Page 259 of Mountain Grump
Ethan wrenches the dessert container open and pulls a pink cupcake out. Then he puts it, top first, into his mouth and bites off all the frosting.
Sandra and I share a look.
And it’s confirmed. I like her a lot.
“And how did you guys meet?” Her gaze travels over my hair, and I’m glad I took extra time styling my loose curls today. “I love your color.” And I’m extra glad I touched up the dye last week. But before I can reply, Sandra tilts her head. “Wait. Purple…” She slowly shifts her attention to Ethan. “That ribbon? It was for her, wasn’t it?”
Ethan peels the paper wrapper off the base of the cupcake, and I find myself grinning again when he shoves the rest of it into his mouth.
Chapter 144
Ethan
“You crashed your plane?”Sandra drops her spoonful of pasta salad.
“It was a controlled emergency landing.”
Tilda snickers, and I bump my knee into hers under the table.
Sandra scoffs. “You’re an idiot. How did you get home?”
I lean back in my chair. “Had a chopper pick us up. Two days later.”
My sister holds her hands up. “You were stranded in the woods fortwo days, and you never told me? I don’t want to hear you say another word, ever, about me and Fisher.”
I glare at the man across the table from me.
I don’t actually mean it. He’s a decent guy, and Sandra’s smart; she wouldn’t be with him if he didn’t treat her well. But I’m not going to smile at him. That’s not what I do.
Not that it matters, because Fisher is apparently immune to intimidation, looking as content as he always does, sitting on my deck like he’s been here a dozen times before.
Probably has something to do with the fact that he’s worked for the asshole who runs Black Mountain Lodge for years.
Tilda makes a contemplative sound. “The mountain lion was probably scarier than the crash landing.” We all turn our heads and look at her. “What? It was.”
Sandra rests her elbows on the table. “What mountain lion?”
I drape my arm over the back of Tilda’s chair and let her tell the story.
We didn’t tell them the dollar amount of the inheritance. And Sandra and I don’t really have firsthand experience with shitty family members. But Sandra still gets it. Nodded her head the whole time we told her about Jack demanding that Tilda get married to keep everything.
And I don’t know Fisher’s family history, but he was nodding too. Understanding and not questioning, no looks of judgment. Which put another point in his favor.
Sandra presses her hand to her chest when she realizes we stayed in the cabin Dad built with his friends. And when Fisher puts his hand over the one she has on the table, I begrudgingly give him another point.
I knew Tilda and Sandra would get along. But to see it confirmed… I feel complete.
I twirl my finger in a lock of Tilda’s hair.
Tonight, my wife will be staying under my roof. And tomorrow, I’ll convince her to let me move in full-time.
Chapter 145
Tilda
The urge tocry has been pressing against my eyes since the first time Sandra hugged me.
And now that she’s gone, hugging me twice more before she left, I’m finding it harder to resist.
