The Secret of Heart Mountain, page 1
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Living next door to your childhood nemesis can have its perks. Not only are they easily accessible for your tormenting pleasure, but you also have the advantage of watching their every move, sometimes catching glimpses of those rare, vulnerable moments, giving you the perfect opportunity to strike.
The rivalry never fades; it only grows stronger with age.
Unfortunately, it can also have its drawbacks. Especially when that nemesis is infuriatingly beautiful, with an attitude that sets your blood on fire, and a smile that makes you forget why you’re supposed to hate her in the first place.
That’s Harlow Hayes, the raven-haired beauty who has been wreaking havoc on every one of my emotions since childhood.
It would seem tonight is no different, because as I step outside to take out the trash, I’m handed a front-row seat to another one of those vulnerable moments…the sound of angry voices spilling from the house next door.
“How could you do this to me?” Harlow cries, her voice sharp with fury. “Especially when I’m about to start my last year of high school.”
Well…this sounds juicy.
Smirking, I linger by the trash bin and take in the drama unfolding.
“I’m sorry, but this is best for the family.” Her father’s voice doesn’t sound the least bit remorseful.
“You mean it’s what’s best for Hattie,” Harlow retorts, bitterness lacing every word at the mention of her older sister.
He doesn’t deny the accusation. “That’s right. This is important for her future, and it’s a good opportunity for mine.”
“What about my future?” she fires back. “You have two daughters, remember?”
My smugness slips at the crack in her voice.
“Oh, for God’s sake, Harlow, stop being so dramatic,” her mother cuts in, entering the conversation. “Don’t you think you’re being just a little selfish right now?”
My expression hardens at the response, but I’m not surprised. Her parents have always come across as cold and aloof, especially toward my family. Then again, dumping frogs into the pond to scare their daughter probably didn’t help matters.
“I’m being selfish?” she all but chokes out. “Are you kidding me right now?”
Her outburst fades when my front door swings open to reveal my brother, Cash.
“Yo, what the hell’s taking so long?” he asks, reminding me about the video game battle I’m supposed to be having with my brothers.
I lift a finger to my lips, silencing him.
Confusion flickers across his expression just before another shout cuts through the night, Harlow’s voice even sharper this time.
“I don’t care what either of you say. I’m not going, and you can’t make me!”
A second later, she bursts from the house, bolting into the night.
“Get back here, young lady!” her father bellows, his voice trailing after her.
She doesn’t look back. Just disappears down the dark street, neither of them realizing the audience they have.
“Damn it.” He slams the door, the sound echoing off the surrounding mountains.
Cash’s gaze meets mine, a flicker of amusement there. “Looks like the Ice Queen’s in trouble.” He chuckles.
I bite my tongue, hating the nickname, even if it is how she’s always acted toward us.
I shouldn’t care. She sure as hell wouldn’t want me to, but for some reason, I do.
I always fucking do.
“Come on, let’s go,” he urges, nudging toward the door. “Time’s wasting.”
Every instinct tells me to follow him, to forget about her, but I can’t shake the image of her out there, alone and vulnerable.
We might have a complicated history. Hell, it’s downright turbulent, but that doesn’t mean I want anything bad to happen to her.
“Go ahead and start without me,” I say, already stepping off the curb. “I’ll jump in when I get back.”
“Wait, what do you mean?” he calls. “Linc, where the hell are you going?”
I feel bad ignoring him, but I keep my focus locked on the direction Harlow went, having a pretty good idea where she’s headed.
Heart Mountain.
Passion Falls’ most historic landmark, and the place where our rivalry has always burned brightest. Where I’ve ambushed her more times than I can count, hell-bent on getting revenge for whatever stunt she’s pulled on me.
It’s ironic, considering the legend tied to it. A ridiculous myth that claims if you share a kiss on the mountain’s ledge at midnight, under a full moon, you’ll be bound to your one true love forever.
Total bullshit.
At least when it comes to Harlow and me. If anything, it’s only ever added fuel to the fire.
I don’t remember how this feud between us even started, but I remember the rush I felt—the hit of adrenaline—and I’ve been chasing it ever since.
The mountain looms ahead, a dark silhouette against the wide, open night sky.
As suspected, I catch sight of Harlow, her shadowy figure slipping onto the trail.
I quicken my pace and eventually find her at the base of the mountain, curled in on herself beneath a cluster of towering spruce trees. Her knees are drawn tight, head buried in her arms, and shoulders shaking with quiet, broken sobs.
It’s a crushing sight. She’s always been all fire and bite, and seeing her like this makes everything between us feel small.
Insignificant.
I take a step forward, her pain drawing me in like a magnet.
A twig snaps under my foot, cutting through the ragged sounds of her heartbreak.
Her head jerks up on a gasp, eyes flaring with alarm.
