nowhere.

I raised my hand, licking my lips before I knocked on the thick, wooden door. I waited, not breathing as the door opened and then forgetting how to. The man standing before me was gorgeous; tall and rugged with dark hair and a slight beard. His blue eyes were dark on me, looking me over shrewdly as we both remained silent.

“Can I help you?” His voice was gruff and oozed masculinity as I stared up at him.

“Yes. I hope so. My car is in your driveway. I was trying to turn around and got stuck in the mud. When I got out, I realized my tire was flat.” I offered a weak smile, intimidated by him.

He looked past me into the dreary yard, raising a dark eyebrow at me.

“What are you doing out here in this weather?” He asked as I noticed movement behind him.

“It’s stupid. My friend offered to let me stay at her family cabin for a few days and we didn’t know that it would be like this. I was halfway here when it started pouring and I was just going to go home.” Home. What home? I took in the second muscular man with cropped dark blonde hair, staring out at me. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

“You’re drenched,” the second man observed as his friend glanced back. “Come in and sit by the fire. Warm up. We’ll figure out what to do.” He wasn’t overly friendly but seemed more welcoming than his friend.

“Are you sure?” I asked as he nodded and urged the first man out of my way. I walked in and set my backpack down close to the door, so I wouldn’t get water all over the hardwood floors. I looked around, surprised to see a spacious cabin with one big room that was attached to a modest kitchen and a hallway that probably led to other rooms. There was a staircase that led to a smaller second floor. It was a gorgeous place. I eyed the roaring fire with longing and wandered forward to sit on the stones near it, closing my eyes as the heat hit my cold skin. “This is a beautiful home.”

“Thanks. It’s a family place.” I knew it was the first one by the gruff tone in his voice and opened my eyes to look at them. They were still standing by the door, taking me in. Had these men never seen a woman before? Were they here to be alone?

Oh, no. What had I walked into?

“You’re soaked through to the bone. Why don’t you take a hot shower and warm up? Do you have clothes?” The blonde asked as I looked at the backpack that was clearly soaked despite not being outside that long. He followed my eyes and tilted his head for a moment. “Looks like that’s a no. Let me get you something to wear for the time being.” I stood, and he led me down the hallway, stepping into one room to grab some clothes before gesturing towards another open door. “Here’s the bathroom. Everything you need should be in the shower.” He looked at me with hard eyes for a moment before glancing towards the living room. He set the clothes inside on a counter. “We’ll be out here when you’re finished.”

I blinked and stepped inside of the bathroom, looking around the spacious room. There was a large glass shower as well as a tub, along with a toilet and stone counter. It was gorgeous but masculine. I closed the door and locked it, testing the knob. They were such big men that they could get in here if they wanted to. I just hoped that wasn’t the case. I stripped off my wet clothes in layers, folding them up and placing them on the floor before I stared at the door again. The one man, while kinder than the other, was still rough. He wasn’t unwelcoming, but I felt like a big inconvenience right now.

“I am going to give you hell next time I see you, Bree,” I murmured as I looked into the mirror to see my pale skin flushed with the cold air. I was just a general mess right now. I opened the door to the shower and glanced inside to see that they did indeed have everything that I needed. The brands were better than expected as well.

Turning on the water, I waited until it was hot before I stepped under the generous spray. I groaned as it hit me, never so grateful for warmth. I let it soak into my skin and bones with a happy sigh before washing off. I just took a shower this morning before leaving but that seemed like such a long time ago.

I was in there for longer than was probably necessary but it felt so good. When I finally rinsed my hair and body, I stepped out and saw towels hanging on a rack next to the shower. I reached out, finding them thick and soft as I grabbed one to dry off my long hair first. It was wavy when it was neat and I dried it slowly before patting my body with the soft towel. I ran my fingers through my hair for a moment before sorting through the clothes on the counter. There were sweats and a big soft Henley in a dark green color.

I wasn’t a petite girl by any means but these would be too big for me. I slipped into the sweats and tied them around my waist, still lost in them as I laughed. I slipped the shirt over my naked breasts, losing myself in that as well as I looked at myself in the mirror. I glanced over to see thick socks, slipping them on before I looked back at the pile of my clothes.

Sighing, I walked out of the bathroom and back to the living room. I had no idea what to expect but at least I was warm now.