Page 104 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

"Miss Kenzie! We're hungry!"

Everett and I stare at each other and bust out laughing.

"I'll get them." Everett stands and quickly dresses. But before he leaves, he doubles back and kisses me with his hands resting protectively over my stomach.

"Ready for this adventure?"

I smile. "With you? Always."

24

MY HEART

KENZIE

I stand in the kitchen, my hands covered in flour, a smile playing on my lips as I knead the dough for Thanksgiving dinner rolls.

The warm, yeasty scent fills the air, mingling with the crisp autumn breeze drifting through the open window. Outside, the Montana mountains loom large and majestic, their peaks dusted with early snow.

"Kenzie!" Hazel's voice rings out from the living room. "Can we help?"

I laugh, wiping my hands on my apron. "Sure thing, button. Come on in!"

The patter of little feet echoes through the house, and soon, the twins burst into the kitchen, their eyes wide with excitement. Harper's curls are wild, a telltale sign she's been rolling around on the floor again.

"What can we do?" Harper asks, bouncing on her toes.

"Well," I say, tapping my chin thoughtfully, "how about you two set the table for dinner? Daddy should be home soon."

They nod eagerly, scampering off to grab plates and silverware. I watch them go, my heart swelling with love. It's hard to believe it's only been six months since I first arrived in Silver Ridge. So much has changed, and yet it feels like I've always belonged here.

As I turn back to my baking, a strong pair of arms wraps around my waist from behind. I lean back, recognizing Everett's solid warmth immediately.

"Smells good in here," he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear.

I turn in his arms, flour-covered hands leaving white prints on his shirt. "You're home early."

He grins that crooked smile that never fails to make my heart skip a beat. "Couldn't stay away. Not when I've got all this waiting for me."

His hand drifts to my belly. We haven't told the girls yet. We’re waiting for the right moment since I got a clean bill of health from the doctor. And she saw two heartbeats.

Maybe Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas. Just to think, we'll go from two to four kids overnight.

"How are you feeling?" Everett asks, his mesmerizing eyes searching mine.

"Good," I say, and I mean it. The morning sickness has finally eased up, leaving me with a constant, low-level excitement. "Just tired. And hungry. All the time."

Everett chuckles, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Well, lucky for you, I picked up some of those pickles you've been craving on the way home."

I gasp in mock surprise. "My hero!"

He laughs, a deep, rumbling sound that I feel in my bones. It's a sound I never get tired of hearing, especially since it was so rare when we first met. Everett's changed so much in these past months, opening up and letting his guard down. We both have.

"Daddy!" The twins' voices echo through the house, and soon, they're barreling into the kitchen, attaching themselves to Everett's legs.

He scoops them up, one in each arm, peppering their faces with kisses as they giggle uncontrollably. The sight never fails to melt my heart.

"All right, munchkins," Everett says, setting them down. "Why don't you two go wash up for dinner? I'll be there in a minute to help."

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