Page 54 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

Clad in a soft, creamy fur and caramel brown leather boots, delicate diamonds glistening from her earlobes, my sister-in-law is merely a hundred feet from me.

Oh, God, what do I do?

“Are you okay, Ellie?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Ladies, I need you to do me a favor,” I say with a trembling voice as I look over my shoulder. I spot a store I could take cover in. “I need to go into that shop over there and get a few things. Can you forgive me if we stop back for the little lady cappuccinos in, say, five minutes?”

Ainsley frowns. “We’re gonna have to wait in the line again.”

“I know, I know.” In the meantime, Kara and her goons are getting closer. Another minute of me standing here, and she will surely spot me. “Five minutes, girls. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll get an almond croissant for us to share, too, along with the cinnamon cookies.”

“Get the chocolate one,” Tricia says. “It’s better.”

I shake my head in agreement, thankful that I’ve got the twins cooperating. “You drive a hard bargain, Tricia. Fine, we’ll get a chocolate croissant instead.”

“Make it two. One for you, and one for Ainsley and me.”

We’ve reached the shop door. I groan with frustration as Tricia resists my pull until I give her a conceding nod. “Fine, my darling. Two chocolate croissants.”

“Thank you,” she grins, and we’re in. Just in time, too.

My breath is ragged, my heartbeat intensifying. Fear is getting the better of me, and I’m afraid I might lose control.

“Okay, let’s see,” I mumble, trying hard to keep it together as I peruse through some of the clothing racks. There is absolutely nothing here that interests me, but the girls are being good and patient.

“See something you like?” a young lady asks as she approaches. She wears a tacky green sweater and has a flat smile on her face.

“Thank you, but we’re just browsing for now.”

My head is spinning.

“You said you needed to get some stuff.” Ainsley has a way of keeping me accountable, bless her heart, at the worst possible moment.

Heat spreads through my chest, fear threatening to close my throat.

“Miss, are you okay?” the salesgirl asks me. She looks worried.

“I… yeah, I’m…” but I lose my words altogether.

The image before my eyes shifts and I feel myself falling.

My whole body goes limp, and I hit the floor hard. The colors fade, and a cold kind of darkness takes over, swallowing me whole. “Ellie!” Tricia and Ainsley scream in pitch perfect unison. I feel their hands on me as the salesgirl says something about calling an ambulance.

“Ellie! Are you okay?” Tricia’s voice pulls me back.

I peel my eyes open. Sweat drips from my temples and I feel as though I have too many layers of clothes on. It feels so frickin’ hot. Suddenly, a sprinkle of cold water hits my face.

“There she is,” I hear Janice say.

I’m on my back on the floor. Tricia and Ainsley flank my head. I look up and see the salesgirl just above, holding a bottle of water. Her fingers are dripping as Janice kneels beside me.

“Jan?” I mumble as she helps me sit up.

“Are you okay, Ellie?” Ainsley asks.

“Yeah, honey, I think so.”

“You don’t look okay,” Janice replies.

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