Page 54 of My Three Mountain Men

“Don’t look at me like I’m a freshly orphaned kid,” I snapped. “I’m a fully grown man.”

“Then you should be able to understand what I’m saying to you,” Ryder said curtly. “That girl doesn’t belong in our world any more than we belong out there.”

I drew back as if he’d slapped me. “You’re making assumptions.”

Ryder’s jaw twitched. “You’re getting too attached. Maybe you should take a little break—”

“Are you jealous?” I demanded.

“Fuck,” Ryder groaned. “Are you fucking kidding me right now? Do you hear yourself?”

“What are you two yelling about?” Brooks demanded, throwing open the door to the office.

I shot Ryder a warning look.

“Nothing,” Ryder replied curtly. “Knox is going to fix the modem now, aren’t you, Knox?”

I grimaced. “I said I would.”

Ryder spun around and marched out of my office, leaving me with a bewildered-looking Brooks.

“Seriously, what was that? Simone thinks you’re fighting about her again,” Brooks informed me.

“We’re not,” I said quickly. “I’ll talk to her.”

“What happened to the modem, anyway?” Brooks asked, ambling toward the desk. “We haven’t had a problem with it before.”

“Maybe that’s the problem; it’s old.”

Brooks cast me a strange look, but he didn’t press the issue. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

He turned to leave, but as he reached the threshold, I stopped him. “Do you think Simone is happy here?”

Brooks glanced over his shoulder and shrugged, a grin falling over his lips. “I mean, I know I make her pretty happy,” he teased, and I snorted.

“That’s not what I mean,” I said haltingly, biting on my lip. “I mean… do you think she likes ithere?”

Brooks eyed me. “What are you asking, cuz? If she likes the cabin?”

I nodded.

“I think so,” he answered slowly. “I mean… it’s no condo in LA, but I guess it’s served as a nice little getaway for her.”

My heart sank again.

“Are you okay, Knox?” Brooks asked, with uncharacteristic concern. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Get out. I have to work on the modem,” I responded, half-shoving him out the door and locking it in his wake.

That was all this had been to Simone. A weird little escape that she didn’t plan. In a few weeks, she’d go into Loganville and make some calls for someone to pick her up, and that would be the end of it.

I could barely bear the idea that we would be left behind again. Maybe Ryder was right. Maybe I did need to give her some space before she devastated my life forever, just like everyone else did.

But I knew that wasn’t an option, not anymore. I loved Simone Summers. She had been what was missing all along in our lonely, remote lives these long years. But to tell her that I wanted her to stay after six weeks of knowing her was… presumptuous and overbearing. It would be putting her on the spot at a minimum and would make the rest of our time together awkward if she wasn’t feeling the same way.

But what if she did feel the same way? Shouldn’t we be making plans for the future? Shouldn’t the guys be made aware that she intended to stay?

How will I know if she feels the same way if I don’t ask?I mused, flopping back into my chair and reaching for my tools. The obvious answer was simply to wait and see. By the time spring rolled around, I would know how she felt. There wasn’t really any rush in learning what her intentions were… except my own impatience.

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