Page 20 of The Minx and the Mountain Man

Linda pales slightly but lifts her chin. “Well, I—”

“You want to spread lies about her, you’re gonna have to deal with me,” I say, voice low and rough. “And you know damn well I don’t take kindly to people talking about what they don’t understand.”

Linda falters, her gaze darting around the room, looking for support and finding none. With a huff, she snatches up her purseand mutters something about needing to be somewhere before storming out.

Annie lets out a sharp breath, turning to me. “Took you long enough.”

I frown. “What?”

Annie arches a brow, sliding a to-go bag across the counter toward me. “Sadie’s cinnamon rolls. On the house.”

I hesitate before taking them.

Annie crosses her arms. “You gonna talk to her now or are you just gonna keep pretending you don’t give a damn?”

I scowl. “This isn’t any of your business.”

She snorts. “Sadie is my business. She’s my friend and that girl’s got the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. She thinks the world of you, even though you’re as stubborn as a mule.”

I exhale sharply, rubbing my hand down my face. “I didn’t know about the rumors.”

“Well, now you do.” Dottie tilts her head. “What are you gonna do about it?”

The answer’s easy.

I’m going to go home. I’m going to talk to my wife. And I’m going to tell her that no one in Pine Hollow believes a word of the rumors.

The drive home is rough. The snow has started falling again, dusting the road with a fresh layer of white, but my hands stay tight on the wheel for an entirely different reason.

As I walked out of the café Annie pulled me aside and whispered that Sadie is planning to leave. Something cold settled in my chest.

I should’ve seen it coming. Should’ve known that after the way I pulled back, after the way I made her feel like she was nothing but an obligation, she’d start thinking of an escape.

But she isn’t just an obligation. And whether she realizes it or not, this town has already claimed her as one of its own.

The cabin is warm when I step inside, the scent of something sweet lingering in the air, but there’s something off.

Then I see her. She’s in the bedroom, standing by the bed, folding a sweater with slow, careful movements, a small suitcase open beside her. She’s packing.

The anger I felt at the café ignites again, but it’s different this time. Less fire, more ice. Slow and dangerous.

I set the bag of cinnamon rolls down on the table with more force than necessary. “Going somewhere?”

Sadie startles, clutching the sweater to her chest as she spins to face me. “Reid.” Her voice is light, forced. “You’re back early.”

I lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms. “Didn’t answer my question.”

She hesitates before placing the sweater in the suitcase. “I was just getting things organized.”

I arch a brow. “That right?”

Her chin lifts. “Yes.”

I push off the doorframe, stepping closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks a whole lot like you were leaving.”

I cross the room in three strides and snap the suitcase shut, my hand resting flat on the top. Sadie jerks back, her breath catching, but she doesn’t step away.

“Tell me the truth, Sadie.” My voice is low and steady, but there’s an edge to it. “Were you planning to leave?”

---