Page 18 of Marrying the Mountain Man

“Sorry about Kylie,” I said quietly, leaning closer so the kids couldn’t hear. “She’s an old acquaintance…sometimes too forward for her own good. Not just with me, either.”

Mindy’s lips pressed thin. “It’s fine. You don’t owe me an explanation if you dated her.”

“I didn’t date her, exactly,” I clarified. “We had a brief fling, but it’s long over.”

She let out a slow breath, nodding. “Okay. Sorry if I seemed off. It just caught me off-guard. And we’re just…friends.”

I recognized a flicker of hurt in her eyes, something that reminded me how fragile her trust might still be. Reaching across, I touched her hand lightly. “Hey, maybe after you drop the boys off—didn’t you say they have a sleepover tonight at Logan’s?”

She nodded. “Yes, they’re spending the night, no school tomorrow. Why?”

“Can we talk alone afterward? I want to discuss something important.”

Her gaze searched mine, then softened. “Sure. I should drop them off around seven-thirty, eight at the latest.”

I squeezed her hand gently. “Thank you.”

The time on my phone read 8:12 pm. I paced my living room, a swirl of thoughts competing for center stage. Tessa’s confession, the Kylie fiasco, and the confession I needed to make to Mindy about my growing feelings. Not to mention how Tessa planned to apologize to her soon.

When Mindy arrived, the house was quieter than usual with no twins around. She slipped off her jacket and hung it in the coat closet.

“Boys are safely at Logan’s,” she said. “They were so excited. Logan’s parents seem like good, kind people. Logan has two younger sisters, so he was as thrilled to have Cody and Connor as they were to be invited to a sleepover.”

“Great,” I said softly. “Uh…should we sit?”

We settled side by side on the couch. I angled my body toward her, noticing how her knee brushed mine. The small contact was oddly electric.

“First,” I began, clearing my throat, “I talked to Tessa today. She’s back in town.”

Mindy’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

I explained the confrontation at the Velvet Book, how Tessa admitted she’d catfished Mindy, how guilty she felt, and that she wanted to apologize. Mindy listened intently; her hands clasped in her lap.

“She admitted it was wrong,” I murmured. “Said she’d accept whatever blame you assign. But she also said she sawhow lonely you were and thought maybe you and I…needed each other. And that she basically got in too deep to fess up.”

Mindy’s eyes glistened with tears. “I…appreciate that she was thinking of us, but it doesn’t erase the betrayal.” She swallowed hard. “Still, I’m not one to hold grudges if she’s truly remorseful.”

“Trust me, she is.” I paused, wanting to be honest about my own feelings. “Look, I was angry with Tessa for meddling, but the truth is…”

Mindy lifted her gaze, searching my face. “Yes?”

My heart pounded. “She might’ve had a point. The more time we’ve spent together…me, you, and the boys…the more I realize how empty my life was before. I didn’t see it until you showed up.”

She sucked in a shaky breath, tears edging her long lashes. “Do you…do you resent that…feeling forced into a relationship?”

“No,” I said firmly. “I’m grateful. Confused, sure, but…I’m developing feelings for you, Mindy. It’s happening faster than I ever expected.”

A tear slipped free, and she wiped it, voice trembling. “I’m so scared, Levi. Every time I’ve relied on someone, they vanished. My parents basically left me to fend for myself after the twins were born. Their new families took priority, and neither of them exactly approved of my being an unwed mother. And the twins’ dad was never in the picture, so I learned to survive on my own.” She swallowed thickly. “I guess what I’m saying is, I’m scared of getting my heart broken again.”

My chest twisted. “I get it. I lost my parents young, and committed to raising Tessa, so I closed myself off. Didn’t want to risk more loss. But with you…”

She let out a sobbing laugh. “You’re making me believe in second chances. That’s both terrifying and wonderful.”

I brushed a strand of coppery hair from her cheek, heart hammering. “I don’t want to hurt you. I want to…take care of you, the way you take care of the boys. The way you make me feel alive again.”

She exhaled shakily. “I want that, too. But you have to know, if we do this…I don’t do casual. My kids come first. They have to. I’m all they’ve got.”

I nodded, voice thick. “Of course. I’d never want to disrupt their stability. But I…” My voice caught. “Mindy, I want you in my life. And Connor and Cody. For real.”

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