Peux tu me faire un résumé en français en 1000 mots du texte brut suivant. voici le texte brut. HER SILVER FOX MOUNTAIN
MEN
MILITARY REVERSE HAREM
ROMANCE
KAI LESY
OCEANOFPDF.COM
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Epilogue I
Epilogue II
Her Silver Fox Bikers (Preview)
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D E S C R I P T I O N
“You’re not safe,” the mountain man growls.
Rough. Dominant.
“You’re coming with me.”
It begins with frantic scratching at my cabin door.
Panicked, I call my brooding, silver-haired neighbor.
“Help,” I plead. “I don’t want to be eaten by a bear!”
Seconds later, he bursts in.
Shirtless. Pajama pants slung low.
A baby monitor clipped to his pocket.
“I can’t protect you and my babies from two separate houses,” he says.
No argument allowed.
I’m moving in with the bearded heart-throb.
But James isn’t alone.
Roman and Oliver—ex-SEALs, alpha to the core.
Gentle daddies to twin girls.
They watch me like I’m theirs.
My heart thunders in my chest.
Then everything changes.
I’m pregnant.
My past?
It’s out for blood.
But I’m not alone anymore.
Especially now that the twin girls…
Are about to have twin baby brothers!!
This is a sexy, stand-alone reverse harem romance filled with humor,
danger, and generous amounts of love. It also contains blistering hot
MFMM, ménage fun times, in single and multiple partner scenes so HOT
they're bound to melt your kindle! HEA guaranteed.
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A
1
ELISE
rickety cabin in desperate need of repair in the middle of nowhere is
all I can afford, but it’s safe, and the heating system works. The nights
are cold on this side of the Rocky Mountains, even in summer.
The only current concerning issues are the mountain lions that have been
spotted wandering nearby and the fact that my windows and doors don’t
provide much in terms of protection.
Suddenly, I hear SCRATCH-SCRATCH-SCRATCH.
I leap up from the sofa, my heart thudding like crazy, and take a deep breath
to stop myself from fainting.
SCRATCH-SCRATCH.
“Oh, no,” I mumble, quickly picking up on where the noise is coming from.
“Fan-frickin’-tastic. Just what I need,” I say in a trembling whisper as I grab
the nearest object—a measly wrought iron poker. I’m not sure what I’ll be
able to do with it, but it’s better than nothing.
SCRATCH-SCRATCH-SCRATCH.
I take a couple of steps back, then embolden myself to go into the kitchen
and investigate. It’s too dark to see anything outside.
SCRATCH-SCRATCH.
This time, it’s followed by a low growl.
“Oh, shit.”
I’m shaking like a leaf despite wearing my warmest jammies. What do I do?
The window rattles ever so slightly. There’s no way the latch will withstand
whatever’s out there. I’ve had trouble with it before.
My blood rushes through my veins, hot and cold at the same time, as I try to
come up with a solution to a problem I didn’t foresee, one I had hoped I
would never encounter.
Coming off a ten-hour shift at the diner has slowed my brain down to a near
halt. I need to think of something, and fast.
The poker is shaking in my right hand.
With my left, I pick up my cell phone, intent on dialing 911.
No. I stop myself. It’ll take them forever to get up here. I’ll probably have
become a tasty snack by the time the sheriff reaches this place.
I need another option.
Suddenly, it comes to me. My neighbor James. I got his number off of a
sign in the window of the car he’s selling.
With trembling fingers, I manage to place the call, my gaze constantly
darting back to the window in question. The nights are dark and terrifying
up here. I still can’t see anything, but I can only imagine what kind of
creature is out there.
“Hello?” a gravelly voice asks.
My heart skips an extra beat. “Hi, is… is this James?”
“This is James.”
“Yeah, hi, sorry to disturb you,” I say and clear my throat, realizing that I
sound awful as I’m trembling down to my bones. “It’s Elise… your, um,
your neighbor. You know, Mr. Ronald’s cabin?”
“It’s almost midnight,” James replies, his tone understandably flat. I feel
awful. I probably woke him up.
“I know, I know, and I apologize. It’s just… there’s something scratching at
my kitchen window, and I didn’t know who else to call. It’ll take the sheriff
too long to get here, and I saw your number posted on the windshield of
that Ford you had outside the gates.”
“Are you alone?” he asks.
“I am.”
He hangs up.
I freeze, my mind blanking out.
What the hell?
A gasp escapes my throat as the scratching sound intensifies. It is now
accompanied by an increasing rattle—the window frame is giving in to the
repeated clawing motions. Dread washes over me, an icy sensation running
up my spine.
I look around, holding my breath, waiting for something to happen, though
I’m not sure what I’m expecting exactly.
Then I hear a gunshot. BANG!
I scream as the front door bursts wide open and in walks James McTierney.
He’s shirtless, his grey pajama pants hanging low on his chiseled hips, a
walkie-talkie clipped to his pocket. He’s a tall mountain man with broad
shoulders and rippling pecs, his messy brown hair and matching beard sport
specks of silver. But it’s his wide green eyes that have me hypnotized.
“What are you doing here?” I manage, out of breath. Without a word, he
crosses the room and picks me up as if I weigh no more than a feather. I try
to wriggle myself free, but his grip is tight, unyielding, as he holds me
close.
“I just needed some help with the scratching,” I start babbling, my mouth
moving independently from my brain. I can’t look away from this massive
man.
“I can’t protect you and my twins in separate houses, so you’re coming with
me,” he explains then proceeds to carry me out into the cool summer night.
“Hold on,” I say. “I need my things! I think the mountain lion is gone now.”
“It isn’t, and there’s more than one. I spotted them on my way in,” James
says, looking straight ahead. He moves fast down the stony pathway
connecting my cabin to the side road that leads right to his gates. “The only
reason they stopped scratching at your window is because they heard me
coming. You’re not staying here tonight.”
Dread finds me again as I summon the courage to look over his shoulder.
It’s too dark for me to see anything but I can hear them.
The sound of heavy paws on the porch, the low growls, the sniffing, the
window rattling again. My God, James is right; it’s almost as if we’re
surrounded. I will be giving Mr. Ronald an earful as soon as I can get ahold
of him over the phone. He could have warned me about the seriousness of
the mountain lion issue. I don’t work my ass off at Laurie’s diner to pay this
guy rent only to be on the dinner menu for the local wildlife.
We’re soon moving through the front gates of James McTierney’s
mountainside property. Grey rocks jut out of the mossy ground, some
illuminated by the moon that has finally emerged through a thick blanket of
clouds. James carries me up a set of stone steps before setting me down.
I’m staring at an oversized cabin built on two levels with a sturdy river-rock
foundation rising a few feet above tall wild grass. Outdoor lights are
mounted above the front porch and at every corner of the house.
Oddly enough, I’m no longer afraid, and I realize I haven’t been since
James first picked me up.
As we enter the cabin, I find myself standing in the middle of a spacious yet
cozy living room. There’s a fire blazing in the stone fireplace, orange
flames crackling as they devour the wood, and I welcome the warmth it
exudes before I notice that we’re not alone.
“Oh,” I mutter at the sight of two other men.
James steps over to lock the front door then returns with a heavy sigh.
“You’re better off staying here, Elise,” he says.
“Elise,” a blonde-haired man greets me, my name rolling warmly off his
tongue as he gets up from an armchair and sets his book aside. “I’m
Oliver,” he adds with a wry smile. He’s almost as tall as James and built
like a linebacker, his grey loungewear doing little to hide his strong frame.
