Page 4 of The Mountain Man’s Curvy Obsession (Mountain Man Sanctuary #15)
“Oh, I can believe it,” he responds in a noncommittal tone, glancing at me with a cautious squint before lowering himself into the chair, making the seat creak. Who knows what Slade told him about our breakup. The Stone brothers stick together through thick and thin, no matter what.
“Coffee?” I ask, grabbing a mug and holding it up with a raised brow.
“Sure. So, what happened to the, uh …” He scans the room, looking for something. What? I have no idea.
“Sugar? Milk?” I tilt my head waiting.
“Both, thanks.”
“You got it. So, you were asking what? What happened to what?” I grin, setting a carafe of milk and a bowl of sugar on the table with a gentle clink before pouring his coffee. He watches every move I make.
“What happened to her ? Slade signed up for a mail-order bride, and he was expecting her to arrive yesterday. Is she still sleeping? Must’ve been a little ah, cramped with all of you in the same bedroom.”
I blink my eyes at him. And blink again trying to track what he’s saying.
Then it hits me, and I bite back a laugh.
“Really? That’s the first place your brain goes to?
Hate to burst your bubble, but no, your darling brother does not have two women living with him,” I tease, sliding the golden-brown biscuits out of the oven with a satisfied nod, setting them to cool.
I used all the sausages, so hopefully there’s enough.
I crack a few more eggs into the bowl, whisking them briskly, then pour them into the sizzling skillet with the sausage.
“And …?” Zephyr asks again. “Where is she?”
“I’m it.” He gives me a blank stare. “ I’m her.” The concept still isn’t registering, so I give it another attempt. “I am the mail-order bride the service matched with Slade.” I look up at the ceiling. “Can you imagine?”
“No. I can’t.” He grunts with a scowl. “Someone’s head needs to roll.”
“When you talk that way, you sound just like your brother.” I purse my lips, focusing on the eggs. “But no kidding. Someone along the line obviously made a big mistake.”
“Yeah, you are the last person on the planet Slade wants to be married to.” Zephyr pours milk into his coffee, his movements slow and deliberate, stirring it with a faint clink of the spoon.
I turn from the stove, gripping the spatula tightly. His words sting like a pissed-off wasp. “That wasn’t a very nice thing to say.”
Zephyr slumps in his chair, balking at being scolded.
“I didn’t sign up to be matched with your brother, if that’s what you’re thinking. And I’m not the worst person on the planet for him to marry. I’m sure there are far, far worse people.”
“Damn. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” Zephyr leans forward and starts to explain.
“And what have we here?” Slade’s deep voice cuts through the air as he marches into the kitchen, his big, clunky boots thudding heavily on the floor, his beige jumpsuit identical to his brother’s.
His broad shoulders fill the space, as he rubs a hand over his damp hair.
His stare narrows, flickering between me and Zephyr with quiet scrutiny. Wow.
How is it possible Slade is even more gorgeous than he was six years ago? I noticed how handsome he was yesterday, obviously, but there’s something about him now, just standing in the kitchen he built, with those brown eyes and thick lashes, looking at me like he owns the world makes me shiver.
I smooth my apron nervously. “I thought you’d appreciate a hot meal before you head out in this weather.” I lift my chin to meet his gaze. If I earn my keep around here, maybe he’ll give me a little more time to catch my bearings and find another place to live.
Slade scans the stove, the table, his brother, and then comes back to me, his jaw tightening as he mumbles, “Thanks. I’m starving.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest, accentuating his wide, unyielding stance.
“Then don’t be such a grump,” I tease. “Relax, have a seat.” I plate the food and hear him pull out a chair for himself.
A smile spreads across my face as I quickly scoop up the eggs and sausages.
Score one for me . I bring the plates and bowl of biscuits to the table, serving the men as gracefully as possible, before taking a seat.
When Slade offers a quick, “This is good” comment, I take my chance.
“You know, I could cook all your meals for you, do the laundry, clean the house, garden, whatever you ask. I would really appreciate some time to figure this mess out.”
Slade sets his fork down and considers me while Zephyr is all ears. “Nice try, but that isn’t happening. You need to go. Today.”
