Page 41 of Mountain Mens' Curvy Obsession

“Nico, if you know something, why not just tell me? I deserve to hear it.”

Chance runs his fingers through his hair, taking a deep breath in the process. It’s as if they’re preparing for something, and they can’t bring themselves to tell me what it is. In their defense, I can see that they’re tortured by the situation—whether or not to tell me. But that only amplifies every negative emotion currently swirling through me.

“I deserve the truth,” I say again.

“You’re not ready for the truth,” Nico decrees. “But we will take you into town tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” I reply, but I’m not sure he means it. “Are there landlines in town? I need to call my brother.”

Again, the brothers exchange nervous glances, and I know they’re withholding something from me, something important. This blow to the head has done nothing but damage—not just to my memory, but how the Hayes brothers perceive me. That much is clear.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Nico says.

I can’t help myself. “Did you call him?”

“No,” he says and shakes his head.

“Did you at least try to reach him?”

“No.”

“Oh, for f—”

“It’s complicated,” Chance cuts in. “The blizzard took out a good chunk of the region’s infrastructure. Not every call goes through. There’s no internet connection anywhere. The banks are only allowing over-the-counter cash to be pulled from their accounts. The whole town needs another day or two to get back in order.”

All of these sound like excuses, reasonable excuses, but excuses, nonetheless.

That being said, I don’t want to argue anymore. I don’t want to be stonewalled by the three men who have kept me safe this whole time. The three men who are taking such good care of me, nursing me back to health. They deserve more credit, and my anger shouldn’t get the better of me.

So, I take another deep breath. “Can I see the doctor tomorrow?”

“Absolutely. We’ll get him to do an MRI or at least a consult,” Booker replies.

“And we can try his landline if the cell tower doesn’t get fixed by tomorrow,” I say.

Booker just nods slightly, and I see the doubt in his green eyes, the flickers of guilt and deception. Part of me worries they’ll just figure out a way to postpone my trip to town for another day. And then another day. And then another. In the meantime, a second snowstorm might hit Seeley Lake, stranding us again.

“I think I want to sleep in my room tonight,” I tell the men, and slowly get up from my seat.

Nico gives me a concerned look. “We’re just about to get dinner going. We’ve got fresh supplies. You said you’d kill for some pasta carbonara.”

“No, thanks. I’m not hungry,” I mumble and leave the room.

My ego prevents me from performing a full and gracious concession. My circumstances are apparently growing more dire, but I know little to nothing about it. None of this sits right, and the more I think about it, the angrier I become. I don’t want to lash out at Nico, Booker, and Chance either. The best thing I can do is remove myself from what has clearly become a futile struggle and wait for nightfall.

* * *

At this late hour,deep in the heart of night, I sneak down the stairs and grab my boots, which are waiting at the bottom. Like a thief in the night, I move cautiously, quietly, barely breathing. My conscience keeps screaming at me to turn back, to return to my room. But my instincts cry out for the truth. I’d rather get to it sooner than later. Not tomorrow. No. Tonight.

They’ll be upset, I know that.

They’ll probably feel betrayed. I know that, too.

Yet, thinking back, I’ve been more than a good girl. I’ve been a saint, letting things roll off my back and waiting for my memory to return on its own. Clearly, it’s time for more drastic measures, and while I appreciate the brothers’ concern for my well-being, I’m stronger than they think.

I fish a car key out of the catchall bowl in the foyer. It’s for the Range Rover. Good. I’ll need proper wheels for that road.

A split second later, I’m in my boots, huddled under my winter coat and bolting out the front door. Glancing back, I see the lounge is dark. The lights are out. Nico, Booker, and Chance are asleep in their bedrooms.

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