“And this is Roman,” Oliver points to the second gentleman.
“Hi,” Roman says, his cool blue eyes scanning me from head to toe.
I need a minute to catch my breath and get my last two brain cells working
in tandem again. “Sorry for the intrusion,” I say. “It’s just—”
“Mountain lions,” James cuts in. “This is Elise, our next-door neighbor.”
“Right, right,” Oliver replies. “I’ve seen you around. You work at the
diner.”
“Yeah.”
My temperature is spiking under their persistent gaze, though I can’t look
away from them. They’re all in their early forties, each one memorable in
his own way. James is the tallest. I’m guessing he comes from an Irish
background with his reddish-brown hair and green eyes. My fingertips
suddenly itch with a need to touch his face, feel the coarseness of his beard,
the tickle against my lips…
Oliver’s appearance reminds me of the stereotypical all-American jock,
though his dark blonde hair and beard suggest he’s adjusted to the Colorado
Rockies scene. Roman strikes me as the ultimate city guy who most likely
moved out here for the peace and quiet. He has short black hair and a
closely trimmed salt-and-pepper beard. He also looks like he hits the gym
every day—his black sweater and jeans stretching over a bulking, rock-hard
figure.
“This is awkward, maybe I should just call the sheriff,” I suggest but Oliver
won’t hear of it.
“The sheriff will just call the Wildlife Service. The earliest they’ll be able
get here is in a few hours, maybe morning, if they’re dealing with other
similar issues,” he says. “That’s not going to work. There’s plenty of room
for you here.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” I reply. “You’ve got friends here already and I
noticed you were carrying a walkie—"
“I’ve also got twin daughters fast asleep upstairs,” James says, cutting me
off. “They’re five. I only take the walkie in cases of emergency such as this
when I have to run out of the house. I wasn’t sure what I would face when I
got to your place, so I grabbed it on my way out the door.”
“Rescuing a pretty lady in distress is what you ended up facing,” Oliver
chuckles.
Roman shakes his head slowly. “The mountain lion issue has gotten worse.”
He gets up from the end of the sofa and walks over to the window. “Come
here, Elise. We have a clear view of your cabin. You can watch.”
“I can watch what?” I ask as I head toward him, James’ and Oliver’s eyes
on me.
My heart’s in a different kind of race now as I reach Roman’s side and look
out the window. Sure enough, there’s a decent view of my place from where
I stand. Under the revealing moonlight, I can see movement. Big brown cats
prowl the porch. It looks like one of them actually made it through that
kitchen window.
“Oh, holy hell,” I mutter, mentally cursing Mr. Ronald again.
“I hope you didn’t leave any food out,” James says, setting the walkie-talkie
on a side table close to the door. He walks to the mini bar in the opposite
corner and pours himself a drink, his gaze frequently bouncing back to me.
Why do I feel so hot all of a sudden?
It must be the fireplace, I lie to myself because otherwise I’d have to admit
that I’m in the presence of three ridiculously gorgeous mountain men who
turn me on to the next level.
“They’re in the house,” Roman concludes, giving me a sideways glance.
His lips part slowly, and I’m tempted to lick mine.
I look away and take a few steps back instead. “I brought some steak pie
home from the diner. There were leftovers in a dish on the dining table. I
forgot to put it away before I sat down to watch a TV show.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Oliver says. “A mountain lion can pick up a scent
from several miles away. They’ve gotten too close, too brazen, over the past
couple of years mostly on account of tourists. They’re getting even bolder
now, hence the reoccurring incidents.”
“Great,” I mumble.
“Here, have a drink. It’ll help calm your nerves.” James offers me a tumbler
of whiskey, which I gratefully accept. The burn feels grounding as it slides
down my throat.
“We should help her,” Oliver suggests.
Roman motions to the armchair closest to the fireplace. “Have a seat, Elise.
You should rest for a bit. This whole thing must’ve been harrowing.”
“You’re lucky James got to you in time,” Oliver adds with a slight smile.
“I see that now,” I reply and give James a nod. “Thank you for that. I’m
sorry to intrude, really. I just didn’t know who else to call. You had the car
up for sale and I saved your number, thinking I’d ask about it. My ride’s a
pile of junk. It’s a miracle the engine starts at this point.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I was able to get to you before anything
happened. And Oliver’s right—we’re going to help you.” Those green
lasers pierce through my very soul as he speaks.
“How?” I ask. The whiskey is working, relaxing me until I feel as though
I’m melting right into the armchair.
James takes a deep breath then sits down on the sofa. “Well, first of all,
you’ll be staying here for the duration of the repairs.”
“I couldn’t possibly—”
“You kind of have to,” he interrupts. “And we don’t mind. There’s plenty of
room upstairs. It’s a big house.”
“I noticed.”
Oliver smiles broadly. “Plus, it’s safer than your place. And the twins are a
double bundle of joy to be around.”
“Your daughters?” I question, looking at James.
He nods once. “Their mother passed away just after they were born.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, his expression remaining stoic. “Still, it’s too much,” I
add. “Staying here, I mean. It’s quite the bother.”
“Not for us, it’s not,” Roman politely replies. “And we’ll make sure old
man Ronald keeps up his end of the deal as your landlord. Trust me, he’ll
try to weasel his way out of the repairs. We’ll keep him on the straight and
narrow and make sure he fixes the cabin, making it safe for you to move
back in. Until then, you’re our guest here.”
“And you can use the car as well,” James adds, “the Ford that’s for sale.”
“Good grief, now it really is too much.”
“Hey,” he replies, giving me a small frown. “We’re neighbors, and
neighbors help each other out. You’ve been around long enough for us to
tell you’re a decent woman. You keep to yourself, stay out of trouble, keep
up the cabin. And now you need help. Rustic is full of good folks. We are
happy to do it; doesn’t cost us a thing.”
I can’t help but let a heavy sigh roll from my chest, relief washing over me.
I’ve been on edge for so long, constantly looking over my shoulder, always
afraid to be found…
“Okay,” I concede, offering a weak smile. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“No need,” James replies, leaning back on the couch. “We’ll take it one day
at a time. And I’m serious about the Ford. Use it if you need to, then pay me
for it when you can. Until then, it’s your loaner as long as you take care of
it.”
“I will, I promise.”
This is all so strange, so unexpected.
It’s also wonderful, but I’m not used to the kindness of strangers. My life
was not what I’d hoped for growing up. It got worse after I learned certain
truths. I came to Rustic with nothing but fear and grief in my soul. It’s taken
a long time to even think about the future again, to hope for peace and
safety.
My parents raised a fighter, though. It’s just a shame they never got to see
me grow up. They’d be proud, and they would tell me that I shouldn’t face
every hurdle in life on my own and that, sometimes, it’s okay to let others
help me.
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“W
2
ELISE
akey, wakey, eggs and bakey!”
This is such a weird dream. Little girls giggling and calling out to
me. I’m back in Chicago looking at Igor, shuddering because I know I’m
leaving him tonight.
Leaving before he can kill me.
We’re at my birthday party, and I’m wondering if it’s the last one I’m ever
going to have. Everyone’s there, gathered under the giant crystal chandelier,
champagne glasses clinking as they toast me.
I see Lev. The years have not been kind to him, but he appears softer, more
human. Kara and Andrei are there, too, smiling, wishing me the best. Kara
attempts to take me aside so we can talk but Igor gets between us. He
squeezes my arm a little too tightly. “She’s busy,” he tells his younger sister.
