Page 121 of The Mountain Echoes

Aria doesn’t wake until close to three, emerging from the house with her hair tousled, her face still pale, but her expression one of stunned disbelief as she watches the Kincaid men working side-by-side with her crew.

She walks toward me slowly.

“What’s all this?”

I brush sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. “Wasn’t gonna let one piece of shit with a sugar bottle wreck your schedule.”

Her eyes brim, but she holds the emotion in check, lips pressed tight. After a moment, she admits, “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything,” I tell her. “Just finishgetting better.”

She glances over at Zane, who’s talking with Tomas near the barn.

“Your people came for you,” she says.

“No,” I correct her. “We came for you.”

And that’s when she finally lets herself lean into me—just a little—her head tipping for half a second against my chest. I wrap my arm around her, hold her close.

She raises her head, goes on tiptoe, and kisses my lips. “Thank you.”

“You can do better than that,” I tease.

She kisses me again, long, slow, and touches her tongue to mine.

When we hear whistles and hoots from my crew and hers, she pulls away, blushing.

I pat her backside as I kiss her nose. “Get goin’. I know you’re dyin’ to know how things stand.”

She nods, smiles. She’s radiant. Beautiful. Her eyes are clear. Not troubled. Not hurting.

I watch her walk toward Nadine to get an update on the hay, and my chest aches in a strange, unfamiliar way—and it feels damn good.

Whenever I’m with her, I feel like I’m home.

Zane’s right. She’s the one.

CHAPTER 27

aria

I’m still in my work clothes—dust on my jeans, sweat clinging to the back of my neck—when I hear an SUV’s engine wind up the drive.

Celine and Hudson are home.

My stomach clenches.

Maverick left an hour ago. I wish he were here with me so I could lean on him.

The fuck?

I’m shocked at how much I’ve come to depend upon him in such a short period.

Maybe it’s a good thing he’s not here, I decide. I need to stand on my own—not get used to leaning on someone who might not stay. Because when things fall apart—and they always do—I’ll be the one left behind. And the last thing I need is Celine sinking her claws into Maverick just to make a point.

Afraid she’ll take him from you, Aria?

Yes. Yes, I am.