Page 32 of The Mountains Edge

"Hiding from Chloe again?" Daisy asks as she enters, coffee in hand.

Jake mumbles something under his breath as he leaves, throwing me a dirty look. I hold up my hands. What could I do? Daisy would have got it out of me sooner or later.

"He likes her." She wraps around me from behind. "It scares him."

"Speaking from experience?"

She nips my ear. "Grumpy mountain men are my specialty."

I turn, pulling her into my lap.

"Grumpy?"

"Mmm." She traces my smile. "Getting softer though."

"That’s your fault."

"Guilty."

My phone buzzes. Cole checking in. Our brotherhood's gotten stronger since Daisy came. Somehow, she fills gaps we didn't know we had.

"What's wrong?" She reads my expression.

"Nothing." I stroke her hip. "Just thinking."

"About?"

About how to ask you to marry me.

"Jake." Partial truth. “He’s stubborn.”

"Chloe's pretty stubborn herself." Daisy grins. "I saw her research notes on mountain rescue protocols. It’s very thorough."

"Poor bastard doesn't stand a chance."

Just like me.

.

Chapter 16: Daisy

Something's up with my mountain man.

Marcus has been oddly distracted lately, spending extra time in his workshop and having whispered conversations with the others that stop when I enter the room. Even the dogs seem to be in on whatever it is. Scout keeps stealing my shoes and leading me to weird places.

Like now.

"Really?" I put my hands on my hips as Scout drops my work boot by Marcus's newest carving. "That's the third time today."

The dog just wags his tail, looking mighty pleased with himself.

I examine the piece while retrieving my boot. It's different from his usual work, smaller, more intricate. A pair of wolves running through a storm, finding shelter together.

"It's beautiful," I tell Scout. "But you're still a shoe thief."

He woofs softly, then trots off to wherever Luna's hiding. Those two are definitely plotting something.

The Trading Post is quiet this morning, just Old Joe in his usual spot by the stove. He's been smirking into his coffee all week.

---