Mountain Man Claimed

Read the first pages

From Chapter 1

Dane brought a cinnamon roll to sweet-talk Mrs. Murphy into rushing his permits. Rowan March is behind the counter instead.

“Happy Hump Day, Mrs. Murphy.” I pushed the door of the Community Affairs Office open, expecting to be greeted by her warm smile. She’d been a fixture at town hall since way before I was born.

Instead, Rowan March sat behind the massive antique counter. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat bun, not a strand out of place. Even with the late summer heat, she had her blouse buttoned up to her throat. The only sign anyone else even worked there was the half-drunk iced coffee on the opposite desk, marked with a sticky note: Gillian—out on senior center visit, back later. Gillian was the Director of Community Outreach, if I remembered right.

I stopped in the doorway, my heart sinking into my shoes. Her shrewd amber eyes narrowed like I was guilty until proven innocent.

“Mrs. Murphy will be sorry she missed you, Mr. Thorne. Is there something I can help you with?” She took in my gym shorts and sweat-damp T-shirt, and set down her pen.

All hope of getting in and out in a flash vanished. Mrs. Murphy might have been willing to help me fill out my paperwork and put it on the fast track, but Rowan lived for following rules. I was surprised she hadn’t laminated a copy of the municipal code so she could sleep with it under her pillow. Hell, for all I knew, maybe she had.

“Hey there, Sergeant March.” I recomposed myself and offered a lazy grin, knowing that nickname would get her all riled up. “I’m here about—”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked.

I looked around the empty office, then turned back to face her. “Do I really need an appointment?”

“Everyone needs an appointment.”

“When will Mrs. Murphy be back?” It didn’t look like I was going to get anywhere with Rowan. I’d be better off waiting for sweet Mrs. Murphy to return.

“She’s on medical leave,” Rowan said as she tapped her nails on the counter. “Gillian and I are covering her caseload for now, and things are a little backed up. If you’d like to make an appointment, I’d be happy to help you with whatever you need.”

“Whatever I need?” I lowered my voice and arched my eyebrows. I couldn’t help myself. She’d left herself wide open with that remark, and if there was one thing I loved to do, it was make Rowan March uncomfortable.

A pink flush crept up her neck and covered her cheeks. “Whatever you need a permit for,” she clarified.

Find out what happens next tonight.