Page 1 of Oops I Fell for the Grump Next Door

CHAPTER ONE

Nellie

I scanned the row of orange juice lined up neatly on the refrigerated shelf and debated if I wanted pulp or no pulp. Most of the time, I chose none, but I wanted some variety.

New place, new town, new me, so why not some new orange juice?

Even the brands were different in the small mountain town.

A new experience. Something I very much needed.

I grabbed a bottle and closed the refrigerator door. As I shifted backwards, a cart appeared behind me and, by accident, I bumped into it.

“Whoa, watch it, lady!” A gruff, deep voice sounded from behind me. I looked up to find a mad yet handsome face staring me down, his cart rammed into the side of mine.

“Well, I can't get out of this tight spot with you in the way.”

“Then hurry up. You keep everyone waiting as you read every label. It's just orange juice, dammit!”

My blood boiled, and I white knuckled my cart as I moved forward instead, hoping to get away from him as quickly as possible. “Have the day you deserve.” I called over my shoulder, not waiting to hear his response. I hoped one of the orange juice bottles exploded all over him.

As I finished up my shopping and checked my grocery items out, the rage inside didn't simmer down. Why did he need to be so damn grumpy?

I thought small towns were supposed to be full of nice people, people who knew your name and offered a lending hand. Guess not around here.

Not that I left my cabin much. But I came up here for a reason and it wasn’t to explore everything Appleridge had to offer.

I wanted to finally finish writing my children's book series. Not have run-ins with grumpy town’s people.

No matter how hot they were.

I gently tossed my bags in the trunk of my car and slid in behind the steering wheel. I turned over the engine and cranked the heat, the wind blowing something fierce and chilly.

The fall season was in full swing, with the crunchy orange leaves floating in the wind, and the pumpkins sitting on porches waiting to be used.

I loved fall. And being up in the mountains was even better. After agreeing to rent out my best friend’s family cabin, mainly to get away from the city and write my book series, I ran to the dollar store and stocked up on fall decorations. My best friend, Sally, laughed as she watched me load up my cart, but she promised she'd visit and we'd decorate together.

I was still waiting on that promise, but I put a pumpkin on the porch. I couldn't resist.

As I went to put my car in reverse, I glanced out the rearview mirror and spotted Mr. Grump climbing into the truck a row behind me. As he backed out, I watched him intently, curious about the handsome, grumpy guy.

Whatever, it didn't matter. I wouldn't date a guy that grumpy no matter how good looking he was.

I pulled out behind him, and he took a right out of the parking lot, heading in the same direction I was.

We drove along, his truck taking every turn I needed, when finally he took a direct turn onto my street.

A zing of nerves shot through me. Did he know where I lived? But no, that was crazy. I had no clue who the guy was. Besides, I was the one following him.

The truck drove down the road, passing a few cabins before turning into a driveway.

The driveway of the cabin next door to mine.

My next-door neighbor.

He was my next-door neighbor.

Oh shit.