Chapter 1

As the oldest, Camille had to stay in Mystic Falls and take care of her sister, Sally. She had been a junior in high school when their mother died. And Camille worked at the diner and helped pay for Sally’s college once she graduated.

She was now the proud sister of a psychologist. When Sally returned home this year to work as a counselor at the local clinic, she knew her time would soon be done in Mystic Falls.

In ten years, she will have a good chunk of money.

"Just think about that as you finish these last five hours, Camille." She mumbled to herself.

Her limbs grew weary, her ankles ached from walking around all day to tend to customers' orders.

"Suck it up. You can do it." She piled a stack of dishes on top of the cart as Pa John finished cleaning up the tables.

He should’ve been retired by now, laying out on his porch or traveling round the world. But the old man had a daughter hooked on drugs. Now he was forced to take in her two grandkids and repeat parenthood in his sixties.

Life could be so unfair.

She helped John out. “I can wipe down those tables over there before I get my next table.”

“Camille, you’re already working double shifts. Now you’re helping me?” He put his hands on his hips. “You’re going to kill yourself before you make thirty.”

Camille sucked her teeth. “I’m already thirty.”

“No. You can’t be.”

She grinned. “Yes.”

He whistled. “Time is passing so fast. It seems I can’t keep up anymore. Thirty already? Mary, Joseph, and Jesus too. You need to get out of here and live your life.”

“Yes. That’s what you told me on my birthday night.”John walked over to the table and helped her stack dishes.

“I told you that?”

“You did, and we smoked a big joint with some of the marijuana you grew in your garden.”

“That’s why I can’t remember.”

She laughed.

“Go on now, Camille. I’ve got this. I’m not that old.” John wiped the sweat off his forehead and adjusted the sleeves of his shirt.

“Besides, those new bikers are back. They’re at table ten. Those boys want the usual. I told them their waitress would be right over.”

“Their usual? Okay.” After doing a morning shift and still being there for the afternoon, Camille's back throbbed, but she sucked it up. No one gave extra tips to a whining waitress. “Let’s see if I can remember it. Five plates full of steaks, medium rare?”

“You’ve got it right, but make it six plates.” He gestured behind him. “They said another was joining them. That must be him right there.”

She turned to see who he was talking about.

Wow.

A large man entered and ducked his head under the doorway. He towered over everyone, wearing the same leather jacket that his friends wore. He had on a white shirt that hugged his massive chest, low hanging jeans that were ripped at the edges, and heavy black boots.

No patches covered the jacket, which made her think that they weren’t a gang. Just a bunch of guys that loved bikes and leather.

_"Now that’s a man."_

She calmed her body down as she drank him in. Unlike any of the guys from her town, muscle wrapped every inch of him.

She bet he had no problem getting women into his bed.

He had a youthful look, appearing close to her age of thirty. His dark black hair was cut short on the sides. It looked like he had not shaved in a few days. Stubble covered his chin and jaw.

"Don’t even think about it. He’ll be bad news like the others." She mumbled under her breath.

Desire ran through her body, yet she shook it off. If anything, these guys were just passing through.

Mystic Falls' biggest profits came from tourism.

In the summer, the town served as a playground for outdoorsy people. There were tons of high-end luxury cabins nestled amid stunning forests and wildflower-filled meadows.

Many hiked around the sparkling lake and through the evergreen forests of the town’s many mountains. Guided horseback rides showcased the true beauty of the area.

In the winter, thousands arrived for the sprawling expanse of ski terrain. It was a paradise for powder enthusiasts. However, no one ever remained. No matter the season, gorgeous men came in the diner for food, partied with the local females, fucked them, and then left, never calling them again. Many times, she had been one of those women falling hard for a tourist, thinking she would get a ticket out of town.

She always woke up the next day in wet, disheveled sheets with only her broken heart to keep her company.

Yeah, he was just passing through.

Still, an intense desire coursed through her blood.

He walked her way, their gazes locked. He stopped a foot from her and pierced me with an intense gaze. It was so hypnotizing.

She promised herself to never be a fool in love again. And this guy wouldn’t be an exception, even though he took her breath away as he stood in front of her. His expression remained neutral, but those eyes were windows, speaking of something more, heat and ecstasy.

For several seconds, they both remained silent. The air between them buzzed with sizzling power.

Did he feel that?

He kept his hands at his side, clenching and unclenching them. After clearing his throat, a deep voice left those full lips. “Excuse me.”

Although she wasn't in his way, she inched back.

“Sorry.”

And then he shook his head and abruptly walked off to his friends’ table without a word or second glance.

John quirked his eyebrows. “What was that about?”

“I don’t know.” Her breathing returned to normal and she pulled out her tiny notepad.

John eyed the men with suspicion. “There’s something odd about them.”

“Like what?” She asked frowning.

“You didn’t feel that when he was looking at you?”

“Feel what?” She tossed him an unfazed expression, but deep within her core, she was still on fire. Imaginary flames licked at her flesh, threatening to get out and burn her up.

He studied their table. “Something about them ain’t right. They smell like the mountains.”

She shrugged. “We’re surrounded by mountains.”

“Yeah, but they smell like them. Like they’re out there all day and night. Like they were born inside them.”

“You need to take a break.” She shook her head.

“Do you want me to take this cart in the back, while you go smoke?”

“No, sweetie. That group will keep you busy. They look like they’re starving. You better take their orders, before they eat us all.”

Camille grinned. “They won’t.”

“Why?”

“We’re not that tasty. Too much Mystic Falls water.” She turned around and headed their way.

Camille's nerves frazzled on edge. Even though this was the first time he showed up, it was the fourth time this bunch had visited the diner. The whole town had begun gossiping about them.

But how could this boring town not gossip about

only exciting thing that’s happened here in weeks?