Page 26 of Snowed-in With The Mountain Man
"Fine, Sheriff," I say, never taking my eyes off Rick. "Mr. Carlisle was just leaving town."
With a final glare, Rick stalks from the diner, the bell jingling cheerfully as the door slams behind him.
The silence that follows breaks when Darlene appears, coffeepot in one hand. "Well! That was better than my soaps! Coffee's on the house for everyone."
A cheer goes up from the other patrons, the tension dissolving into excited chatter. Stella remains standing, Chellie clutched to her chest, looking shell-shocked but relieved.
"You okay?" I ask, resisting the urge to pull her into my arms with half the town watching.
She nods, a tremulous smile forming. "Better than okay. That felt..."
"Powerful," I supply, pride swelling in my chest. "You were amazing."
"Could've taken him myself," Chellie declares, scowling in the direction Rick disappeared.
A surprised laugh bursts from Stella. "I bet you could, baby."
Colt clears his throat. "I should head back to the workshop. Got that commission to finish for the mayor's wife."
"Thanks, brother," I say, clasping his shoulder. "For showing up."
"Family sticks together," he says simply. "You need anything else, you call."
As he leaves, Stella looks up at me, eyes shining with something that makes my chest tighten. "You didn't charge in. You let me handle it."
"You had it covered." I reach across Chellie to take her hand. "Though I was ready to flatten him when he tried to insinuate that you being with me reflected badly on you."
"I noticed." Her smile turns impish. "Your face did that thing where your left eye twitches."
"Does not."
"Does too," she counters, the lightness between us fully restored. "Dead giveaway you're about to explode."
The banter feels like coming home, like finding solid ground after weeks of uncertainty. Whatever walls remained between us have crumbled completely.
Back at the cabin, with Chellie napping after the excitement, Stella and I finally have a moment alone. I find her in the great room, staring out at the melting snow, arms wrapped around herself.
"Penny for your thoughts." I move to stand beside her, close enough to feel her warmth.
"I can't believe it's over." She turns to me, wonder in her expression. "Just like that. He folded as soon as he realized he was outmatched."
"Bullies usually do." I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her cheek. "He never expected you to fight back."
"Or to have backup." Her hand comes up to cover mine. "I'm sorry about last night. For pushing you away."
"I'm sorry for not listening." I draw her closer, relieved when she comes willingly into my arms. "For trying to take over instead of supporting you."
She rests her head against my chest, her arms sliding around my waist. "We're quite a pair, aren't we?"
"The best kind." I press a kiss to her hair, breathing in the vanilla scent that's become as familiar as my own. "The kind that figures things out together."
We stand like that for a long moment, the quiet of the cabin wrapping around us, the crisis averted but its echoes still reverberating. There's more to discuss, more to plan, but for now, this connection is all that matters.
"I have something to ask you." I pull back slightly, needing to see her face for this. "Something I've been thinking about since you arrived."
Her eyes search mine. "That sounds serious."
"It is." I take a deep breath. "I want you and Chellie to stay. Not temporarily. Not until you figure things out. Permanently."