“Screw you, Igor. You get her twenty-four-seven,” Kara replies.
“Wakey, wakey!” It’s the little girls again.
I look around. I hear laughing. Someone pinches my cheek. I glance up at
Igor. He’s too busy arguing with Kara. Andrei is coming over. He hates it
when his siblings go at it, especially in public.
“Daddy’s making eggs!”
“What?” I hear myself ask.
Everything warps into pitch blackness before my eyes pop wide open.
I gasp. For a moment, I forget where I am.
Then it comes back to me, albeit in bits and pieces for me to quickly put
together. I’m in a guest room upstairs in my neighbor, James McTierney’s
house. He saved me from the mountain lions last night. Oliver and Roman,
his best friends, live here with him.
“Ugh,” I groan as I stretch my arms out.
“Wake up, silly!” the little girl’s voice comes through clearly now. She’s
sitting on top of me. Oh, crap. I’m naked underneath this heavy blanket. I
look down and hold my breath at the sight of not one, but two sweet young
ladies. “Hi!” one of them says.
“Hi,” I manage, briefly glancing down to make sure I’m still covered.
Thank the stars, I am. I sneak my arms back under the blanket, my cheeks
burning red as I try to make heads or tails of this unexpected situation.
These are James’s daughters. “Hi, there,” I say it again. “I’m Elise.”
“I’m Ainsley,” she replies, then points to her twin sister. “This is Tricia.”
“Hi, Ainsley, hi Tricia, it’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
Gosh, they’re so cute and bubbly. Xerox copies of each other, with curly red
hair, a smattering of freckles underneath familiar green eyes, and round,
sweet cheeks. Their hairstyles are the only way to tell them apart. Ainsley
wears a ponytail while Tricia sports loose pigtails. They’re wearing
matching lime-green cotton jammies.
“What are you doing here?” Tricia asks me.
“I’m a guest of your dad’s.”
“The mountain lions,” Ainsley tells her sister. “Remember? Daddy told us.”
“Did you see them?” Tricia shifts her focus back to me. “The mountain
lions. At your house. We see them out there all the time but Daddy’s always
with us or Janice.”
“Janice?” I ask.
“Our babysitter,” Ainsley replies. “Okay, so get up. It’s breakfast time!”
“Thank you for letting me know,” I chuckle softly.
Footsteps echo beyond my door.
“Tricia? Ainsley?” James calls out.
He comes into the room and only then do I notice the door has been open
the whole time. I shrink underneath the blanket as I lock eyes with James.
He looks so handsome in jeans and a dark green plaid shirt, Timberland
boots thudding across the hardwood floor.
“Sorry about that,” he chuckles as his daughters jump off the bed and rush
over, locking their arms around each of his legs.
“Mornin’, Daddy!” Ainsley says.
“We woke her up,” Tricia proudly announces.
“I see that,” he replies, then glances back at me. “Good morning, Elise.”
“Good morning.”
“Sorry; they’re early birds. But also curious and rude,” he gently chides the
girls. “What did I tell you about knocking?”
Ainsley shrugs. “We knocked. Elise didn’t answer.”
“Probably because she was sleeping,” their father says.
I can already tell they’re his whole world. He melts before them. Warmth
shines from his eyes, his smile beaming across the whole room. They adore
him, too, and trust him completely. I know a thing or two about a child’s
love for their parents, and the twins worship James. It’s clear as day, and it
further proves that I’m in good hands for the time being.
“It’s okay,” I reply with a shy smile, still very much hidden underneath my
blanket. “I forgot to set my alarm anyway.”
“We wanted her to come down for breakfast,” Tricia says.
“Well then, why don’t you two go downstairs into the breakfast nook and
set a plate for Elise at the table? The bread’s almost done baking.”
“Yes, Daddy!” the girls reply in unison then bolt out of the room.
James and I laugh, giving the whole moment some room to breathe and
fizzle away. He looks back at me, running a hand through his messy brown
hair. “They get so excited around new people,” he says.
“It really is okay; don’t worry about it. They’re so sweet.”
“That they are. But be careful, they’re emotional crooks, those two. They’ll
have you dancing circles around them before you know it.”
“I don’t think I’d mind.” I smile.
“We’ll wait for you downstairs,” James replies, jerking a thumb over his
shoulder. “I need to make sure the bread doesn’t burn. It’s an old-fashioned
oven.”
“I’ll just jump in the shower for a minute, then join you all for breakfast.
Thank you, James.”
“My pleasure,” he says, pausing for a second longer than expected before
he turns around to leave. As soon as he’s out the door, I slide out of bed,
thanking the stars that this room has an en suite bathroom.
“Oh, one more thing—”
He comes back and I freeze on the spot, buck naked and flustered.
He, too, stills.
His gaze drops. The green in his eyes darkens into something smoldering
and deliciously dangerous. I hold my breath, unsure of what to do next.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumble. “I thought you were—”
“My fault,” James replies and swiftly turns around. He lingers in the
doorway for a hot second, his back turned to me. “I was just going to say
that if you need more towels, there’s a cabinet right here in the hallway
that’s fully stocked with everything for the bathroom.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.”
“After breakfast, you and I can go over to your place so you can pack a
bag,” he adds, his voice lower. “You should give old man Ronald a call as
well.”
“Will do.”
“Janice, the babysitter, usually leaves some extra clothes here just in case.
I’ll see if I can find something that might fit and leave it on the bed for
you.”
“You’re too kind.”
He walks out, but this time he shuts the door behind him.
There’s a tightness in my core that his gaze provoked. I saw the way he
looked at me; he was drinking me in, and, for the first time ever, I felt
desired. I felt precious and wanted. Maybe I imagined the whole thing, it
only lasted for a few seconds. But what if this is something different,
something special that was meant to happen, something I have secretly
prayed for but have a bit of trouble recognizing?
There’s a change coming, I can feel it.
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F
3
JAMES
ucking hell, this wasn’t supposed to happen.
My cock jumped at the sight of her naked. Elise is one hell of a
woman. Curves in all the right places, full, beautiful breasts. I can’t get the
image out of my mind. It’s making my blood simmer, and I need to get the
damn bread out of the oven.
“What’s wrong with you?” Oliver picks up on my mood swing as soon as I
walk into the kitchen.
“Nothing,” I gruffly reply as I turn the oven off.
Tricia and Ainsley are busy setting a place for Elise at the breakfast table.
They’re surprisingly well organized for a couple of kindergartners. Then
again, I take pride in knowing I’ve raised them right. Oliver, Roman, and
Janice have helped aplenty. The girls have nothing but good influences
around them.
“Look, Daddy, I gave Elise my glass,” Tricia exclaims, pointing at her
princess highball.
“That’s very sweet of you, honey. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it,” I say, then
turn to Oliver and Roman for a moment. Oliver is busy placing the eggs in a
large wooden bowl while Roman chops up fruit for a salad. “You two get
the bread out in about five minutes. I’m gonna hit the shower.”
Roman gives me a confused look. “Dude, what’s up?”
“Nothing’s up,” I reply too quickly.
Except my cock.
Dammit. “I just need a shower. Keep an eye on the girls for me, will you?”
Before either of my close friends can reply, I bolt right back upstairs and
lock the door to my room, then strip out of my clothes and jump into the hot
shower. My whole body feels tense, and I welcome the relief of the steady,
steamy stream. I lean into the stone wall and let my hand do the rest.
