Page 26 of Mountain Man Grinch
“Cartel cleanup’s already en route.” He steps inside, puts a gloved hand on my shoulder. “Ari, how are you holding up?”
I sniffle. “Fine.”
“Ari?” Davin asks, forehead knitting. “Is that what everyone else calls you?”
I giggle. “Some people. I like ‘Princess’ better.”
Wolfe frowns, shaking his head. “Got a lot to explain to McGregor.”
Davin nods. “Yep.”
A second man pushes inside. Big and intimidating, another professional wrestler-looking guy like Wolfe. But his face is new to me. “Ari, this is West, the team’s new medic. Figured he should have a look at you two.”
“I’m fine,” Davin says, arms tightening around me. “But Princess here could use it.” The words come out possessive, like he’s still reeling from the whole nickname thing.
West steps forward, grumbling, “You gonna let her out of your arms, Davin? Or am I examining you both?”
“Dunno yet.” He squeezes me tighter, and Wolfe groans.
My face goes molten. Men, honestly.
“Just the headache I need,” the big Ranger murmurs, excusing himself back outside. Then, he pops his head back in,locking eyes on my mountain man. “Grimshaw, need to debrief with you.”
Davin slides me out of his lap, face reluctant as he heads for the door.
“This wasn’t random,” Wolfe says.
“No, they guessed our route,” he answers.
“Meaning someone high up in Sol Rojo used Ranger logic to track you,” Wolfe finishes.
Their voices fade out as West examines me. The moment I get a clean bill of health from the hulking man, I head for the cabin door, catching a murmur from Wolfe. “We’ll notify Rough & Ready Country Command. This isn’t over. Sol Rojo doesn’t swallow a failure like this quietly. “RRC Comm will want a full debrief.” Then, his eyes flicker to me. “Don’t worry, Ari. They’ll never get close again.”
Davin crosses his arms, face storming as he nods emphatically.
“You couldn’t have a better man protecting you,” he says. “Now, let’s just hope your cousin doesn’t lose it … too much.”
I giggle, though my stomach twists. “Well, you know Mateo…”
“Thank God, he doesn’t drink anymore,” Wolfe adds, removing his Stetson and running a hand over his buzzcut head.
I shudder at the thought of my redheaded cousin with this news and a bottle of Don Julio. “Fortunately, Callie’s tamed him,” I say, more hopeful than convinced.
“We’ll see,” Wolfe says, eyeing Davin skeptically. “Want a ride back to your cabin?”
Davin glances at me, torn between pride and practicality. “For me, no. But this beauty could use something more comfortable than hanging onto the back of a snowmobile.”
Davinand I sit together in front of a roaring fire at his cabin. I’m wearing an oversized red-and-green Christmas sweater that says “Ho-ho-holy Hotness” and black leggings with a pair of fluffy emerald socks. Every time Davin’s hand dips too low on my shoulder, it rings one of the tiny bells attached to my sweater, and I giggle.
“I know. I know. Another angel just got his wings,” he grumbles, leaning forward for another swig of hot chocolate.It’s a Wonderful Lifejust ended, my begrudging holiday movie-watching accomplice still trying to process everything. “Is it always going to be this much sunshine and cheer with you, Princess?”
“Wait till I start baking.”
He pulls me closer, his big hand tightening at my waist. “Baking, I can get behind.”
The way he says baking makes my stomach flip, like he means something dirtier.
He adds, “But if you think you’re ever going?—”
