CHAPTER ONE

GRACE THOMPSON

An exploding pop goes off as my car jerks to the left, and immediately, I throw my arm up to block Shadow from being thrown forward. Trying not to panic, I carefully guided us to the shoulder of the two-lane highway heading into Suitor's Crossing and pray we're not far from civilization. My phone's navigation system said it would only be another ten minutes before I reached my friend Elsie"s apartment, but that's if I were driving.

Walking is a whole other story.

After getting out to investigate what went wrong, it doesn't take a car expert to see that one of my rear tires blew. "Great," I mutter, glancing up and down the empty road. All I see is a forest of trees—a sight I admired five minutes ago as a Kansas plains native. A quick Google search shows that we're about a mile away from a mechanic's shop called Dusty's

"That's doable, right?"

My dog just wags his tail. Shadow and I've been cooped up in the car for hours. It'll be good to stretch our legs, even if I'm not dressed for a short hike.

"Come on, boy! Looks like our adventure starts now." Shadow jumps out of the front seat and waits as I grab my purse from the console and lock the car. "You really are a good dog, you know that?"

Shadow tilts his head as if to say, "I know, Mom!"

Laughing at his sass, we begin our trek down the road. Like travelers of old, we'll arrive at our new home on foot, something I try to consider a good omen.

Suitor's Crossing is a fresh start for me after a hellish couple of years stuck at a dead-end job and living with my dramatic family. Honestly, I feared ever escaping the hole I found myself in until Avery mentioned a job opening at a local business where she knew the owner, and things kind of fell into place from there.

I packed my meager belongings in the car, then Shadow and I hit the road a day after my two weeks' notice ended. Now, we're here… sort of. Majestic pines guide our path on the gravel shoulder of the highway, camouflaging any sign of an actual town within its green depths.

At least the weather's nice or else I'd be dying in my cute but warm outfit. In an attempt to dress the way I've always wanted to, instead of how people think a curvy girl like me should, I'm in high-waisted skinny jeans with an oversized red and black plaid shirt over a tucked-in tank. Aside from the plaid shirt, everything conforms to my curves, and as someone who never considered tucking her shirts in due to the threat of a muffin top, I'm proud to say I actually feel pretty. Rustic. Lumberjack chic.

Which means I should blend right into the mountain town of Suitor's Crossing. Maybe even catch a mountain man for myself.

One step at a time.

But I can't help getting excited at the thought of finally having the time and mental capacity to fall in love. The toll life's taken over the past few years has drained me of any sort of energy to maintain a relationship, so it's hard not to feel giddy at the prospect of being in a better mental space. One that could result in a loving relationship.

According to Avery, Suitor's Crossing is known for bringing couples together, too. There's an old landmark bridge the town's named after, where couples went "sparkin'" or what we'd consider "dating" these days, and heart sparks are a hallmark of the town.

Love at first sight.

It sounds so romantic and easy.

What I wouldn't give to meet a man, know he's the one, and for him to feel the same about me. We could skip all the messy middle parts of second-guessing if it's right or not.

Thirty minutes pass before Shadow and I find an old garage with peeling paint on the sides. Its name matches the one on my phone, but that's the only point in its favor.

"Do you think they're open?" Vehicles litter the front gravel area, but I don't see any actual people or an OPEN sign. However, since this is the first sign of civilization we've seen, I hope for the best and approach the front entrance.

"Well, the lights are on. That's promising," I say to Shadow as I push on the door.

A little bell rings overhead, alerting whoever's working that I'm here. The pounding of loud bass reverberates from the back of the rundown waiting room. How anyone is supposed to hear that bell is a mystery to me, but I wait at the front counter anyway while Shadow explores the small space.

Looking for any dangers, I suppose. Or just being a curious dog. But I prefer to think the latter. Shadow is a naturally protective German Shepherd, plus he was military-trained, though it's been years since he was in service. It took forever for me to get approved as his owner, but the mountain of paperwork and interviews was worth it. He makes me feel safe, which calms my anxious heart and mind.

