Page 8 of Protected By the Mountain Man

“Shit,” he says, reaching from the driver’s seat and squeezing my shoulder. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“But you’re right,” I manage, voice reedy with tears. “I’m not in any position to judge. I’ve already made all the worst choices.”

Graham shakes his head. “You’re doing your best. And I was still out of line. I’m sorry.”

I nod, but I can’t stop my hands from shaking. I curl them into twin knots, willing the pain that’s reverberating through me like a clanging bell to ease.

It doesn’t work, but I draw myself up in my seat anyway and jut my chin at Lube Job. “Well, should we get on with it?”

“Mariah…” he says, eyes troubled.

Now it’s my turn to shake my head. “It’s okay.” I grab his hand and squeeze it. “Really. And anyway, I deserved it.”

Graham doesn’t believe me. “You’re okay?”

I squeeze again. “Promise,” I lie, hoisting a smile on my lips, the gesture feeling as heavy as the mountains surrounding Heartwood.

My brother hesitates a moment longer, then finally acquiesces. “Okay,” he says, killing the engine and swinging open his door. “Let’s leave your things for now. I can bring them up later. Ace is eager to meet you.”

“Is he?” I know Graham can hear my disbelief because I can taste it on my own tongue.

He meets my gaze before he gets out of the car and I can’t look away. “Have I ever lied to you?”

I rake through my memory, half-hoping I can come up with even just one solitary instance where my brother didn’t tell me the whole truth. But I come up empty-handed.

“No,” I’m forced to concede.

“And I’m not about to start now.” His eyes blaze with feeling as he speaks.

I’m forced to nod, to acknowledge that I have no reason to distrust him. “Okay,” I sigh.

But he doesn’t understand how easy it is for one awful person to fracture your trust in all people. While it’s true that Graham’s never done me wrong, Ryan has taught me too well about the human race’s capacity for wrongdoing.

I trust my brother.

I don’t think he’d hurt me on purpose.

But, as I slide out of the car and move to unbuckle Billy from his car seat, I can’t shake the deep dread blossoming in my belly. While I can’t deny that I’ve made an excellent disaster of my life all on my own, Ryan has taught me that things can always get worse.

I hope Graham and this Ace prove me wrong — but I struggle to truly believe that anyone can.

Ace

Ihear two car doors slam outside, then a third, and my heart jumps to my throat, threatening to choke me.

They’re here.

I know it before I glance through the window, but I can’t stop myself from checking. Old habits, I guess. It’s how I look to see if I’ve got a customer when I’m not already down in the shop.

Casting a last glance around my tidied place and the curtained-off area, I hope that it’s enough, even though I’m pretty damn sure it’s not.

There are footsteps on the exterior wooden stairs leading up to the apartment, then a knock at the door. A few steps bring me to my front door, and I throw it open before moving back to let Graham and his sister and nephew enter.

And then, just like that, she’s here.

In my place.

Far more beautiful than her pictures were capable of capturing.

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