This went from 0 to 100 with lightning speed.
One minute, I was dozing off. The next, I was rushing to save Elise. Now,
I’m jerking off in the shower after seeing her naked.
I’ve noticed her around. I just didn’t expect to see her with her clothes off.
She didn’t plan for that. Poor thing, she was flustered. I was speechless: that
body, those sinuous lines of her hips, those thick, creamy thighs.
Gripping the base of my cock, I hold that memory steady in the center of
my mind.
Stroking slowly, I imagine those legs parting for me.
Her lips on mine.
My breath is ragged, my pulse is racing. I tighten my grip and stroke faster,
up and down, from base to tip, while an imagined moment unravels before
my eyes. Elise’s gorgeous breasts bouncing as I take her, going hard and
deep. I can almost hear her moans, and I kiss her to muffle them as I fill her
to the brim.
She cries out.
The water pours hotter over my shoulders.
My hand moves faster.
The tension gathers in my chest, burning its way through until it’s finally
released.
I come with a shudder, releasing the pent-up fire and astonished by the
instant effect that Elise seems to have on me. I’m startled and exhilarated at
the same time.
She’s trouble; the best kind of trouble.
I’ve been out of the dating game for a while. My last attempt at a
relationship ended poorly, but Elise seems different. She sparked a flame in
my heart, something I never thought I’d feel again.
She’ll be the death of me if I’m not careful.
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“L
4
ELISE
ooks like those cats did quite the number on the cabin,” James
mutters as we come up to the old wooden porch.
“Yeah. Those are some big cats, huh?” I gasp at the sight of the damage the
mountain lions left behind. Scratches everywhere, broken windows, various
objects strewn across the floor. It smells awful. They sure took their sweet
time marking their territory.
“I’m sorry,” James says as we cross the living room.
“It’s not like you trashed the house,” I reply, making my way into the
kitchen. The window is half-open, wide enough for the cats to come
through. “Wow, the damages are quite something. Mr. Ronald will have his
hands full.”
“We just need to make sure he doesn’t limit himself to changing the locks
and the latches. This cabin is in dire need of repairs on a fundamental level.
What the mountain lions did comes on top of some preexisting issues.”
“I took what I could get at the time. Don’t let the rugged look fool you. This
place is actually pretty comfy,” I say.
James comes closer to where I’m standing. He’s inspecting the window, and
I wonder if he realizes how the air thickens between us with the close
proximity. Quietly, I take advantage of the moment to admire his noble
profile: the straight blade of his nose, the piercing glare of his green eyes. I
see the vitality in them, just as I’ve seen it in Tricia and Ainsley’s. They
sure take after their daddy.
I wonder what it would be like to be with someone like him.
“He’ll have to change the windows out completely,” he says, pointing at the
shabby hinges. “This whole thing is going to come off at the slightest
disturbance.”
He turns his head. Our lips are within reach. All it takes is one subtle move.
One tilt of my head. A jump in my heels. Then, sweet, steamy contact. I can
almost hear my body sizzling with increasingly dangerous thoughts. I pull
away, my breath barely there.
“I should pack a bag,” I say quietly.
“Yeah, I doubt you’re coming back here anytime soon,” James agrees.
There’s something beautiful about the way the morning light cuts through
the room and dashes across his face. It brings out the golden flakes hidden
in his eyes. I’m mesmerized, trying and failing to think straight while
swimming in a pair of sweats and a tee shirt that James found in Janice’s
room.
“I really don’t want to be any trouble,” I say.
“You’re no trouble at all, Elise. In fact,” he inches even closer, “you’ve
piqued my curiosity in more than one way.”
I can’t breathe anymore.
“How so?”
Every word escaping from his lips comes with a subtle movement. Just
enough to close the distance between us to the point where I swear I can
hear his heartbeat echoing mine. His cologne fills my nostrils and makes
my senses drunk with notes of orange and saffron. Light and fresh but also
powerful, dominant, and all-consuming.
“I told you I’d seen you around,” he starts, his voice low, dripping with
something dark and hungry, reflecting the shadow in his eyes. “What I
didn’t tell you, however, is how often I’ve thought about approaching you.”
“Oh, I’m nothing special,” I nervously laugh.
His hand comes up and he cups my cheek. His touch is tender but firm. My
skin catches fire.
“You most certainly are special, Elise, and I intend to figure you out, one
layer at a time.”
“There’s nothing to figure out,” I mumble. Fear tests my resolve. It muddles
my brain, and I feel like I’m stuck between something mind-blowing and
the imminent impact of no turning back.
“I disagree.” Before I can protest, his mouth captures mine in a kiss.
Liquid heat rushes to pool between my legs as his lips press against mine,
as his tongue slips through and sets my soul on fire. I welcome him, tasting
coffee and a hint of berries from breakfast. He deepens the kiss, and all I
can do is surrender, as eager to explore him as he is to explore me.
I moan against his lips, high on the taste of him as his fingers move
downward, tracing the curves of my back and my hips. Every touch makes
me inhale sharply as I lean upward, my breasts pressed against his rippling
pecs.
He’s driving me crazy in the best way, and I can’t control myself.
For too long I kept to the shadows, hiding in this wretched cabin and under
that waitress uniform, praying that nobody would notice me. But James…
he noticed me. His kiss tells me that much.
“I’ll stop anytime you want me to stop,” James whispers as his hand comes
up under my shirt.
“Don’t you dare stop,” I command.
He’s dangerously close to finding my bare breast when approaching
footsteps have us both jumping apart. All the blood rushes up to my face as
I do my best to smooth my hair just enough so as not to look disheveled.
We turn to see two officers from Wildlife Services coming into the cabin.
“Mornin’,” the first one says. He’s the eldest of the two, stocky and greyhaired,
a hint of experienced wisdom in his eyes. He doesn’t seem
impressed by the damage the mountain lions have caused. I’m guessing he’s
seen way worse over the years. “You must be Miss Morris.”
“Hi, yes,” I manage, still catching my breath from the passionate kiss James
and I just shared.
James is remarkably composed, given what just happened. The fire still
burns in his eyes, and his breath is still ragged, but he’s handling the
unexpected interruption a lot better than I think I am.
“We’re officers Porter and Johnson,” the elder man says. “We got here as
quickly as we could.”
“The next morning?” James questions with a skeptical raised eyebrow.
The younger one, Johnson, makes a feeble attempt at an apology. “We had
an issue on the other side of the mountain, Mr. McTierney. Way worse than
what you’re dealing with here. It was an all-hands-on-deck type of
situation.”
“More mountain lions?” I blurt out.
“A grizzly got too close to Pebble Hill. We had to find the poor fella,
tranquilize him, and move him to a safer location before anybody got hurt,”
Porter says. “It’s the downside of summer in the Rockies. You gotta keep an
eye out at all times.”
“Well, this is what we’re dealing with,” I say as I motion to the damage
around me.
“It could’ve been worse,” Porter says. “We’ll survey the area and see if we
can track the cats. How many did you say there were?”
“I counted four last night,” James replies. “One large female, possibly an
older cub, and two younglings.”
“Yeah, that tracks. I think we’re familiar with this particular family,” Porter
replies. “They’ve had run-ins with other Rustic locals over the past few
weeks. Someone fed the cubs, and now they’ve gotten a little too
comfortable around humans, hence why they’re coming down the mountain
more frequently.”
