Page 76 of Snowbound with the Santas

Maybe we’re not privy to it, but we definitely don’t have all the pieces.

“It’s okay,” I sigh. “I’m sorry I snapped. Colin, the Mountain Security leader, he was on the verge of making some disgusting accusations and I?—”

Something rapid and heavy suddenly thumps against the front door, surprising me into silence and making Rayne jump out of her skin.

“Maybe he got tired of waiting for you to answer.” Nick snorts. He moves past me to the door and pulls it open, coming face to face with a man flanked by two other men in clear mountain security gear. Just beyond them, their jeep sits packed up with flashing yellow lights, nearly blinding anyone who looks at them.

“Can I help you?” Nick asks.

“Yeah,” barks the stranger, forcibly shoving past Nick. “Where the fuck is Rayne?”

28

RAYNE

Everything is crumbling.

I have whiplash from my lie being discovered, to the guys being understandably annoyed but accepting, to the object of my nightmares turning up at the fucking door.

I can’t breathe.

The room spins and the floor trembles under my feet.

Ashton is here.

He stands in the doorway, his face contorted with absolute fury. It’s a face that’s so familiar that it’s jarring to see it here and now, rather than in my memories. He shoves past Nick like the man doesn’t even exist, but he doesn’t get far. Nick snatches his arm and hauls Ashton easily back into the doorway as Archer and Frankie close ranks in front of me.

“The hell do you think you are doing?” Nick snaps. “I didn’t say you could come in.”

My mind is frozen. I can’t think of anything beyond Ashton’s name weaving around my mind like poison. My ribs turn to claws, crushing my heart with each beat, and my stomach twists so painfully that my throat recoils and I fight the urge to throw up.

“Get your fucking hands off me,” Ashton snarls. “You’ve been keeping my girl here and I deserve to see her!”

“Your girl?” Nick asks, his voice flat and empty. “I’m pretty sure there’s been a mistake here.”

“You’re damn right there has,” Ashton snarls, trying to twist out of Nick’s grip but to no avail. “Let go!”

It should please me to see Ashton facing down someone twice—hell, even thrice—his size. To see his face when he looks at Archer and Frankie and realizes he can’t use strength to intimidate them.

It should please me.

But I feel like I’m drowning.

Ashton came here. He came to my safe place. My cabin with my men. My haven away from him and his threats, my mom and her… whatever she has with Cecil. It’s a clash of reality that I knew in the back of my mind would happen, but not until I was ready.

“Sir.” One of the mountain rescue men steps forward and grips Ashton’s shoulder. “If you could step back and let us deal with this.”

Ashton’s face purples with fury, and he drags his shoulder out from under that iron grip. Nick finally releases him, but only because one of the mountain rescuers steps up.

“Nick.”

“Byron.”

“You know why we’re here?”

“Yes. I think Colin is actually still on the radio.”

Byron nods. “Aye. Ashton here wasn’t willing to wait for that type of communication and tried to drive up here himself.”

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