Page 2 of Mountain Daddy
“Cold. Busy.” He runs a hand down Elsie’s hair, expression tightening for a moment. “It’s not slowing down anytime soon.”
Wells works for the park system’s forestry division, helping maintain trails and snow-packed access roads through the surrounding mountains. It’s rugged, physical work, but it preserves this slice of paradise for the future.
And he’s good at it. Even if it wrecks his schedule this time of year.
“I can stay a little later tonight if you need,” I offer, but he shakes his head.
“You’ve already done too much for us.”
My stomach warms. “It’s not too much.”
He holds my gaze a beat too long. I look away first.
Elsie twists in his arms and drops her cheek to his shoulder.
“Daddy? Do Ihaveto go to Nana and Papa’s for Christmas?”
Oh. He already told her.
“We talked about this,” he sighs heavily. “Daddy’s got a lot of work to do this time of year. The roads won’t clear themselves.”
“I wanna stay here.”
Wells rubs her back. “I know, lovebug.”
She lifts her head and turns big brown eyes on me.
“Celia, are you going somewhere for Christmas?”
The question hits me square in the chest, because the answer is an unqualified “No.”
I force a smile. “I don’t have plans yet.”
“Are you going home?”
I swallow. “No. Not this year.”
My family’s in Nebraska. Even if I could afford the flights right now, the storms coming through would delay everything.
So I’ll probably spend the holidays in my little place in town. Watching movies under a blanket in bed.
Elsie’s face lights up. “Dad, can Celia babysit me for Christmas break instead? Pleeeeease?”
The room goes still.
Wells tucks her closer, like he’s bracing for impact. “That’s not really?—”
“Please? She can watch me while you work, and we can bake cookies and build the gingerbread house and I don’t have to leave you for Christmas!”
“Elsie—”
“And she’s lonely,” she adds, unwittingly cutting for a six-year-old. “She said she doesn’t have plans.”
Heat floods my cheeks. I never said I was lonely. But if there’s one thing about my girl, she’s intuitive as can be.
And, in this case, she’s not wrong.
Wells’ eyes flick to mine again. Suddenly, I’m aware of how small this cabin is. How close we’re standing. How warm the air feels even though cold is still creeping in through the door behind him.