“What can we do?” I ask.
James exhales sharply. “I reckon we’re going to have to get some dogs.”
“That will help scare the cats away,” Johnson agrees. “There’s a particular
breed of mountain shepherd dogs from Eastern Europe that might fit in
beautifully out here. I can give you a website. You can look ’em up and talk
to them.”
“Oh, yeah, the Romanian Carpathian Shepherds!” Porter exclaims, smiling.
“Resilient, fearless, and good with kids. Great dogs.”
“Okay but until we can get the dogs, what else can we do?” I ask.
Porter looks at James. “You said Miss Morris is staying at your house for
the time being?”
“Yes, sir.”
“As she should,” Porter sighs. “I’ll issue old man Ronald a warning
regarding the state of this place. The sheriff will back me up on that. He
needs to do a better job of securing the windows and the door.”
“Jesus, I’ve been living this close to disaster for a year? Is securing the
windows and doors all we can do? Should I crash at their place until it’s
sorted?” My mind is racing with question after question.
Johnson sighs deeply. “Ma’am, it’s the best we can do right now. We’ll see
if we can push the cats farther up the ridge. We’ll drop some fresh animal
carcasses closer to the peak. That’ll keep them away for a little while but
it’s only a matter of time before they’ll be tempted to come down again,
searching for food.”
“Welcome to the Rocky Mountains,” James scoffs.
What the hell am I going to do? I thought it would be weird sharing a house
with three stupidly hot men, but after what just happened with James, my
concern meter just shot through the roof. I’m in for a heap of trouble. The
spicy, rowdy, sexy, potentially devastating kind of trouble.
“I guess you’re stuck with us for a while,” James says to me, a playful
flicker dancing in his eyes. “Not that I mind.”
Deep down, I don’t mind it either. It’s the voice in my head that minds; it
keeps announcing the trainwreck that I’m about to step into.
All I can do is brace myself.
OceanofPDF.com
B
5
ELISE
y the time Mr. Ronald arrives at the cabin, the Wildlife Service offices
have left and Oliver and Roman have joined us.
We sit in the living room, surrounded by the chaos left behind by the
animals.
I’m in the armchair, clutching my ravaged blanket, a bag packed at my feet.
James, Oliver, and Roman have taken the couch while Mr. Ronald stands,
rather than risk sitting on a crumbling wooden stool.
“I’m sorry this happened to you, Miss Morris,” Mr. Ronald says, clearly not
that eager to be here. He can barely look me in the eyes. “I’m afraid it
comes along with living in these parts.”
James gives him a cold glare. “I don’t know about that. I’ve never had a
mountain lion come into my kitchen.”
“Well, it’s an old place. I warned her when she first moved in,” the older
man says. Mr. Ronald is in his mid-sixties and a widower of ten years. He’s
got an apartment in town and rents out the cabin for long-term leases. His
health doesn’t allow him to live in the mountains anymore. Too many
accident risks for a man in his condition. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”
“Mr. Ronald, we all know you could’ve done better as a landlord,” Oliver
cuts in, while James and Roman occasionally steal glances at me. “This
whole incident could’ve been avoided if you’d heeded Elise’s request for a
few repairs.”
“You’re right,” Mr. Ronald agrees. “I’ll change the latches and the door
lock today. I’ll drive into town myself and get the parts.”
Oliver shakes his head. “Oh, I think you’re going to be doing a whole lot
more than that.”
Mr. Ronald is getting irritated and defensive. “Hey, I own this place. I’ll run
it as I see fit.”
“You can do that. Or I can just call the mayor and explain what sort of lease
practices you’ve got going up here,” Oliver shoots back. “We’re frequent
attendees at the monthly town hall meetings. I’m sure I’ve heard your name
mentioned once or twice from previous disgruntled tenants complaining
about a violation or ten. You’re no stranger to it, and most of Rustic is well
aware.”
Mr. Ronald steps forward, perhaps in an attempt to make himself look
intimidating, but he’s clearly uncomfortable. “Tell me, what’s your
relationship to Miss Morris here specifically since you’re so eager to
threaten me on her behalf?” He pauses to look at me. “I can always end the
lease agreement early, you know.”
“We’re currently hosting her at our place,” James says.
“Which means we have to make sure she comes back to safer living
conditions,” Oliver adds. “Otherwise, we’re just going to play a game of
back-and-forth until one day, somebody does get killed in this place
because you were too cheap to do your goddamn duties as a landlord.”
“I resent that!”
“And we resent grown-ass men taking advantage of hard-working women,”
Roman growls. That’s enough to force Mr. Ronald back a step or two.
Oliver leans forward and Mr. Ronald reacts as if he were slapped in the
face. “Here’s what you’re going to do. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. You’re
going to hire a crew to come fix this place up. You’ll replace the door and
all of the windows with solid and impenetrable frames. No exceptions. The
crew will follow code to the letter, they will double check that the wiring is
safe, that all of the utilities are functional, and that no one living under this
roof will ever fear for their lives again.”
“You’re also going to hire a cleaning crew to come in and scrub the place
down. You’ll be replacing some of the furniture, too,” James continues.
“This couch has seen better days.”
“I’m not liking those kitchen counters either,” Oliver plays along. “And that
front porch is going to fall apart during the first blizzard.”
Roman stifles a chuckle while I watch the exchange with wide eyes, utterly
fascinated by Oliver’s determination to get the best outcome for me. Hell,
these three put together are basically unstoppable.
“Y’all are giving me a headache,” Mr. Ronald groans. “It’s too much. The
expense ain’t worth it.”
“I know how much Elise pays you,” Oliver refuses to yield. “Use thirty
percent of that from the next six months, and you’ll have the investment
covered.”
“I have medication to pay for!”
“You’re fully insured, old man. Don’t take me for an idiot. In the meantime,
Elise will stay at our house. Be thankful I’m not charging you for this
inconvenience.”
It’s hard not to laugh. I manage to take a deep breath as I look at Mr.
Ronald. “I work hard for every penny I make, sir. If I’m going to keep
paying you rent, you need to provide me with the appropriate conditions.”
“And don’t even think about renting this out to somebody else in the
meantime,” Oliver says. “I’ll make your life a living hell if you do. No
one’s going to want to get anywhere near this place. They’ll run screaming
for the hills long before they stumble upon another mountain lion.”
Mr. Ronald is at an impasse. He could go the hard-headed way and cancel
my tenancy agreement. But I can tell that Oliver is serious with every
promise that he’s made so far, and my landlord knows it. His only other
option is to oblige and get cracking on the repairs. He shakes his head
slowly, running his fingers through his thinning, white hair before putting
his red ballcap back on.
“Fine, fine. I’ll get a crew together,” he grumbles. “Don’t be surprised if I
up the rent.”
“What did I just say?” Oliver snaps.
“Well, how the hell else am I going to make a profit?!”
“You should’ve thought of that before you let this cabin rot!” Oliver replies.
“I’ve been here long enough to understand Rustic and its people. Nobody’s
going to side with you if you resort to such predatory practices. Elise has
been a model tenant up to this point. You’re the one who’s been falling
short on your end of things. Be a decent man and do the right thing, or I will
get our lawyers involved.”
That’s enough to get Mr. Ronald’s knees rattling.
“There’s no winning with you three,” he says, shaking his head in dismay.
“I should’ve known better than to come up here on my own.”
