Page 26 of My Three Mountain Men

What’s going on here?I mused slyly.

It seemed as though my cousin and our little houseguest had developed a closeness under my nose. A pang of worry rushed through me at the notion. Maybe Simone wasn’t the paparazzi, but we still didn’t know enough about her to welcome her into the circle so eagerly.

“No one is going to look for me,” Simone muttered. “My sponsors might because of the contract, but…”

She trailed off, and my gaze rested on her, sensing the heaviness of her statement.

“You don’t have family?” I asked pointedly, suddenly intrigued by her.

She shifted her weight and again glanced at Brooks as if seeking his protection.

“I have an idea,” Brooks said, abruptly changing the subject.

“What’s that?” I asked dryly.

“Why don’t we spend the day getting Simone acquainted with the day-to-day of running Casa Millan in the winter?”

As always, my immediate reaction was to argue, but the protest died on my lips. A moue flipped my lips outward, and I nodded slowly, amused by the idea of Simone swinging an axe or checking the traps.

“Sure,” I responded, rising from my chair. “That’s a great idea.”

Simone glanced worriedly at Brooks, but he gave her a reassuring smile.

“What does that mean, Brooks?” she asked.

“We’ll just show you what we need to do to sustain this place. You’re going to be here, so you might as well learn and help out,” Brooks explained.

“What’s the matter, Simone? You afraid you’re going to break a nail?”

She scowled at me, and I snickered.

“I can pull my own weight,” she said curtly. “I want to pull my own weight.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.”

“I’ll see about getting her appropriate gear for outside,” Brooks said absently, running through a mental checklist as he turned to leave the study, almost as if he had forgotten we were there.

Simone stared after him wistfully and turned to follow, but I stopped her. “You and Brooks are getting along well, huh?”

She pivoted, her cheeks crimson and confirming my suspicions. “He kind of saved my life, so yes, I’d say we are.”

A smirk curled over my lips again, but before I could make another off-handed remark, Simone spoke. “Maybe Brooks sees something in me that you don’t, because he’s willing to see it.”

The comment faded my grin, but footsteps in the hall ended our conversation as Brooks returned, holding an old snowsuit. “I think this was yours from when we were teens, Knox.”

I eyed the one-piece suit, vaguely recalling it. Somehow, it had avoided the donation pile, and I nodded. “It’s still going to be huge on her.”

“I’ll make do,” Simone promised eagerly. In spite of my desire to hold her at arm’s length, I found myself impressed with her willingness to venture out into the snow.

That’s because she doesn’t know what’s out there yet,I thought smugly.She’ll change her mind once she’s out there.

* * *

The snowsuit was large on Simone, but the boots were ridiculous. Even stuffed with socks at the front, coupled with the snowshoes, Simone struggled to stay on her feet, swaying and falling every couple of steps as flakes of snow swirled around our balaclavas. Brooks held one arm, and I eventually found myself flanking her on the other side, concerned that she might break a leg.

“She’s going to hurt herself out here, and then Ryder’s going to kill us,” I grouched.

“No one’s going to get hurt,” Brooks insisted. “And Ryder will appreciate that she’s learning.”

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