While Sage is a fictional character in Snowed In With The Mountain Man, he comes to vivid life as he interacts with the main female character, Valerie.
The first time Valerie meets Sage, she hears his deep, commanding voice first. Turning to view him, she finds:
"... a man as tall as a great oak tree. Something about him seems ancient, though he is young. He's thick with muscles and looks very strong. His hair is cropped short, yet unkempt in a sexy way. The color reminds me of black licorice, dark and rich with a neatly trimmed beard framing a well formed, rugged face. His intense green eyes are locked on mine, as if peering straight into my soul..."
The attraction is instantaneous and powerful.
Sage is former military, having served overseas in combat numerous times. After losing a friend in a situation that was possibly avoidable, Sage now dedicates his time and energy to helping others build their skills in tough situations that call for knowledge and resiliency.
His wilderness training partner, Eli, describes Sage as someone who doesn't just teach skills needed for survival, but he helps people believe in themselves.
Sage is not getting rich with this occupation post-military, but it brings him great satisfaction. He has a fear of losing someone close to him ... or even someone he barely knows. This hangs over him, a form of PTSD ever present.
His physical attraction to Valerie is immediate as he welcomes her into the survival course. Sage can't take his eyes off Valerie. Yet, he works overtime to remain professional and not allow his attraction to be evident. The question is: will he be able to continue the ruse or will he succumb to his feelings for Valerie?
