Page 24 of Single-Dad: The Mountain Man

“He’s fallen off the face of the earth,” I say. My eyes well with tears.

“That hasn’t changed. If your brother doesn’t want to be found, no one will find him. Don’t worry, angel. He’ll show up when he’s ready.”

I can’t disagree with that. Gage knows these mountains better than anyone and people in town know what happened wasn’t his fault. Even though he got convicted for murder, we all know it was self-defense.

I was eighteen and determined to prove to Shane that I could be the girl he deserved, so I went on a date with Bobby Wicks. I ended up at his place in his living room where he tried to kiss me. I panicked, I didn’t expect my body to revolt against the idea of being touched by a man who wasn’t Shane.

Bobby wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I kicked him in the balls and escaped. I tried hiding it from Gage, but there are no secrets in Thunderbrook. Seeking to defend my honor, he confronted Bobby and his friends outside of Griff’s place. A fight broke out and Gage hit Bobby too hard, killing him.

“I feel bad. He spent five years in prison because I was careless and I did the thing that would hurt him the most.”

“Hey, don’t ever think that,” Shane says, brushing his fingers across my tear-streaked face. “I heard how you fought Bobby off and I’m proud of you. You’re tough, angel.”

“Shane. You mean that?”

He kisses my forehead. “Yes. And you weren’t to blame for what Bobby did. And I know Gage, he’d defend you a thousand times no matter the consequences. He needs time to work things through and when he decides to show up, we’ll be there for him.”

* * *

Cassie: You need to get here. Gage and Shane are about to fight.

I runthrough the foyer into the gym with my heart pounding a million miles a minute. When I arrive at the entrance to the sparring room, a group of people crowd around the closed doors.

Cassie spots me and runs to me.

“They’re about to go at it,” she says.

I negotiate my way through the crowd and get to the front where Tony and Mike stand like bouncers.

“Hey, Willow,” Mike says, grinning widely.

“Hi, Mike. I’ve got to get through.”

“No can do, Bone said not to let anyone in.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not anyone then. I’m his woman and he’s about to fight my brother, I say, surprising myself with my confidence. “Please let me through before they beat each other senseless.”

Mike shoots Tony a sidelong glance and the other man nods before they open the doors.

“Good luck,” Mike says.

Both guys square off in the ring, wearing gym shorts and MMA gloves. Gage’s expression is hard to read and he’s very still.

“You want my sister, you have to get through me,” he says in a menacing tone.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Gage. But I love her and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure she stays in my life,” Shane says, emotion suffusing his voice.

My heart swoons at his words, but I quickly recover.

“Stop this right now,” I yell.

Shane is overcome with shock to see me. “Angel. What are you doing here?”

“You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to let you fight.”

I climb into the ring and stand between the two behemoths. I doubt anyone would be strong enough to stop these two mountains.

But I’m the only one who can talk sense into them.

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