Page 13 of Single Mom’s Mountain Men (Mountain Men Reverse Harem #1)

"Awesome,” I pull my truck into the parking lot next to a small red Peugeot belonging to one of the daycare workers.

One of the lights is cracked. Charlie could probably replace that, I think as I hop out and travel over to open the back door.

Maddie holds her arms out and I carry the little girl into my arms, placing a fond kiss on her hair.

Katie hops out the other side, taking her mother's hand, and we walk together into the building with brightly lit corridors featuring more flower paintings, a splatter of handprints, and a large welcome sign hanging over the reception area at the other end.

I already hear the sounds of young kids squealing in excitement and running around enjoying themselves. Maddie’s eyes travel to the playground we can see at the back through the reception window.

She starts kicking her heels in excitement. “I wanna go there.”

"In a second honey,” I say. "Let your mom get you situated.”

"As I live and breathe, is that Wes Norris in my hallway?” A loud booming feminine voice says, and I turn around to find a formidable but yet still friendly looking woman, perhaps in her mid-sixties, with graying hair and wearing comfortable looking clothes with sensible shoes, walking toward us. "And with a family of all things?"

“Mrs. Weatherby.” I smile as she reaches me. I remember marveling at how tall she was when I was a kid. In my mind, she was a giant, but she’s actually about my height. Which I suppose is still tall for a woman, but she carries it well, managing to fill the entire place with her presence.

Her tallness matches her handsome features and tomboy attire, wearing her usual get-up of jeans and a flannel shirt.

She pulls me into a hug and Maddie hiccups as she’s squashed between us.

“Sorry dear, “Mrs. Weatherby apologizes to Maddie. "And what's your name?"

“Maddie,” the girl immediately states .

“That’s Maddie and this is her sister Katie,” I gesture to her sister who is watching the large woman silently. Even Patty is blinking at her in surprise and Mrs. Weatherby beams at them. "They're on a vacation tour and they’re guests of ours up at the lodge for now."

"Guests huh?" She raises an eyebrow. "For a second I thought you were going to tell me you started a family, but she looks way too smart to be shacked up with you."

"Very funny," I say.

She snickers at me before returning her attention to Patty. "Sorry. I used to change this kid's diapers and you would not believe the dirt I have on him."

“Yeah, he mentioned,” Patty smiles and offers her hand. “I’m Patty.”

“You can call me Anna. So these kids are here for the daycare… or the preschool?’

“Kind of both? Maddie for preschool but Katie is supposed to start Elementary school in the fall. I'm trying to get her prepared for that, but I don't know. Maybe if there's a library? She loves to read."

“Ah.” Katie squeezes her mother’s hand as Mrs. Weatherby turns her attention to the little girl. “Well, we have a pretty decent library here. You can read as much as you want during playtime.”

“Really?

"Of course."

Katie looks up at her mom, her gaze pleading. Patty nods in return, as though coming to a decision.

"Can I talk to you about something?" she asks Mrs. Weatherby, throwing me an apologetic glance.

Mrs. Weatherby immediately seems to catch her meaning.

"Sure," she says. "You can talk to me while we fill out the forms. Wes, you show the girls around. "

"Sure thing," I say. I'm curious about their conversation, but obviously Patty doesn't want me privy to it. Perhaps it's about sensitive stuff concerning the children, or maybe other womanly stuff I wouldn't understand.

Anyway, as the two women walk a little bit away for some privacy, I bend and sweep Katie up into my arms before walking to the back door, to show the girls the playground.

It’s a small playground but with ample space for enough swing sets, slides and monkey bars to accommodate the dozen or so kids running around. Maddie’s eyes immediately fixate on the monkey bars and she turns to me.

“Mr. Mitch!”

“Uncle Mitch,” I correct.

“Uncle Mitch, can I go on the monkey bars?”

“Sure things,” I say, dropping her so she can run off there.

I turn to Katie on my left hip. “What do you wanna do, sweetie?”

She shrugs. “I guess I could go on the swings after they’re done.”

I turn to the swings where it looks like two eight-year-old boys are having a competition to see who can swing it up highest.

“Hey,” I call out to them. “You gentlemen think my Katie over here can get a turn on that?”

“I’m not your Katie,” Katie corrects, seeming almost alarmed at the prospect.

I grin. “Nope. But you are as cute as a button.”

I pinch her nose, and she blushes and then smiles slowly. One of the boys digs his foot in on the descent and abandons the swing to run to the monkey bars. I let Katie down so she can walk delicately to the swing.

By the time Patty is done with the paperwork, both of the girls are on the swings, being pushed by new friends .

"Alright, glad we got that squared away," Mrs. Weatherby is saying as they return. "Like I said, feel free to pick them up anytime."

"I'm just going grocery shopping," she says. "I'll pick them up once we're done."

"No problem."

She smiles and tells the girls, "OK girls, now I want you to be on your very best behavior for Mrs. Weatherby. You do exactly what she says, and I'll be right back just as soon as Wes and I have done the groceries shopping, okay team?"

"Okay Mommy," Maddie calls out. She gives them both a last hug and then we wave goodbye and head back to the truck.

We need to back out of the parking lot for the preschool and drive around the corner to access the grocery store entrance.

Craig's is an at best average-sized grocery store by most people’s standards, but it's the largest one we have around, unless you want to go further afield and drive as far as the next town which is called Medla and which is a little larger in population and has its own Walmart and a cinema.

As we park up and grab a shopping cart, I instantly notice some of the locals’ eyes on me.

I even catch a few folks in the act of ogling, but they look away the minute I try to stare them in the eyes.

I want to hurry up and get back to the car.

I don't really mind the stares, but I'm anxious that Patty will start to notice and feel some hostility.

She doesn't say anything as she quietly selects items, mentally running calculations for what would be the most affordable choice before placing each selection carefully into the cart and ticking it off the list. She seems totally preoccupied with her process, and by the time we pay for everything and head back to the truck, I think maybe we’ve made it without her noticing anything .

Until we're done loading the groceries into the car, and she walks over to the passenger side.

I hurry to hold the door open for her and as she gets in, she finally asks, "Is there a reason why everyone in there was eyeballing us?"

Darn.

I shrug. "Not sure. Maybe because you're a new face?"

I close her door behind her and go over to my side trying to look as casual as possible.

"Oh," she says as I get in. "And here, I was thinking that the women around here are just jealous to see a hot young thing with a fat older lady."

I wrinkle my eyebrows and it takes a second before I realize who she's referring to. My jaw drops when I do. "Wait, is the fat old lady here supposed to be you?"

She shrugs. "I mean yeah. They probably thought I was your sugar mommy or something." She chuckles to herself but I don't laugh with her.

"First off, I'm pretty sure we're around the same age. Second of all, where the fuck did you get that from? You're neither fat nor old, and even if you were, I don't appreciate you talking about yourself in that way."

"Alright, alright, no need to get your panties in a twist. I was just trying to make a joke."

"I don't see how it's funny," I say firmly. "And I'm not letting it go until I get it through your head. You're a gorgeous woman, Patty Cole."

Her face heats and she ducks her head. "You don't have to say that."

"That’s right, I don’t. I'm saying it because I want to. And I need you to believe it."

"Sure, I believe it." But there's a hint of sarcasm in her tone that I don't like .

"Say it, Patty," I say.

"Say what?"

"Say you’re beautiful."

"You're beautiful," she jokes and I’m done, absolutely done with watching her disparage herself.

Before I can stop myself, I drag her across the bench seat, my own growl of desire drowning out the sound of her gasp as I arrange her into my lap.

"I guess I'll just have to prove it to you," I say and press my lips against hers.