Page 27 of Eco-Activist's Mountain Men
Me? I know she likes me. I can tell from the way she laughs at my jokes, the way her eyes flick toward me when she thinks I’m not looking.
But if I’m going to get anywhere with her, I need to make a move.
And I already have the perfect plan.
"Hey, Princess Hopalong, how are you this morning?"
I step into the kitchen and find Luna already there, sitting at the table, munching on toast and sipping coffee. Southpaw is stretched out by her feet, and that crutch Luke carved for her is leaning against the table leg like a faithful guard.
"Fuck off, Toby."
I flash her my wickedest grin—the one that usually makes girls melt—but she doesn’t even flinch. Hmm. Rocky start. Still, faint heart never won fair lady. Time for round two.
"How’s the toast and… wait a second. Is that butter on your toast, young lady?"
She eyes me warily. "Well, what of it?"
"And… if I’m not mistaken, that’s milk in your coffee, right?"
She sighs like I’m dragging her through some grand inquisition. "Look, I got tired of dry toast and black coffee, okay? Is it my fault you Neanderthals don’t stock oat milk?"
I lift my hands in mock surrender. "No, no, of course not. In fact, good for you. What’s the point in beating yourself up over a little butter or milk? No one’s going to blame you for that, are they?"
She pauses, tilting her head at me like she’s weighing whether to trust me. Finally, she shrugs and—miracle of miracles—smiles.
"Thanks. No, no one’s going to blame me for that."
"So why not go all the way and enjoy a nice bowl of Cheerios, eh?"
She hesitates, caught between temptation and principle. Her posture is tense, but her eyes betray her.
"I’m having one," I coax. "Just a small bowl, just to keep me company. I promise not to tell anyone. Scout’s honor."
Her shoulders drop as she giggles. "Go on, then. Honestly, I love Cheerios. I eat them all the time. Not eating them has been torture this past week!"
"Bloody hell, Luna. The things you do for the cause."
We both crack up, and I grab two bowls from the cupboard. A few minutes later, we’ve finished, and I discreetly wash up both bowls, hiding all evidence of Luna’s shameful fall from Vegan High Priestess to Ordinary Cereal-Loving Mortal.
Once the dishes are stacked, I ease the conversation toward the real reason I wanted her alone.
"Say, Luna," I start, leaning casually against the counter. "You must be bored out of your mind by now. And your wrist’s better, and that ankle’s healing fast. I was thinking… would you like a tour around the estate this morning? I’ve got the day off, and I could show you some of our conservation work. You might actually find it interesting. You’ll see how we tag rare species, how we manage the growth, and even some of the saplings we’ve been planting. What do you say?"
Her brows rise. "But I thought all the tracks were closed because of the storm damage."
"They were," I admit. "But Luke, Jack, and I have been working hard to clear them. The back track up into the forest wasn’t hit as badly anyway. I thought we’d take the ATV—you know, the quad bike. That thing can get anywhere."
She still looks uncertain, so I add lightly, "Promise I’ll bring you back the second your ankle starts to hurt."
"Really promise?"
"Of course, Scout's honor." I snap into a ridiculous scout salute.
That earns me another grin. "Fine. Give me… twenty minutes to get ready."
"Sure thing, Princess. Take your time."
"And my name’s Luna."
