Page 13 of Protected By the Mountain Man

“Graham? The paralegal?” Emmeline frowns. “What’s he got to do with this?”

“I’m giving his sister and nephew a place to crash while they figure out some legal stuff.”

Doc Pearce nods as Kiri and Quinn zoom by again. “I’m sure Graham and Cookie don’t have much space, with their own little one at home.”

I shrug. “It’s temporary. And, uh, it’s best kept quiet.”

Quinn pauses in her pursuit. “Emmeline, keep something quiet?” She teases gently. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Emmeline opens her mouth in protest. “Hey! I can too keep a secret. And besides, it wasyourhusband who spilled the beans on this one.”

The doctor raises both hands in defeat. “Guilty as charged. But,” he says more seriously, “I’ll be sure to not share it with anyone else until I hear that it’s safe.”

“To make it up to you, why don’t you and your guests join us for dinner tomorrow?” Quinn says, watching Kiri run in circles.

My eyebrows knit. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”

“It’ll be good to get out of the house. I’m sure it’s cramped, the three of you in that little apartment above your shop,” Quinn presses. “And I could use another mom friend.”

I consider for a moment. It’s true that both Quinn and Mariah share the experience of being forced to run from a shitty ex. Maybe it would be good for Mariah to have someone who’s been there before to talk to about what she’s going through.

“Okay,” I relent. “But I’m bringing dessert.”

“It’s a date! Come by at about six.” Quinn tosses the words over her shoulder as she captures her daughter and tickles her, making the kid dissolve in a fit of giggles.

“See you tomorrow night,” Doc Pearce says, wiggling his eyebrows as he follows his wife and Kiri out the door. “All three of you.”

Emmeline’s beaming from the other side of the counter. Everyone seems way happier than they have any right to be over a simple dinner that’s already making my stomach tie up in knots.

I hope I’ve done the right thing.

There’s only one way to find out.

I finish my whiskey in one swallow, throw down enough cash to cover the drink and Emmeline’s tip, and get to my feet. “Thanks for the drink. It hit the spot.”

“You heading out already?” she asks.

“I’ve got to break the news about dinner to my guest and hope she won’t be mad.”

“I have a feeling that she won’t be mad. Women liked being asked out to dinner by handsome men.”

“I’m not asking her out.” I pop a single eyebrow at the younger woman. “And I’m not handsome.”

Emmeline snorts, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, okay. And I’m not charmingly sarcastic.”

I stare at her. “But…youaresarcastic.”

She grins wolfishly. “Exactly.”

Understanding dawns on me, and my neck gets hot again as I turn on my heel and head out the door for home, shaking my head.

Mariah

Adinner at a stranger’s house? A dinner which is essentially a double date for couples, with a side of kid playdate? When the other half of my “couple” is also a stranger?

Yeah, that’s not something I ever saw myself agreeing to.

And yet when Ace floats the idea, something inside me doesn’t hesitate. I’m saying yes before I realize what I’m doing.

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