Dust floats in the air, and a light film of it coats everything in the room. It's clear no one's cleaned in a while. Who owns this place?

Some old man who's had it in his family for generations and doesn't care about upkeep when there are cars to focus on?

It was probably a super cute shop back in its prime. The decorations and furniture look to be original, only needing some TLC to bring them back to life again. I bet his wife took care of that before she died. As my mind starts spinning a tragic tale of the poor owner's life, a younger man emerges from a back door.

He's definitely not the sweet old-timer I was expecting.

"Shadow." Immediately, he comes to stand by my side, attuned to the wariness in my voice. I know it's not right to judge a book by its cover, but I'm a woman alone in a practically deserted building with a man who looks like he just stepped out of an episode of Sons of Anarchy.

A girl can never be too careful.

He studies Shadow before asking, "Can I help you?"

His gravelly voice perfectly matches my idea of him smoking and drinking on a daily basis. Habits I would normally not find attractive in a man, but paired with his voice and rugged appearance, they suddenly seem extremely sexy.

What the hell? First, you're worried he might be dangerous and now you think he's hot?

"Um… one of my car's tires exploded a little way up the road. I was hoping someone could tow it and replace the tire?" At least my voice doesn't reveal my inner turmoil. I sound completely normal.

"Did you walk here?" His dark gaze drinks me in from head to toe and a grim line forms on his mouth. Does he think I'm too fat to walk a freaking mile? The burgeoning attraction in my belly dampens at the possibility. Of course, he'd judge me.

You judged him first!

However true that may be, it still stings to learn parts of my past might follow me here, too. Like men not giving me a second glance.

Oh sure, I wasn't in a place to accept an offer for a date or anything, but the truth was no one ever asked. Ever tested my resolve to stay single amongst the terrible job and even worse family.

Seems my outfit isn't as cute as I thought.

"It wasn't too bad. It's pretty nice out for fall." I shrug, determined to remain composed, despite the insecurity wrestling around in my gut. "So, are you Dusty?"

The man gathers some papers for a clipboard and snickers. "No, definitely not. Dusty owned this place long before it came into my possession, but his name stuck. I'm Wes." He hands the clipboard over for me to fill out.

"Grace, and this is Shadow." I point down with my pen. Shadow must have deemed Wes safe enough since he's sitting patiently by my side with no raised hackles in sight.

Wes nods and waits for me to finish completing the forms before taking my car key. "Sit tight, and we'll get you fixed up. It shouldn't take too long."

"Thanks!" I smile in relief as he disappears back into what I assume is the garage. Taking a seat by the window, I sigh ruefully. "Sorry, about the minor freak out, boy."

Shadow rests his head on my knee for pets as if to say it's okay. But it really had been a shock to see Wes in the place of old man Dusty. His rugged appearance screamed I could break you if I want to. Not that he gave off any of those vibes in our conversation.

But at first glance? Geez!

His sleeves had been rolled up to reveal a myriad of tattoos lining his skin. No color, just black ink. Which matched his shoulder-length black hair and beard. Honestly, I couldn't tell if he was twenty-five or forty underneath everything, but his eyes hinted at youth. Dark brown with only a hint of beginning laugh lines.

Although, he didn't strike me as the kind of guy that laughed a lot. Maybe they were the start of glaring lines. Can you get eye wrinkles from giving people an intimidating don't mess with me look?

"This mountain air might be making me a little crazy," I mutter because I can't stop thinking about Wes and the kind of man I imagine he is.

Texting Elsie and Avery about my situation, they offer to pick me up, so I don't have to hang out here. Probably should've texted them the moment my car rattled to the side of the road, but the exercise was good for me and Shadow. And now they can give me a brief tour of the town before I need to pick up my fixed car.

And I can fill my head with something other than the dark Charlie Hunnam look-alike.

***

Find the rest of Wes and Grace's story in book three of the Hearts Collide series, Wild Hearts!