I pull up short, hands lifting. “Just me.”
Surprise skates across her face, chasing away the fear before irritation takes over completely.
“God, of course it is,” she chokes out, a bitter laugh escaping her. “Go away, Linc. I’m not in the mood for your shit tonight.”
It’s pretty much the welcome I expected.
“Relax, I’m not here to cause you any grief.”
She scoffs, clearly not buying it—not that I blame her.
“Look, I heard your fight with your parents and just wanted to check on you. You shouldn’t be here alone, especially during peak season.”
Most of the time, the wildlife is harmless, as long as you don’t do anything stupid. But mating season is different. Even the unprovoked can turn dangerous.
She stares back at me, skepticism etched into every sad line of her face. “Since when do you care what happens to me?”
If only she knew how much I care, and how much I wish I didn’t. But I keep that truth buried.
“Despite what you think of me, I’m not enough of an asshole to let you get mauled by a bear.”
It must be the right thing to say, because her posture eases, if only slightly.
“Yeah, well…I’d rather live with the bears than my family right now,” she mutters, gaze dropping.
“Don’t hold your breath.” I smirk, leaning against the nearest tree. “From what I hear, they don’t care for mouthy girls. And let’s be honest…you’re no Goldilocks.”
That’s a major fucking understatement.
With dark hair, warm eyes, and sun-kissed skin, she’s nothing like the soft, innocent girl from that story.
She flicks me another look, this one all side-eye and sarcasm. “You’re so lame, you know that?”
I chuckle, not the least bit offended. It’s familiar territory, easing some of the awkward tension between us. Enough that I risk taking a seat next to her.
She doesn’t acknowledge the move, but she doesn’t push me away either, so I take it as a win.
“Wanna talk about it?” I ask, careful not to push too hard.
“With you?” She snorts. “Not on your life.”
Figured as much.
I shrug, settling back against the tree. “Fine. We can just sit here in silence and wait for the bears to invite you over for some porridge.”
I’m hoping for another smile, but it doesn’t come. Her gaze stays locked on the dark stretch of night in front of us, miles away from here.
A slight breeze kicks up, sending a shiver through her. That’s when I notice she’s only wearing a thin tank top and cut-off jean shorts.
Without thinking, I tug my hoodie over my head and hold it out to her. “Here. Put this on.”
Her gaze flicks to the black fabric, lingering on the small Passion Falls Fire crest stitched on the left side of the chest before sliding away. “I’m good.”
My jaw tightens at her stubbornness. “Take it, Harlow.”
Her eyes narrow at the order. “I said I’m fine, Linc.”
> Our glares lock in a silent battle of wills, one I refuse to lose.
She realizes it and finally caves.
With a huff, she snatches the hoodie from my hand and yanks it on. The thick black fabric engulfs her small frame, the hood shadowing her face.
“Happy?” she snaps.
Not even close. Seeing her in my clothes stirs something in me, something I don’t dare name.
Of course, I don’t admit that. Instead, I flash her a grin and lie through my goddamn teeth. “Happy as a pig in shit.”
She turns away, muttering something under her breath. I don’t catch every word, but I’m pretty sure “stubborn” and “bastard” are in there somewhere.
Silence settles again, heavy and unrelenting, pressing in like a third presence.
I let it linger, figuring she’ll talk when she’s ready.
Minutes drag by before she finally does, and the bomb she drops is one I never see coming. “We’re moving.”
The words land like stone in my chest, snapping my gaze to hers.
“Moving?” I repeat, hoping I heard her wrong.
She nods, her expression shadowed with sadness.
“Where?” The question comes out raw, like it had to scrape its way up my throat.
“Vancouver.”
A whole other fucking province?
That tightness in my chest turns mean, crawling higher until it sits like a fist at my throat.
I don’t know why, this should be good news, but for some reason it isn’t. It leaves me feeling off-balance, like I just got the ground ripped out from under me. Like a chance I didn’t even know I had has been stolen from me.
“My sister got accepted into medical school,” she continues, her voice breaking through the spiral of my thoughts. “And of course, my parents can’t let their most prized possession be so far away from them.” Bitterness cuts through every word. “So, my dad put in for a transfer and got it. We leave in just a few days.”
Jesus. No wonder she’s so upset. How do you say goodbye to everything you’ve ever known in just a few days? Your friends, your home, the neighbors who’ve been there since you were a kid…
My scowl deepens at that last thought.
“Go ahead. Gloat. Celebrate,” she says, mistaking my silence. “I’m sure this news just made your whole year.”
She couldn’t be more wrong, and I know I’m the reason she thinks that, but there’s no undoing it now. So, I keep up the charade.
“Not really,” I finally say, my voice slightly steadier. “With you gone, who am I going to throw slime balls at?”
