Page 4 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

“I’m sorry,” I say, his expression remaining stoic. “Still, it’s too much,” I add. “Staying here, I mean. It’s quite the bother.”

“Not for us, it’s not,” Roman politely replies. “And we’ll make sure old man Ronald keeps up his end of the deal as your landlord. Trust me, he’ll try to weasel his way out of the repairs. We’ll keep him on the straight and narrow and make sure he fixes the cabin, making it safe for you to move back in. Until then, you’re our guest here.”

“And you can use the car as well,” James adds, “the Ford that’s for sale.”

“Good grief, now it really is too much.”

“Hey,” he replies, giving me a small frown. “We’re neighbors, and neighbors help each other out. You’ve been around long enough for us to tell you’re a decent woman. You keep to yourself, stay out of trouble, keep up the cabin. And now you need help. Rustic is full of good folks. We are happy to do it; doesn’t cost us a thing.”

I can’t help but let a heavy sigh roll from my chest, relief washing over me. I’ve been on edge for so long, constantly looking over my shoulder, always afraid to be found…

“Okay,” I concede, offering a weak smile. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“No need,” James replies, leaning back on the couch. “We’ll take it one day at a time. And I’m serious about the Ford. Use it if you need to, then pay me for it when you can. Until then, it’s your loaner as long as you take care of it.”

“I will, I promise.”

This is all so strange, so unexpected.

It’s also wonderful, but I’m not used to the kindness of strangers. My life was not what I’d hoped for growing up. It got worse after I learned certain truths. I came to Rustic with nothing but fear and grief in my soul. It’s taken a long time to even think about the future again, to hope for peace and safety.

My parents raised a fighter, though. It’s just a shame they never got to see me grow up. They’d be proud, and they would tell me that I shouldn’t face every hurdle in life on my own and that, sometimes, it’s okay to let others help me.

2

Elise

“Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!”

This is such a weird dream. Little girls giggling and calling out to me. I’m back in Chicago looking at Igor, shuddering because I know I’m leaving him tonight.

Leaving before he can kill me.

We’re at my birthday party, and I’m wondering if it’s the last one I’m ever going to have. Everyone’s there, gathered under the giant crystal chandelier, champagne glasses clinking as they toast me.

I see Lev. The years have not been kind to him, but he appears softer, more human. Kara and Andrei are there, too, smiling, wishing me the best. Kara attempts to take me aside so we can talk but Igor gets between us. He squeezes my arm a little too tightly. “She’s busy,” he tells his younger sister.

“Screw you, Igor. You get her twenty-four-seven,” Kara replies.

“Wakey, wakey!” It’s the little girls again.

I look around. I hear laughing. Someone pinches my cheek. I glance up at Igor. He’s too busy arguing with Kara. Andrei is coming over. He hates it when his siblings go at it, especially in public.

“Daddy’s making eggs!”

“What?” I hear myself ask.

Everything warps into pitch blackness before my eyes pop wide open.

I gasp. For a moment, I forget where I am.

Then it comes back to me, albeit in bits and pieces for me to quickly put together. I’m in a guest room upstairs in my neighbor, James McTierney’s house. He saved me from the mountain lions last night. Oliver and Roman, his best friends, live here with him.

“Ugh,” I groan as I stretch my arms out.

“Wake up, silly!” the little girl’s voice comes through clearly now. She’s sitting on top of me. Oh, crap. I’m naked underneath this heavy blanket. I look down and hold my breath at the sight of not one, but two sweet young ladies. “Hi!” one of them says.

“Hi,” I manage, briefly glancing down to make sure I’m still covered. Thank the stars, I am. I sneak my arms back under the blanket, my cheeks burning red as I try to make heads or tails of this unexpected situation. These are James’s daughters. “Hi, there,” I say it again. “I’m Elise.”

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