Page 51 of Recurve Ridge

Robe, the consummate protector/provider.

Alan, the comic relief with way too much heart—and other skills that heated my body.

Jon, the mountain of a man who found passion in the oddest places and was all the more lovable for it.

Miller, whose snarky, grumpy methods earned the results Robe needed. Fixing what Robe couldn’t while always having his back. Ah, the wingman.

Will—

I stopped.

“Robe’s sending me around the group, isn’t he?” I asked without any other brain function firing whatsoever. I might have thought the comment through a little harder. I persisted anyway. “Isn’t he?”

“We all want to get to know you, Mari,” Jon hedged, though his stance shoutedstubborn asshatall the way.

It suited him.

“Why does he want me to get to know everyone? I’m going home soon.” I pushed back the fear that started to fray the edges of my consciousness. “Jon, stop.” I tugged at the hand he’d refused to release for the better part of the day.

“Because—” Jon gripped my hand tight and pulled me an inch closer to him. I shivered, gooseflesh rising beneath the long-sleeved thermal top I’d become accustomed to wearing. “We need to get back. Light’s failing.”

He pushed past me, releasing my hand, and strode forward. I hurried to catch up, unable to keep pace with his longer legs that ate up the miles. My breath came in short pants that left me unable to think about anything more than powering on behind him.

“Jon—” I gasped as the trees thinned.

The cabin sat in its usual place in the center of the small clearing. It was a relief that the forest hadn’t swallowed our home in our absence.

Jon turned back, his brow furrowed as he took in my state. “I went too fast. I’m sorry, Mari. I’m not used to company.”

“It’s okay. I wanted to say thank you before we went inside. Before….”

Before there are other people between us.A full day with Jon had increased my comfort level, and I knew I’d trust him if the world came crashing down around us.

He offered me a strained smile, his gaze sweeping over me, less checking me out than making sure I hadn’t fallen apart in the last few hours.

Alan whistled from the balcony, wearing his fluffiest apron, and catcalled, but my attention remained on Jon’s broad back as I followed him into the cabin. The inside of the house was steaming in comparison to the sharp mountain air.

“Have a shower, Mari. It’ll regulate your core temp.” Alan flicked my nose as I passed him. “Then it’s dinner in your room tonight.”

“In the bedroom?” The room that belonged to someone else. Not me.

“Yes.”

“I can’t join you?” I frowned.

Robe had sent me out with his friends each day, and now I couldn’t eat with them, pushed away like a prisoner.

Friendzone status revoked.

I swallowed around a lump in my throat that refused to be dislodged while Alan observed me with pity in his gaze. I hated it and folded my arms. If they were stubborn, I’d match them.

“I’d like to eat with you.”All of you. Please.I wanted to beg but kept my gaze fixed on Alan, too scared to look around the room or risk being denied by someone else.

Alan’s mouth opened, but a different voice answered me.

“No.”

I blinked, frozen to the spot in panic as tears welled. “Why not?” I whispered, already knowing the answer. Robe’s select few didn’t include me. What he gave to these men, he could strip away from me just as fast.

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