“Honestly, Slade, I don’t think you realize I spent every dime I had just to get here. I have nowhere else to go. I’m not kidding. I can’t even go home to live with my parents.”
“Did you get into a fight with them too?” He barks.
Tears well in the back of my eyes, but I won’t give him the pleasure of making me cry, no matter how much he tries to hurt me.
“No. They sold the Boise house for your information, and moved to Portugal last year. I don’t even have a passport.
There are twenty boxes of everything I have in transit to this address from Missouri.
I was hoping the trial marriage would work out.
It wasn’t a joke to me. I was really praying I’d fall in love with the man they set me up with, and we’d get married, and have a happy life.
” I sniff. And the admission is the final straw.
I can’t stop the big, fat, warm tears from rolling down my cheeks, and quickly wipe them away.
“Damn that’s rough,” Zephyr says softly. “You know, you could move into my place for a few days, a month, if it would help. I have an extra bed you could use. It wouldn’t bother me at all, especially if you cook for me.”
“Are you out of your damn mind?” Slade swivels so fast to his brother I’m afraid his neck might snap. “Hard pass.” Slade glances at me before pivoting back to Zephyr. “Are you trying to make things worse?”
“No.” Zephyr keeps his voice firm. “It’s just if she doesn’t have any money and no place to go, what is she supposed to do?”
“Not my problem, and it isn’t yours either, big brother.
” Slade huffs and takes a few breaths to find his composure.
“Making breakfast was nice, Eva, and I appreciate it, but don’t get confused.
You living in my house, or my brother’s will not improve the situation.
I’ll give you the cash for a train ride back to Missouri.
Maybe you can work it out with your ex.”
My heart sinks as the men finish up their coffee and head to the front door.
Zephyr sends me a small wave and a tight “thanks” before dashing to his truck, and I see the rain has stopped. Slade pauses and turns his massive frame to face me, and locks his deep, inky eyes on mine with his usual brooding intensity.
“Wait. Shoot, I almost forgot.” I dash back inside and grab the brown paper sack off the counter, and thrust it toward him. “Your lunch. It’s only peanut butter and jelly, but that’s all I could find for your sandwiches. Oh, and there’s an apple in there too, and a couple of biscuits.”
He stares down at the bag, his thick fingers gripping it tightly, his brow furrowing like he’s weighing its significance.
“I thought you might get hungry.”
“You didn’t need to do that.” A glimmer of a smile flickers in his eyes, but his lips stay set in a hard line as he shifts his weight.
“I wanted to.”
“I was serious about the money. I’ll give it to you tonight when I come home.
There’s Wi-Fi at the Grizzly Grind. Do you remember where it is?
” I nod, remembering it clearly. He gestures to a path between two pine groves, across his gravel driveway.
“That will take you to the main road through the back. About a fifteen-minute walk.”
“Does your mom still own it? I’d love to see her again.”
“She does. Maybe after your chat, you’ll make checking the train schedule a priority. You can stay one more night, and I’ll drop you off at the station tomorrow.”
I don’t know what to say. A thousand questions race through my brain, but I can’t find the answers. There is no way my ex, or his parents, are taking me back.
Slade places his massive hand on my shoulder, and I almost flinch.
I can feel his warm, calloused fingers through my thin shirt.
“Remember, you’re in bear country. And they like the drizzle.
Don’t bring any food outside. I’ll take out the garbage.
Do not do it yourself.” With his jaw clenched, his penetrating stare pretty much impales me.
“Okay, okay. I won’t. Thanks for the reminder.” I nod quickly. Great. A bear attack would be just the thing to wrap up this nightmare.
“There’s bear spray on the hook by the back door. Bring it with you if you leave the cabin.
“Got it.”
He nods silently, studying me with such intensity that I drop my gaze, my cheeks flush as my body hums with nervous energy and total confusion. “Hey,” I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, “please be careful out there today.”
“I will,” he responds, holding the stare a moment longer, his broad chest rising with a deep breath. “See you later.”
He strides to the truck with his shoulders squared, and the paper sack swinging in his grip. I linger in the doorway with my arms crossed against the morning chill and watch the mud trail behind them as they disappear into the pines.
What the hell am I going to do?