“We’re just trying to make sure Elise gets a fair housing deal,” James
replies. “You’re a God-fearing man, and while I understand that you’re
eager to turn a decent profit on this place, I think we can all agree that you
do need to invest in order to get that kind of return. What happened here last
night should never be allowed to happen again.”
“Had James not answered his phone, I don’t know what I would’ve done,” I
add with a trembling voice. “It would’ve taken the sheriff a lot longer to
reach me.”
“I truly am sorry that you were put in that position,” Mr. Ronald replies,
lowering his gaze. “I’ll fix this cabin up to the best of my ability so you can
come back to live in peace and safety.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ronald. That’s all I want.”
He heads for the door, giving the room one last look before he steps out.
We wait until we hear the sound of his car engine rumbling before the guys
get up from the sofa. The three of them smile and pat each other on the
back, understandably pleased with themselves. All I can do is smile. “You
were amazing,” I tell them. “I doubt I would’ve gotten him to agree to any
of that.”
“It was our pleasure,” Oliver chuckles lightly, the morning sunlight
capturing the subtle copper in his blonde hair. It makes his eyes seem even
bluer and brighter. “I’m no stranger to negotiations.”
“Yeah, I could tell.”
“Oliver is, in fact, our chief negotiator,” James says, beaming with pride.
“There’s nothing he won’t get people to agree to if it benefits us.”
“Consider me impressed,” I reply. And pretty turned on.
Is it the one-plus year of celibacy that has me feeling like this? No. It can’t
be. It’s got to be them. Men with gorgeous eyes and sculpted muscles
underneath their plaid shirts, dashing smiles framed by nicely trimmed
beards, and voices that make my core tighten with pure arousal.
“You’ll be safe with us,” Roman says, picking up on my slight hesitation.
“And the twins will enjoy having you around.”
“Tricia and Ainsley will absolutely welcome a new lady in the house,”
James agrees. “Janice is a sweet old lady, and incredibly reliable, but the
girls already like you.”
“It’s an honor to know they feel that way,” I giggle softly.
It warms my heart to hear this. I like them, too. They’re funny, vibrant, and
curious. And they’re whip-smart on top of everything else. Remarkably
precocious.
“Again, I cannot thank you enough,” I say. “I’ll make it up to you, one way
or another.” Maybe I should’ve kept that last part to myself because it gets
me a lingering look from James. “Maybe you’ll let me cook for you once in
a while. Or every day. I don’t know.”
“Nonsense,” James replies. “You work at the diner almost every day. You
need to rest, to unwind. Seriously, Elise, you’re no trouble at all. I’ve said it
once, and I will say it again—you’re welcome in our home.”
“More than welcome,” Oliver adds.
That sends a tingle down my spine. What on earth is wrong with me? Why
am I so receptive to the slightest hint of their interest? I keep asking myself
the same questions even though I already know the answer. It’s embedded
in the most forbidden thoughts, thoughts I never imagined I’d have until I
met them.
OceanofPDF.com
I
6
OLIVER
t’s going to be an interesting few weeks, if not months.
Frankly, I hope old Ronald drags his ass if it means we get to enjoy
Elise’s company for as long as possible. I could tell from the first time I saw
her, cursing when her car wouldn’t start outside the diner, that she was an
interesting woman.
Roman got the same vibe when he spotted her at the grocery store, long
before James carried her into the house, scared out of her mind. I’m
guessing she’s from the city, most likely some place cold. She didn’t seem
too affected by Colorado’s last winter.
“I don’t like the strawberries,” Tricia moans as I add more fruit to her cereal
bowl. It’s how I get the girls to eat enough fiber, by making their cereal
breakfast colorful and fun though they don’t always see it that way.
“Strawberries are good for you,” I remind her. By the look I get I’m
guessing she’s not buying what I’m trying to sell today.
“Eat your strawberries, ladies,” Roman warns as he joins us in the kitchen.
“Or I’ll add more broccoli to your dinner plates tonight.”
“Not cool,” Ainsley grumbles. Still, despite the protests, she eventually eats
the strawberry and Cheerios combination.
By the time James comes downstairs and gets more coffee brewing in the
pot, Tricia is firmly staying on the fence.
“I won’t eat the broccoli, either,” she insists.
“I thought we went over this,” James enters into the conversation.
Roman shakes his head slowly. “Nothing seems to be working today.”
“We don’t like strawberries,” Ainsley says, scrunching her nose at us.
“Can I have more Cheerios, please?” Tricia chimes in with an innocent
smile.
Elise is the last to come down and her presence changes the entire
atmosphere around the breakfast table. “What do you mean you don’t like
strawberries?” she asks as she stops to pull her honey-blonde hair up in a
loose bun, her pale pink diner uniform neatly pressed and looking sharp.
“Strawberries are awesome.”
“Awesome?” Tricia echoes.
“Why, yes! They’re full of fiber and vitamins, the kind of stuff that helps
you grow big and strong,” Elise says. I can’t take my eyes off her.
“I wanna grow,” Ainsley mumbles. “I wanna grow up real fast.”
James chuckles as he adds a breadbasket to the table. “That’s the last thing I
want. The two of you growing up real fast.”
“Why do you want to grow up so fast?” Elise asks. I pour her a cup of
coffee.
“Because I wanna be old enough to eat whatever I want,” Ainsley proudly
declares.
That gets a round of laughter from all of us.
“Oh, honey, trust me. Don’t be in any big hurry to grow up. Right now all
you need to do is go to school and play with your friends and toys. But
when you get older, you have responsibilities and bills,” Elise tells her.
“Those don’t sound like fun,” Ainsley says.
I can’t help but laugh. “They aren’t.”
“I think you look very pretty today, Elise,” Tricia interjects.
“You’re too kind,” Elise says.
“Daddy likes you,” Ainsley cuts in.
Enter the awkward silence. Elise freezes, the coffee mug glued to her lips,
eyes immediately darting over to James, who’s just as speechless. I hold
back a laugh. Roman seems relaxed, but I know deep down he’s pining, too.
He changes the subject by making sure the girls eat their breakfast.
“Here, have more Cheerios,” he tells the twins as he adds another scoop to
each bowl.
“I’ll get the milk,” James offers.
Elise nods in agreement. “I’d like some, too, for my coffee.”
“Aren’t you going to eat anything?” he asks her.
She smiles softly. “I always grab a bite at the diner. The morning shift is
great; Maury always bakes a few extra scones for us.”
“That’s mighty kind of him,” I reply.
“Yeah, he’s good people,” Roman chimes in.
“I’m not sure how quickly Mr. Ronald will move with the renovation
work,” Elise mutters.
Roman turns on the tablet, letting the girls watch a few educational videos
while they eat. His eyes often go back to Elise, though, scanning, analyzing,
memorizing. I know him too well; he’s tumbling down the rabbit hole with
the rest of us.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” James replies. “He’s not going to
charge you any rent for the duration of the repairs, so it’ll be in his best
interest to get it done as quickly as possible.”
“He’s not going to charge me rent?”
I shake my head. “Landlords are not allowed to do that, not while you’re
unable to live there because of necessary repairs. We looked into it. Right
now, it’s considered an uninhabitable structure.”
“You looked into it?”
“You sound surprised,” James replies, somewhat amused.
“It’s just… I’m not used to any of this,” Elise mumbles, lowering her gaze
as she finishes her coffee. “All this kindness and generosity. Taking me into
your home.”
