Page 42 of My Three Mountain Men

Her smile vanished. “Don’t say that,” she begged. “It’s literally all I have.”

She disappeared into the hallway, and I stared after her for a long moment as I made a decision. When I was sure she was gone, I found a hoodie and a pair of socks before skirting to the main floor, carefully avoiding Simone in the kitchen. I couldn’t resist pausing to drink her in for a minute as she hummed to herself over the stove, oblivious to me watching, and a memory resurfaced from somewhere deep, striking my heart.

In my mind’s eye, I saw my mother in our New York brownstone, her feet bare and moving as Bob Marley blasted from the house speakers. One of the housekeepers stood nearby, mixing something in a bowl, giggling as Mom danced out of step, singing along out of tune, not noticing my dad until his arms fully encircled her waist and she was swinging in the air.

“Andrew! You’re home!” she squealed, elated that he had arrived back from one of his many overseas trips early.

He responded with a deep, passionate kiss, and I sat on the back stairs, waiting for them to be done so that my dad could give me my present.

Grief brought bile to my throat, and I backed away from the cabin kitchen. I’d taken those days for granted. As a kid, I’d never considered that my parents would not be there for me.

But I knew better now. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

Slipping down the back hallway toward my office, I let myself into the communications room and locked the door in my wake, sliding into my chair. Inhaling, I looked toward the myriad computer screens and security cameras which overlooked the outside of the cabin.

One screen for each side of the house, overlooking the woods beyond, but in eight years, the lenses had never caught more than bears and moose curiously venturing through the land.

But I wasn’t here for that. Today, my eyes rested on the modem which blinked with only the power light. There was no internet coming through—not that I expected any. But I didn’t want to chance that there might be, and that Simone might see it.

Without stopping to reconsider my actions, I grabbed the modem and yanked the connective wires from behind, pulling the box onto the desk, my pulse quickening as the severity of my actions mounted inside me.

Maybe this isn’t a good idea—

Before I could let the doubt creep in, I snatched up the half-full metal water bottle I kept on the desk and dumped it on the device, hearing a series of fizzles and pops as the unit died.

Shame flooded me, but I shoved it aside to wipe the excess water away and plug the device back in. The lights didn’t come back on at all. I had effectively fried the modem. There would definitely be no internet now.

Simone couldn’t get online now. None of us could. She would definitely stay for the rest of the winter.

CHAPTER19

Brooks

What Knox had told us about Ryder had put me very much on edge. I wanted to confront my cousin about his desire to bring Simone to Loganville and see just how serious he had been about it. He had never been irresponsible before, and while he could be cold, he wasn’t ruthless. But no one had ever threatened our security like this before.

Not that I believed Simone was really a threat to our security. But it was easy to see why Ryder might think so.

But it had been over a month since Simone had joined us now, and she had gone out of her way to show that she meant us no harm at all. If anything, the cabin had never been cleaner, and I hadn’t been happier. I saw a massive change in Knox, too, even if he tried to hide it. Simone was good for us, even if Ryder didn’t want to accept that.

Yet I didn’t confront my older cousin. He hadn’t come to me about taking Simone to Loganville. Of course he hadn’t. He had already known what I was going to say about it.

“You’re awfully distracted tonight,” Simone commented from over her plate. Ryder ignored her and continued to shovel the lasagna into his mouth as Knox cast me a warning look. He didn’t have to tell me not to say anything.

“My brain is just lighter from all the hair removal,” I joked. “You should think about getting a haircut, too, Ryder.”

Ryder grunted in response. “Why isn’t there any meat in this food?”

Knox rolled his eyes. “It won’t kill you to go meatless once a week.”

Ryder raised his head for the first time since sitting down to dinner, his eyes gleaming. “We’re going meatless once a week now?” he demanded. “Who the hell decided this?”

“No one,” Simone interjected quickly. “I just know that Knox isn’t a big fan of meat, so I’m trying to accommodate everyone, Ryder. I can make separate dishes for him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” I snapped, having enough of Ryder’s attitude. “You’re right. One meal a week without meat isn’t going to hurt any of us.”

“We need the protein.”

“Then go get some extra protein,” I barked back, dropping my napkin on the plate. “You’re arguing for the sake of arguing.”

---