Mountain Man's Curvy Love: Mountain Curves, #1

By Sara Hazel

Lyla:

I've been hired by Xander Sarantos' family
to bring him back to civilization.
But when I meet Xander
on his Mountain,
everything changes.
I want this freedom,
this life on the mountain,
and this hot mountain man
who wants to make me his.
Can I find a way
to stay with Xander forever?
And just how hot
can things get on this mountain anyway?

Xander:

A curvy Goddess has been sent
to lure me back to society.
But I'll never leave Devil's Back mountain.
Instead, I'll find a way to convince Lyla
to stay here with me
and be my mountain bride.
I'll make her mine,
protect her always,
and give her the family
she's always wanted.
This will no longer be my mountain.
It will be ours.

Author's Note: This is a way over the top instalove ultra steamy high heat sugary sweet
older man younger woman mountain man romance. This thing is so hot and crazy, y'all. There is even a bear.
If you like older strong mountain men who know what they want at first sight
and sassy curvy younger city women who aren't afraid to get dirty and like their men rough
then you're gonna love this novella.
My books are best enjoyed by those who like things wild, filthy, and full of...well, you know.

This is a standalone story in Sara Hazel's new Mountain Curves series.

Sara Hazel writes red hot over the top instalove stories of curvy women who learn they can have it all -- adventure, career, and love. There is always a hot Alpha Man who sees the brilliance in the heroine's smile and wants to make her his wife. He can even be a little obsessive about it! Every story has a HAPPY EVER AFTER (HEA) and there's absolutely NO CHEATING!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sara Hazel
• Release date: May 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393231882

Sara Hazel

Sara Hazel writes stories of curvy women who learn they can have it all -- adventure, career, and love.  There is always a hot Alpha Man who sees the brilliance in the heroine's smile and wants to make her his wife.  He can even be a little obsessive about it!  Every story has a HAPPY EVER AFTER (HEA) and there's absolutely NO CHEATING!  

Book preview

Lyla

*

I trudge up the long driveway towards the stately mansion.  My GPS assured me this was the place.  At the gate I was told to park my car on the side of the road and walk the rest of the way.  I feel as if someone was watching me when I spoke into the call box.  Maybe they thought I needed the exercise.  Or maybe it’s just one of those things that rich people make poor people do simply because they know they can.

I’m nineteen years old and just about to start my first year of College in the Spring.  But before that I need money and I need it bad.  My curves and thick wide hips mean that my skills as a stripper are not in demand, and I am beyond tired of retail and food service, so I looked at the miscellaneous jobs section on Craig’s List and found this one.  All it said was that the salary was $10,000 for completing a task successfully.  It also said FEMALES ONLY in big bold letters.  What the task is?  I have no idea, but I’m a brave girl and when $10,000 is involved — I’m willing to take the risk.  Welcome to the gig economy, I guess.  I’m planning to study Journalism in the Spring and this mysterious random job seems like good preparation for a lifetime of potentially dangerous investigative reporting. 

At any rate — I’ve got no family left and no money either.  And these people  — whoever they are — seem to have money in abundance.  The mansion is massive, and I think it reminds me a bit of the Field Museum in Chicago.  The huge columns and gargoyles make the place look like a cross between a Roman palace and something Dracula might be fond of. 

When I finally reach the door, I ring the buzzer and wait for a solid five minutes before I hear one side of the large double doors creak and swing towards me.  I get out of the way and a small maid in full uniform ushers me inside.  She swings the door shut behind us and without a word leads me through the house and into an enormous library.  An older woman with long grey hair neatly pushed up into a bun is having tea at a long rectangular table. 

Sit down, she commands me coolly.  At the far end, please.

As I pull out a chair, I accidentally scrape it across the ground and the woman gives me a disapproving glare.  I pull it just far enough to slide myself onto it. 

Um, I’m here for the job.

What is your name, girl?

Ly—Lyla Davenport, ma’am, I reply.

I already knew it.  I just wanted to hear you say it.  You sound like a mouse, Lyla.  You’re certainly not as small as one, but your voice is very squeaky.

I’m just a little nervous, I guess.

What we discuss here must not leave this room.  Do you understand?

Yes, ma’am.

She lifts her tea to her lips and blows on it carefully before taking a sip.  There is an extra cup next to the tea pot, and I glance over at it in hopes that she’ll offer it to me.  But she just takes another sip and continues giving me a look that seems to suggest I haven’t got time for you, girl. 

Very well.  Let’s get started, Lyla.  My name is Olivia Sarantos.  My husband was the Greek shipping magnate — Apollo Sarantos.  He died just last week.  You might have heard on the news.

I most certainly have not heard on the news.  I have no idea who these people are or why I am here at their mansion along Chicago’s North shore.  Or even why a Greek shipping magnate has a mansion in the suburbs of Chicago to begin with.  But Olivia just waits for me to give some sign that I know who she is, but all I can do is clear my throat and nod.  I’m certain she’s about to tell me to get lost.

Very well, she says again.  You and I are here to talk about my son.

Your son, ma’am?

Yes, Xander Sarantos.  He’s been living in the mountains of Idaho for the last three years and only once did he contact me to let me know he was still alive.  That was about a year and a half ago.  I need you to go to Devil’s Back Mountain and find my son.  Convince him to return and claim his fortune.  You have one week to accomplish this before Xander forfeits his inheritance and it all goes to his uncle Spiro.  Obviously, I do not want that to happen, so I need you to promise me that you’ll bring Xander back here.

Something catches in my throat.  I can’t believe what this woman is telling me.  Her son has taken up residence on some mountain in Idaho and she’s sending me to get him back?  The whole thing sounds ridiculous and more than a little like something that could be the setup for some old horror movie. 

I don’t know if I’m the right person for the job, I say.  I might as well be honest.  I’m hoping to become a daring investigative reporter someday and find myself in all sorts of dangerous situations.  But to be honest — I’m not quite there yet.  I still frighten easily and the sound of going up on some mountain and possibly ending up stranded there isn’t exactly on the old before College to do list. 

Well, I haven’t got anyone else, Lyla.  You’re the only one who responded to the ad.

I want to tell her that it might have had to do with the cryptic nature of the ad.  The money offered probably sounded too good to be true to a lot of people — especially since no description of the actual job was given.  I want to tell her all this, but I’m afraid of offending her and ending up in the dungeon of this place.  I’m sure this