“It’s merely a temporary solution to a serious problem,” James insists. “You
are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you need to.”
“Which reminds me,” I say and take out a spare set of keys from my jeans
pocket. “These are yours; they’re for the house.”
Elise stares at them for a moment before reaching out with uncertain
fingers.
“I already gave you the spare for the Ford, right?” James asks her.
“Yes, thank you. Gosh, I can never repay you guys enough.”
“There’s nothing to repay anybody for,” I say. “We’re just being neighborly.
Maybe building something more in the meantime, you never know.”
And just like that the seed is planted. Elise looks at each of us with a
shimmer of excitement in her soft blue eyes. She nods slowly, then gets up
and rinses the mug in the sink before giving us one last smile. “I’ll see you
all later, then.”
“Bye, Elise!” Tricia calls out.
“Don’t forget we’re painting later!” Ainsley reminds her with a broad grin
before she’s sucked back into the videos.
“You won’t let me forget,” Elise laughs as she walks out the door. A
moment later, she’s gone.
The girls are done eating and almost ready for kindergarten. It’s my turn to
drive them. Roman looks through his emails while James gets to work on
his own plate, occasionally stealing a glance at his daughters.
“Are we going to address the elephant in the room?” I ask, smirking as I
finish my breakfast. “Or are we going to pretend that there’s nothing going
on here?”
“Do you mean Elise?” James asks tentatively.
“Obviously.”
“We like her,” Ainsley says.
“Why don’t you two go and brush your teeth?” I suggest. “You’re done
eating anyway.”
Tricia shoots me a cool grin. “We ate all the strawberries, too.”
“You’re not getting an award for that,” Roman replies.
Tricia rolls her eyes dramatically. “Fine. Come on, Ains.”
“But the video…”
“We can watch it later.”
“Elise and I had a moment.” James sighs deeply once the girls have gone
upstairs and he’s certain they are out of earshot. “I don’t know where it will
lead, though.”
“Somewhere good,” I say. “It’s just a feeling I have.”
“Or it’s the hope that we get our wish granted,” he counters. “I’m honestly
surprised, given what happened with Shauna.”
“Elise is different.”
“She’s not indifferent to us, that much is obvious,” Roman cuts in, setting
his phone aside. “That’s rare.”
James gives him a curious look. “So it’s not just my impression.”
“No, I see it, too,” I tell him.
The fleeting glances. The lustful expression on her face, her lips parting
ever so slowly whenever any of us get just a little too close. The way in
which her voice softens when she speaks to us. The twirling of fingers in
her long, honey-colored hair. And the fact that she’s already had first
contact with James only serves to reinforce my suspicions.
“I don’t think it’ll be a Shauna do-over, though,” I say. “That woman’s a
mess. Way too fixated on you, James.”
“Through no fault of my own,” he defends.
“We know that,” Roman chuckles. “Let this be the least of our trouble.”
James gives him a long look. “Don’t you miss some excitement in your
life? You loved the Ranger era if I remember correctly. Dodging bullets,
fighting the enemy, stepping carefully across a minefield… you once said
that was a favorable time in your life.”
“Yeah, in a previous life. I’m looking for peace and quiet now,” Roman
admits, a smile testing his lips. “Elise might work out. We’re not going to
know until we try.”
“We need to go easy on her,” James warns.
I sense there’s a part of her past that she’s determined to keep to herself.
I’ve met enough people who are running from something, hiding from
something, to recognize the signs. The sadness, the fear, the trauma masked
behind hesitant voices and forced smiles.
Something or someone made Elise come here to Rustic, Colorado. And it
wasn’t the Rockies.
OceanofPDF.com
M
7
ELISE
aury taps on the glass display after he adds the freshly baked scones
to their appropriate platters. “Ready to go, ladies.”
“You’re a star, Maury,” Debbie exclaims.
She’s back from table four with an order she just jotted down while I wait
for the coffee to finish brewing before I make the rounds at my three tables.
The diner is usually busy in the morning, especially between eight and
eleven a.m. We get workers coming in from all over town for the Jamaican
Blue Mountain brew and Maury’s legendary butter scones.
“Need anything from me?” I ask Debbie.
Chewing on her nicotine gum, she tucks a curl of black hair behind her
pierced ear and shakes her head. “Nah, I’m good, honey. They want the egg
and bacon special.”
“I’ll get right on it,” Maury says and goes back into the kitchen.
“How are you lookin’ so far?” Debbie asks me.
“All the food is served, I’m just going to make the coffee refill rounds,” I
reply. “It’s winding down.”
She nods in agreement. “Yeah, today’s morning rush is over, thank God. My
feet are killing me,” she says, glancing down at her Doc Martens, which she
paired with thigh-high striped stockings. “Would you mind stopping by my
tables with a coffee refill as well?”
“Sure,” I reply.
Looking around, I see she’s got three tables left as well, including the new
arrivals. I recognize most of them by now. The lumberjacks at table two.
The pharmacists at table three. And Mrs. Pennywise at table four, with her
two nieces. We call her that because of the ungodly amount of makeup she
puts on. Otherwise, a very nice lady.
“I just need to nibble on one of these scones before Maury gets the food
ready,” Debbie says, helping herself to a piece right from the display. “My
God, they smell amazing.”
“Dangerously addictive,” I agree, taking the full pot of coffee out for its
rounds.
“Like crack.”
I laugh lightly as I stop by my tables first. “More coffee?” I ask.
“Thanks, yes,” one gentleman says, giving me a warm smile.
The coffee pot is half full by the time I reach Debbie’s tables. The
lumberjacks are doing alright so I move on to the drugstore fellas next.
Stealing a glance back at my coworker, I can’t help but giggle at how much
she’s enjoying that scone. Truth be told, my mouth is watering, too. I don’t
know what Maury puts in those things, but I’ll bet he could make a fortune
selling them to a broader market.
“How are you doing, Elise?” Mrs. Pennywise asks once I reach her table.
“I’m still waking up, ma’am,” I chuckle as I refill her mug.
Her nieces are tweens and clearly unhappy to be up and about this early.
Unfortunately for them, they’re cursed to spend their summer here in the
mountains. There’s no mall to hang out at, and the local cinema hasn’t got
the same appeal. They’re clearly city gals, and they’re obviously miserable.
“Would you young ladies like some hot cocoa before your food arrives?” I
politely ask.
“Do you sell energy drinks?” the younger one asks.
Mrs. Pennywise gasps. “Alana, you’re not allowed to drink that kind of
garbage.”
“You’re better off having a cup of joe,” I mutter.
“Excuse me?” Mrs. Pennywise gives me a stern glare.
All I can do is smile. “I can get the girls some freshly squeezed orange juice
if they’d like.”
“That’s more like it.”
As I head back to the counter, I steal a glance over to the front of the diner,
its massive windows and glass-paned double doors giving me a clear and
full view of Roker Street—the main artery of this quaint but charming
town.
For a fleeting second, I see him. A flash of his profile.
My stomach tightens as dread clutches at my throat, its claws piercing
through the very fabric of my being.
I can’t move.
“Igor,” I whisper the name I wish I’d never have to utter again.
A moment later, he’s gone.
“Elise?” Debbie calls out from behind the counter with a mouthful of scone.
“Be right back,” I mumble. I set the coffee pot on the nearest table, then
dash right out of the diner, my heart beating a million miles a minute.
