Page 106 of Ten Mountain Men

Whoa.

I think that’s the first time in my life I’ve ever had that particular thought. I may’ve strained a muscle in my brain.

I’m about to suggest we take a break—we’ve earned a little kissy-kissy, if I didn’t completely kill the mood—when the front door swings open and the rest of the brothers start stomp stomp stomping in. The cabin instantly fills with noise—boots thumping on the floor, voices overlapping, and the air thick with the smell of MEN.

“Damn,” Clay says, his eyes sweeping the much less chaotic living room. I wouldn’t call it tidy yet. “What happened in here? Did we step into the wrong cabin?”

“I told you, I work fast,” I say, giving him a wink, but I can’t hide the exhaustion creeping into my voice.

“Oh, sweetheart, I know you do,” he says, voice full of innuendo to match his gaze making its way up and down my body, lingering on every inch, like a particularly slow elevator.

Hunter whistles low, running a hand over the back of the couch. “Damn, sunshine. Looks like a whole new place.”

“Impressive,” Brooks says, giving me a genuine smile. His freckles have darkened from being out in the sun and I want to kiss each one. “Really impressive.”

The rest of the guys mumble their agreements, clearly pleased with the progress. Even Luke looks gobsmacked with joy.

“Damn,” he says, glancing around with an approving nod. “Didn’t think you’d get this much done.”

I shrug, a small grin creeping up. “I had a lot of help.”

“Well, I figured your help would be too busy trying to convince you to do the mattress mambo than to actually, yanno, help,” Luke says.

It makes a nice change from him thinking I’m an evil seductress, beguiling them into the sex.

“Where are all the books?” Ash asks.

I explain, and add that we made sure to leave what everyone is currently reading out, undisturbed, where they left it.

“Well, I’m going to get supper started, so everybody stay out of my way,” Luke says.

“And the rest of you,” I say, hands on my hips. “Before you wash up, please grab your clean clothes from wherever they’re currently flung and get them in your dressers. I’ve seen what you’re all working with in there. There’s no excuse to leave everything strewn all over the place. The clothes don’t need to be folded, they just need to be in the drawers.”

Luke laughs. “You tell ’em, Goldilocks.”

I grin at him. “Hey, I’m just pitching in, earning my keep. And that means I’m not going to stand around and let chaos reign supreme.”

One by one, they good-naturedly grumble their acknowledgments and stomp stomp stomp to the bedrooms to do as I’ve asked. All of them except for Luke, who’s disappeared into the pantry, and Ash, who’s standing around acting like he’s waiting for something.

“Do you not have any clothes to put in your dresser?” I ask him.

“Wait for it,” he says.

Before I can even shoot him a quizzical look, a soft pattering noise fills the room. Rain. I glance up, noticing the sound bouncing off the roof. “Is that—?”

Ash interrupts, holding up a hand. “Yup. That’s rain. And it sounds like it’s comin’ down hard.” His eyes flick toward the ceiling. “Everybody!” he calls. “Keep an ear out for leaks!”

Then he asks me, “Did you move the buckets?”

I shake my head.

“Alright. You all know where the buckets are if you spot a leak!” he shouts.

There’s a chorus of grunts of, I guess, acknowledgement that they’ve heard what he said.

Ash turns to me, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Goldie, you and I are headed to the porch.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh?”

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