Page 91 of Mountain Hero

Oh. There he goes again. Turning my heart into a melty puddle of goo.

Grasping his shoulders, I stretch up to give him a quick kiss. “I love you. I really do.”

“Ah, Winter.” His gaze softens, his love for me right there, on full display. “I really love you.”

The party is going even better than I expected.

Everyone loves the food, and we have a regular influx of guests headed to the kitchen, loading their plates with an array of appetizers like buffalo chicken dip and antipasti roll-ups and soft pretzels with beer cheese. There’s always at least one person at the make-your-own-nachos station with the melted cheese dispenser I ordered on Amazon, which Alec declared as the best invention ever.

In the dining room, we have a full bar set up, complete with seasonal drinks like apple cider margaritas and cranberry sangria, and of course, a selection of beer from Blissful Brews. Ronan appointed himself as the bartender, and he’s really gotten into it. He pours the drinks with a flourish and I even spotted him spinning a few liquor bottles Cocktail-style.

The decorations look fantastic and are well-worth the time it took finding and arranging them. There are varying sizes and shapes of pumpkins and gourds arranged around the room, some of them carved with battery-operated tea lights inside. Fake autumn leaves are scattered across the tables and shelves, accented with thick pillar candles in deep reds and golds and oranges. And in a nod to Halloween, which is a few days from now, I tucked little ghosts and black cats and witches around the living room.

Our guests seem to be enjoying themselves, judging from the smiles and happy chatter and bursts of laughter over the last couple of hours. People are situated in clusters all through the living room and dining room, talking or eating or playing a heated game of Jenga on the coffee table.

I think there might be some sort of sabotage going on, because a few minutes ago, I heard Knox grumble loudly, “Who’s shaking the coffee table? Gage? Cole? It’s one of you, isn’t it?”

Cole—who I’ve heard lots about but only met yesterday—just chuckled before retorting, “Don’t blame us if your hands aren’t as steady as they used to be, old man.”

“Old man,” Tayo chortled from his spot on the couch. “You are getting up there, aren’t you?”

“Aren’t you?” Knox tossed back, but he was laughing, too.

“I don’t mind,” Tayo’s wife, Kayla, said while giving him an affectionate look. She stroked his cheek and added with a small smile, “A little silver is sexy.”

That’s another great thing about this party. I’ve gotten to spend time with more of Enzo’s friends. Or really, given all they’ve been through, his brothers.

There’s Tayo and Kayla, who flew in from Colorado last night.

Cole and his wife Maya arrived yesterday with their precious daughter, Clara, and I’d be lying if I said my biological clock didn’t get a little jolt when I saw Enzo holding her.

Leo came with his wife, Georgia, who’s five months pregnant and so excited about it.

Then there are all the local people.

Max closed the shop so he could be here, and Sage and Patrick switched shifts so they could both attend. And of course, Alec, Knox, Gage, and Ronan came—we wouldn’t be having this party without them.

When I think about it, it’s pretty amazing, considering where I started from. Moving to town without knowing anyone to finding the love of my life and a new group of friends.

Six months ago, I never could have imagined being this happy.

“Hey, hun.” Enzo comes up beside me and wraps his arm around my waist. He brushes a kiss across my cheek before continuing, “You look beautiful, by the way. Have I told you that lately?”

My heart swells. “Maybe. But you can say it again if you want.”

He gives me a little squeeze. “You look beautiful. And I love this dress.”

“This?” Grinning, I make a little oh, this old thing gesture. But it’s exactly the reaction I was hoping for when I bought it at the boutique in town last week. The green sweater dress is a shade deeper than my eyes and clings just enough to be subtly sexy.

“Yes, this.” His hand drops to my ass, lingering for a second before returning to my waist. “And I can’t wait to take it off later.”

“Mmm.” Even though we just had sex a few hours ago, I’m ready for another round. “Sounds good.”

Enzo’s gaze darkens, and his voice gets all rumbly. “It does.” After a beat, he shakes his head, smiling ruefully. “Later. But I wanted to let you know we’re about to make the announcement. I just need to talk to the guys for a second. Okay?”

“Of course. I’ll be right here.”

A minute later, he’s in a small huddle with Alec, Knox, Ronan, and Gage; as Enzo talks, the other four listen intently, nodding or lifting a chin every so often.

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