It earns the reaction I was hoping for. Laughter tumbles past her lips, but it’s hollow sounding, brittle around the edges, and eventually crumbles into a sob.
“I can’t believe this is happening.” She drops her forehead onto her knees, shoulders shaking as the weight of it crashes over her.
Before I can think better of it, my arm is around her, pulling her in. The need to hold her outweighs everything else—my pride, our rivalry, the fact that I’m supposed to be enjoying this…
“Hey, come on. It’ll be okay,” I murmur, knowing damn well it’s a lie, but what am I supposed to say? The truth will only make it hurt more.
“I never wanted to leave Passion Falls,” she cries. “I love it here. Never mind that it’s my last year of school and I should be graduating with my friends.”
“Maybe you still can,” I offer, grasping at any shred of optimism. “Maybe the graduations will be on different weekends, and you’ll get to do both.”
She goes quiet, thinking that over.
Sniffling, she lifts her chin to rest it on her knees. “Maybe,” she says, the word empty of conviction, but at least she’s stopped crying.
My hand stays on her back, coasting slow and steady. It’s meant to calm her, but it has all the blood in my body firing south.
Jesus, get it together, Masters.
She shifts just enough to look at me, her sad eyes searching. “Why are you being so nice to me?” she whispers. “You hate me, remember?”
Her belief in that statement cuts deep. “Hate’s a strong word, Harlow. I enjoy tormenting the shit out of you. There’s a difference.”
That earns me another laugh, this one more real, breaking through some of the heaviness. “God, this sucks,” she mutters, swiping at her nose with the sleeve of my hoodie. “I’m not going to know anyone.”
“Not at first,” I admit “But you will eventually. I’m sure Vancouver has plenty of other pretty girls with big attitudes.”
Her brows lift at the joke. “Did you just call me pretty?”
I grunt. She damn well knows she is, and so does every other breathing human on the planet. I have no doubt guys will be lining up for a shot with her.
The thought wraps around my chest like barbed wire, biting in deep before I shove it aside.
She leans into the tease with a smile. “Careful, Slimer, or I might think you actually like me.”
I meet her gaze head-on, all humor gone now. “Would that be so hard to believe?”
She scoffs out a laugh. “Yeah. It would.”
“Why?”
She throws her hands up, as if the answer is obvious. “Because you’ve made it your mission to make my life a living hell.”
“And you give it right back,” I remind her.
“Of course I do. I’m not going to just sit there and take it.”
“I know. It’s something I’ve always liked about you.”
The words are out before I can stop them, and I’m not sure who’s more shocked—her or me. But there’s no taking them back now, so I push on.
“I love that you don’t take shit from anyone, that you stand your ground. That’s how I know—no matter how scared you are about this move, no matter how lost you feel—you’re going to be just fine. Because nothing and no one can knock you down. I’m proof of that.”
Her face softens, expression hovering between vulnerability and hope. “You’re lying,” she whispers. “You don’t really mean that.”
My stare never wavers as I let the truth I’ve buried for so long rise to the surface. “Actually, for the first time in my life, I’m not lying to you. And I think you know it.”
Her watery eyes cling to mine, fragile and beautiful.
“I also think you love this rivalry as much as I do,” I murmur, leaning in. “That it fuels something in you the same way it does in me. That you live for it…just like I do.”
The unsteady hitch of her breath confirms everything I say is true.
I lift my hand, brushing a stray tear from her cheek, my touch lingering.
The shift is instant. The air turns heavy, pulsing in the uneven rise and fall of her breath and the pounding of my chest.
Her lips part like a silent dare. Then her lashes lower—a slow, deliberate drop that seals the invitation—and I fucking take it.
I swoop in, closing the inches between us, and that first touch is a bolt of pure voltage, shooting through my veins.
Her gasp tangles with my groan, proving she feels it too.
It tears down every wall we’ve ever built, leaving nothing but the raw truth we’ve been fighting our whole lives.
My hands sink into her hair, anchoring her as I drink her in.
She presses closer, like she can’t get enough either.
Somewhere in the distance, the church bells chime midnight—each toll sinking into my skin—marking the exact moment Harlow Hayes ruined me forever.
We’re lost in the recklessness of it all, in the heat, the tension…until a voice cuts through the night, shattering the moment.
“Harlow, get down here!” her father bellows from somewhere below, his furious voice slicing through the air. “I know you’re up there; I tracked your phone.”
She jerks back like the words physically struck her, breath catching in her throat.
For a long moment, all we do is stare at one another, both of us caught in the charged silence as we process the magnitude of what just took place.
“I mean it, young lady. Don’t make me come up there,” her father calls again.
Her eyes shut briefly, shoulders sagging under the weight of defeat. “I better go,” she whispers, her voice barely grazing the space between us.
