Page 41 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

“That actually sounds fantastic,” Oliver replies. “I’ll have that.”

“I think we’ll all have that,” James says. “Set a plate for Elise as well. If we’re not keeping you from work, of course,” he tells me.

Cherry nods and smiles gently. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring a plate over, and if she needs to jump back into the action, I’ll let you guys know.”

“Thank you,” James replies.

Once Cherry is off to send our order into the kitchen, I find myself caught in the affectionate yet scrutinizing gazes of my men. While James is rocking the green plaid and faded jeans, Oliver looks sporty in a grey hoodie pullover and black lounge pants. Roman is dressed in a black long-sleeved Henley tucked into dark blue jeans.

I can’t wait to get home later and take all of it off.

Losing myself in their arms, letting them claim me and share me has been therapeutic.

There are times I prefer we don’t talk. Not because I don’t enjoy our conversations, but because lately they’ve been mainly focused on what’s bothering me.

“How can we help you?” Roman asks.

“Help with what? You’re already doing so much,” I respond.

“Elise, it’s time for you to open up to us a little bit more. Just enough so we don’t feel like you’re keeping us in the dark,” James says quietly. “I think we’ve proven that you can trust us in every possible way.”

I lower my gaze, shame burning hot in my cheeks. “I trust you.”

“Then what is it? You haven’t been yourself lately,” Oliver says.

“Can’t I just be off my game for no particular reason?”

“Of course you can. We’re simply worried about you, Elise,” James remarks. “If we can make it better in any way, just tell us and—”

“You can’t,” I cut him off. “You can’t make it better.”

Roman frowns. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. These are my demons, my issues. I’d like to keep them to myself if you don’t mind.”

I hate having to say such things but it’s the truth. I’m not ready to share. It terrifies me to even think about how they’d react if I told them what’s bothering me, what’s got me on edge lately. I haven’t felt this way since I first arrived in Rustic.

“My life before coming here wasn’t the easiest, okay?” I relent, ever so slightly. They’re good men. They deserve more from me, regardless of how far and how deep we’re going to take this dynamic between us. “I went through some rough patches, made some difficult choices. It’s been a year since I put it all behind me, and, well, sometimes I feel like I’m sliding back into it, even though I’m here now.”

“Your past troubles you,” James concludes.

“It does. There are moments when I look back and know I could’ve made better choices. It irks me and throws me off my game. But then I sit with it, I get over it, and I move on. You just need to give me room to do that.”

“To move on,” Oliver says.

“Yes.”

The three of them sit back as Cherry delivers our plates. One look at the spread before me and it’s like I haven’t eaten in days.

“Would you like to join us and the girls later?” James asks in between bites.

“At the Fall Festival?”

“Yes. You get off at five, right?”

I give him a slight nod. “I can find you guys at the fair as soon as I finish up here. It would be my pleasure.”

“Good. The twins will love it.”

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