Page 28 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

“I believe you. We’ve been living together for a couple of weeks now. I realize that I don’t know you guys as well as she did, but I know enough.”

I lean forward, my gaze glued to hers. I could drown in those eyes and never regret it. “Who hurt you, Elise?”

“What do you mean?”

There it is. The withdrawal. The fear lingering just beneath the surface.

“You’re wounded, somewhere deep down. I recognize the pain because I carry some of my own. Birds of a feather, one might say.”

“I lost my parents when I was really young yet old enough to understand that I’d never see them again. My brother was still too little to fully comprehend the breadth of the situation, so he processed it differently,” Elise replies with a heavy sigh. “I thought the people who raised us were good people but—”

“Turns out they weren’t,” I finish for her.

She shrugs softly. “I made some bad choices along the way because I didn’t know any better, but once I opened my eyes and understood what I was dealing with, I walked away. It left me with deep wounds, wounds I’m still learning how to heal from.”

“Is that why you came to Rustic?”

“It’s a small town, far away from what I called home. Everybody knows everybody. The air is fresh, the vibe is positive. And it’s quiet. I didn’t know how badly I needed the quiet until I came here.”

I nod slowly, admiring how careful Elise is being with her words. How much, and how little, she’s giving me. There’s a darkness behind her story, a depth to the wounds that she’s afraid of conveying. It makes me wonder, it keeps me alert, and it makes me want to know more.

“Would you ever go back?” I gently ask her.

Just then, a waiter comes over to clear our table and make room for the main course. Elise waits until we’re alone again, her gaze constantly scanning the restaurant with remarkable sharpness. A trauma response.

“To Chicago?” she eventually replies.

“Yes.”

“I don’t think so. Maybe just to visit. But there are other parts of this great country that I’d like to see first. And I’d love to go to Europe someday. There’s so much I want to explore there.”

“What about Asia?”

“Yes. And Africa. I would never say no to a safari through Kenya.”

“Sounds like you’re eager to see the world.”

“If I can ever afford it,” she laughs. “Until then, I’m fine with enjoying the gorgeous views and the delicious food around these parts.”

We’ve almost finished the bottle of wine. I’m guessing we’ll need a second before this dinner date is over. I’m also hoping that a second bottle might remove some of her inhibitions, just enough to get her to open up more.

“How old is your brother?” I ask.

“Eighteen.”

“A young man already.”

Elise chuckles softly. “In some ways, yes. In others, he’ll always be a kid.”

“Where is he now?”

“Still in Chicago.” She lowers her gaze, and I catch a hint of pain and regret in her voice. It’s subtle but I know it well enough. The guys and I have had to leave people we cared about behind, too. There’s no way of truly healing that. “But he’s fine. Going to college now.”

“Oh yeah? Where at?”

“University of Chicago. He’s pursuing a BA in Political Science.”

“Ah, a future politician. Please tell me he is as skilled at avoiding sensitive topics as you are.” I laugh. “I mean that in the best possible way, Elise. You’re good. You’re really good. You convey the specifics without going into detail. It’s a rare talent.”

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