Page 96 of Ten Mountain Men

It’s as if the routine that always defined him suddenly doesn’t hold the same weight. Huh.

Nash, not one to let an opportunity for flirtation slip by, nudges me with his elbow. “Can’t blame him. It’s hard to think straight when you’re around, Goldie.”

He flashes me that genuine grin of his and I smile back, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, okay, buddy.”

“Well, I for one can think about eating when Goldie’s around.” The look in Clay’s eyes is fairly scandalous. He winks at me, then waggles his eyebrows. “In fact, I know exactly what I’d like a taste of…”

“Well, please share, because I’m drawing a damn blank at what to whip up fast,” Luke says. Then he glances at Clay and catches his brother making a very NSFW gesture with his tongue. Luke grumbles, “Forget I asked.”

But then I say, “I could make lunch.”

The room falls silent. It’s like I’ve just suggested something truly outrageous—like flopping those fish on plates and eating them as is. All eyes are on me, and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a butter knife. Which, thankfully, now there are clean ones on the premises.

I blink, glancing around. “What? What did I say?”

Ranger is the first to break the silence, his voice gentle but matter-of-fact. “Goldie…Luke’s the only one who cooks. Always has been. And he’s, uh, not exactly open to change when it comes to the kitchen.”

I look at Luke, fully prepared to backtrack, but to my surprise, he doesn’t look upset. His expression is…calm?

“It’s fine,” Luke says, and everyone looks surprised. “There are other chores to be done. I’ve got to get up on the roof with Ash anyway.”

He glances at Ash, who simply nods, not questioning the sudden shift.

“So you can make lunch,” Luke continues. “We’ve got everything you need.”

I nod.

The brothers exchange looks, collectively stunned. Buck lets out a low whistle, as if this is some monumental occasion.

“Just, um, don’t feel the need to get all gourmet chef. I don’t want to eat lunch at three in the afternoon,” Luke adds. “Sandwiches would be just fine.”

“He doesn’t trust you to use the stove without burning the cabin down,” Ranger says.

Lynx adds, “He doesn’t trust any of us not to burn the cabin down, either.”

“Rusty, can you stay and show her where everything is?”

“I’m sure I can find it!” I nearly yelp, because this is another chance to get the cameras down and I’m not going to miss it.

Luke’s bushy eyebrows go up. “You know where the pantry is?”

“You have a pantry?” I ask.

“I’ll stay behind and show her,” Rusty says.

“The pantry better be all you show her. Once again, I don’t want to eat lunch at three,” Luke says.

Everyone seems to know exactly what to do and they all stomp out, leaving me alone with Rusty.

To my immense surprise, he pulls on a shelf crammed full of knickknacks. There’s one of my cameras hidden somewhere amongst them.

“What are you—”

But then I realize what’s happening. The shelf moves, creaking slowly inward. A hidden door. I gasp. I always begged the Hammer brothers to put one of these in one of our renos but it never happened.

I’m grinning like a fool and Rusty grins back.

“It’s well stocked. Go check it out.” He gestures for me to go first.

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