Looking up and down Roker Street, I can’t spot him anywhere. Did I
actually see him? Really? There’s no sight of him, just a handful of people
heading to work. Average, everyday folks with familiar faces and tired
smiles. Folks I have come to know rather well, albeit from a safe distance.
No Igor. No dark suit and charming smirk. No sharp cheeks and oversized
confidence. I can’t feel the icy current that his presence used to give me.
Maybe it was nothing more than an illusion after all.
I shudder even though it’s unseasonably hot at this hour, especially for a
town at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Shivers dance down my spine as
memories flood my mind and fill my eyes with tears. I rub my hands up and
down my arms and blink it all away, refusing to cave in. I’ve come too far
to go back, even an inch.
Once I’m back inside the diner, I desperately cling to my routine and
service my tables.
“Are you okay?” Debbie asks as she comes over with Mrs. Pennywise’s
empty breakfast plates.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I reply.
“You don’t look fine.”
“I am, I promise.” I chuckle nervously. “It’s just… I thought I saw
someone.”
“Someone you know?”
“Yeah.”
She looks back at the front doors. “And?”
“It was just my imagination. It’s all good, Debbie; don’t worry about it,” I
say and head to my dockworkers to clear their table.
“I’m not worried, babe. You just looked like you saw a ghost or something.”
Maybe I did. Crippling fear can elicit that reaction.
I came so far to get away from him. What are the odds he’d find me here in
the middle of effing nowhere, a few states over? It’s a small town, off the
beaten path. I’ve been using cash only. I have a new email address and I’m
staying off social media sites. I only call my brother using burner SIM cards
and I changed my phone number. I’ve been so careful.
It couldn’t have been him.
It had to be my mind playing tricks on me.
I guess it’s what happens when you’re hiding, when you’re trying to outrun
something you know you might not be able to. When you become fully
aware that it’s only a matter of time before it catches up with you.
Behind the diner, there’s a narrow and semi-dark alleyway where Debbie
used to go for a smoke. It’s also where the diner’s loading bay is, so it’s
usually blocked with supplier trucks. Today, however, it’s empty. It’s just
me and the trash cans, taking a break. My mind is swirling with the worstcase
scenario thoughts I usually try to avoid as I take out the burner phone I
use to call my brother. I miss him.
Two rings in he picks up.
“Elise?” his voice is cautious, uneven. He’s nervous.
“Mike. Yeah, it’s me,” I say, tears already stinging my eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“For the most part, yeah. I miss you. I was thinking about you.”
“Give me a second,” he says.
“Sure, kiddo.”
I patiently wait as he pauses the conversation. I hear familiar voices in the
background—Lev, Andrei—and they sound irritated. Mike shouldn’t be
there. He’s barely eighteen. I pick up on a few Russian words. Reckless.
Foolish. Terrible idea. Then, a door closes, and their voices become
muffled.
“Okay, we can talk now,” Mike says.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m always okay,” he says, laughing lightly. “It’s you I’m worried about.
It’s you we’re all worried about. Why won’t you tell me what’s going on,
Elise? Where are you?”
Closing my eyes for a moment, I take a deep breath. “You know I can’t tell
you that, Mike. For my safety, and for yours. Just please, as always, don’t
tell anyone we’re talking.”
“I haven’t told them. Not Papa, not Andrei or Kara.”
“Igor, in particular.”
“He’s losing his mind over you,” my brother sighs. “He’s still looking for
you. Papa hasn’t seen him in days.”
The way he calls Lev papa makes my stomach churn. But I can’t blame the
boy for seeing him as a father figure. He was like a father to us. Still is. It’s
the truth they buried at the center of the family that burns my throat and
sickens me whenever I hear my brother call that man papa. I’m disgusted,
but I need to keep it to myself. Mike is safer there, with them, completely
ignorant of my whereabouts and my knowledge.
“Do you know where Igor is?” I ask Mike.
“I heard something about Idaho the other day, but I’m not sure. He usually
comes back over the weekend, just to check in with Papa and the others,”
he says. “He misses you, Elise.”
“Someday, I’ll be able to tell you everything. I promise,” I reply. “In the
meantime, I beg you—”
“Yeah, I know the drill. Tell no one. I got it.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I am! I miss you.”
The tears break free, rolling down my cheeks.
“I know you do, and I miss you, too. The day will come when we meet
again, that I can promise. I don’t know when or how just yet, but it will
come.”
“It’s been a long year since you disappeared, Elise. It’s almost destroyed
our family and—”
“No, what destroyed our family was our parents getting shot and killed
when we were both too young to fend for ourselves,” I interject. “Don’t you
forget that.”
“The Konstantinovs are also our family, Elise. Come on, what the hell
happened?”
“Nothing for you to concern yourself with right now,” I say. “Let’s talk
about something else. How’ve you been? How’s school going?”
He groans slightly. “It’s going alright. I’m getting good grades. Papa says
I’ll get into any college I want if I keep it up.”
“Good. You deserve that. What about the basketball team? You’re still cocaptain,
right?”
“Yeah, me and Johnny, as usual. We have a game this Friday. Wish you
could be there.”
“Remember what I told you, Mike?”
A heavy sigh leaves his lips. “That if I close my eyes, you’ll be here with
me. Always.”
“That’s right.” I pause for a moment. “What were Lev and Andrei arguing
about?”
“Oh, you heard that?”
“Lev can be loud,” I say with a laugh.
Mike scoffs. “Yeah, he’s mad at Igor for being away so much, looking for
you. It’s taking a toll on the whole family. Andrei says Kara is worried that
Igor’s not going about it in the right way, that he wants to hurt you.”
“She said that?” I gasp.
“Nobody believes her,” Mike says. “That’s insane. Igor loves you, he’d
never—”
“Mike,” I cut him off. “Don’t. Please, we’ve had this conversation.”
“He thinks you’re cheating on him. That you ran off with some dude. Is that
true?”
I can hear anger in his voice. “No, of course not. I left because it was safer
for me to get away from there, away from Igor, in particular. Mike, they’re
not… he’s not who you think he is.”
“Why won’t you tell me everything?”
“Because you won’t believe me. I already tried, remember?”
Heavy silence falls between us. It’s nothing new. The sound of utter
nothingness, of my younger brother being too infatuated with his older
brother-in-law, the man we grew up with. Igor could do no harm in his
mind. I can’t really blame Mike for choosing to believe him over me. Igor
played his cards right as soon as he sniffed me out, as soon as he realized
that I knew the truth. I didn’t even see it coming, the covert campaign he
built against me. By the time I tried to speak up, it was too late.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” I tell my brother. “I’ll call you again sometime next
week. Maybe we’ll have more than a few minutes to spare. You should go
back now. I don’t want them asking questions.”
“Alright. Elise, wherever you are, please tell me—”
“I’m good. I swear. Remember, if you need me, just post—”
“Post on that Reddit thread. I know.”
“I check it every evening. Please, stay safe.”
“I am safe.”
Right. I’m the one who isn’t.
“I love you, little brother.”
“Love you, too.”
Once I hang up, I let it all out, crying my soul into my hands. A year’s
worth of pain and longing unravels as I briefly wonder if I did the right
thing leaving him there. He doesn’t know the truth. They’re all aware that I
never told him anything. I made a point of that in the note I placed on Igor’s
pillows.
It was a calculated risk, but it was for the best. Lev loves Mike deeply and
Igor would never hurt him. I can’t protect Mike and myself while on the run
from Igor.
It’s me that Igor wants, anyway.
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