Page 100 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but Michael is old enough to make his own decisions. Whether they’re the right decisions or not, only time will tell. But I do know that Lev would never intentionally put him in harm’s way. I’ve got a feeling that Kara and Andrei will look out for him, making sure he sticks to the safer side of operations.

“Whatever you decide, kiddo, I support you,” I say. “I always have.”

The words roll off my tongue with greater ease than I had originally anticipated.

34

Elise

Once the madness clears and the investigation is closed—much to the work of Sheriff Van Pelt and his deputies—the town of Rustic regains its tranquility on the eve of Thanksgiving Day.

Michael decided to join us for Thanksgiving dinner back at James’s place, while Kara and Andrei have returned to Chicago with Lev and a captive, still healing Igor. Peace finally weighs gently over our side of the mountain, a calming mist settling outside while Janice and I work to serve everyone.

“Cranberry stuffing!” Tricia exclaims as Janice adds a serving to her plate, then Ainsley’s.

“Our favorite!” her twin sister declares.

“Don’t think we didn’t keep that in mind when we organized this wonderful feast,” Janice says with a bright smile.

“More wine?” Roman asks, an open bottle in his hand as he moves around the table.

“None for me, thank you,” Michael raises his water glass with a wry smile. “I’m still under twenty-one.”

Oliver chuckles. “We both know old man Lev’s got a bottle of something waiting for you back in Chicago.”

“I’ll never tell,” Michael coyly replies.

“Of course not,” Roman quips, skipping my glass as well. “None for the mommy-to-be either.”

“We’re gonna have baby brothers!” Tricia tells Michael.

“Or sisters,” Ainsley adds with a serious frown. “We don’t know yet. I want sisters.”

“And if you get brothers? What then?” James asks his lovely, ginger-haired daughters, both looking ridiculously sweet in their soft brown velvet dresses. “It isn’t like we can give them back.”

“No, no, we keep them!” Ainsley declares.

“We just can’t dress them up,” Tricia sighs, downright disappointed.

James leans closer toward me, a devilish grin splashed across his handsome face. “Meh. We can keep trying until we get you a sister, too. How does that sound?”

“That…” I pause to laugh, my plate full of turkey and stuffing, my mouth literally watering. “That sounds like a lot of work, but if it’ll make the girls happy, sure. We can try. I’ve always wanted a big family anyway.”

“YAY!” the twins throw their little fists up in the air, genuinely delighted. “We’re gonna get sisters, too!”

Janice gives me a cool grin. “Okay, now I’m really looking forward to that ultrasound.”

“That makes two of us,” I shoot back.

“Five of us,” Oliver quips.

“Seven, with the twins,” Roman says and rolls his eyes as he takes his seat.

“Okay, fine, eight,” Michael chimes in, chuckling. “Actually, I think I’ll go ahead and add three more from Chicago who will be equally excited about the gender reveal.”

“Good grief, eleven people on the edge of their seats waiting to find out what I’m going to have,” I say, cradling my belly. The bump isn’t showing yet, but it will be soon enough. Judging by my growing appetite alone, I reckon the little ones are going to get big and strong fairly quickly.

Janice uses a fork to clink on her glass, calling for our attention. “Alright, folks! Time to say what we’re grateful for this year.”

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