Novak Raven (Harper's Mountains Book 4) Read Free Page A

complete pushover. “I’ve been looking and looking, but it’s tourist season, and all the jobs get filled right before I apply. All I’m asking for is a chance. Just…let me come in for an interview, and if you feel like I’m not the right fit for your company, I won’t beg or make it weird. I’m good at interviews. I just can’t get in for one. I know I can do this job.” She swallowed audibly over the line and whispered, “Please.”
    Weston let off an irritated sigh. He’d really imagined a roughneck man to be handling scheduling, so he could help keep the ATVs running and assist with building and clearing trails, too. This woman sounded like a splinter would end her life. She was begging, though, and he didn’t want to feel like a total dick. “Fine. Can you come in tomorrow?”
    “I can come in today and start immediately,” she said in a rush.
    Weston wasn’t really in the mood to conduct an interview today. More like he wanted to drink a fifth of whiskey and work on his property alone, but fuck it. He had to hire someone soon, and getting the first interview done and out of the way might distract him from the stupid visions.
    “I’ll text you the address. Be there at noon.”
    “Oh, thank you! Oh my gosh, thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me. Everything has been so shitty lately. Oh, no. I said shitty. I mean…I’m really grateful for the opportunity. I’m going to go. My mouth won’t shut up. See you at noon. Okay, bye. Don’t forget to text me the address. Sorry. You know what you’re doing. Okay then. Toodles. Toodaloo. I mean bye.”
    More static blasted across the line, and then her muffled voice came across. “Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah! Eeeee!”
    Weston winced away from the celebratory squeal.
    “Fuck you, Benjamin ! Take that, and that!”
    Weston could just imagine her flipping the bird to an imaginary Benjamin.
    “Oh, no.” More static, and then in a much clearer voice, she said, “I thought I hung up. Please tell me you aren’t still there.”
    Weston snorted. “I’m still here.”
    The woman cleared her throat delicately and murmured, “Good day to you, sir.” And then she hung up.
    Baffled, Weston canted his head and stared at the phone as a smile stretched his lips. Huh. He texted her the address and dropped his phone to the bed. Crossing his arms over his chest, he chuckled up at the ceiling.
    What an odd bird.
    At least her interview would be amusing, and even more importantly to Weston, distracting.

Chapter Three
     
    Avery’s beat-up old Civic wheezed and coughed around the final mud pit before the clearing. The hand-carved sign above the dirt road read Big Flight ATV Tours, Welcome .
    Thank God, because her GPS had basically laughed at her a few miles back and then refused to guide Avery an inch farther. No surprise since the building looked just barely finished. A man balanced on his knee on a half-built porch where he was sawing off the end of a board.
    She’d expected an older gentleman from how gruff the voice was on the phone, but this guy looked like he was around her age. Maybe he was the owner’s son. He wore sunglasses, and a good thing too because sawdust was spraying everywhere. Safety first, she always said. A camouflage baseball cap covered his head and, holy macaroni, he wasn’t wearing a shirt. His powerful legs were hugged by jeans that were riddled with strategically placed holes. Tattoos covered his arms and part of his chest, and if she wasn’t severely mistaken, Mr. Sexyman had his nipples pierced. Real piercings! She’d never seen a man like him, all tanned, gleaming with sweat, and tatted up. Raven culture didn’t condone body modification, but suddenly she was thinking her community was a gaggle of morons because this fine specimen of a human was sexy as hell. His sweat probably smelled like evergreens and tasted like sugarplums.
    When he looked up suddenly, she remembered herself and squeaked, slamming on the brakes