Page 107 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

"So," he says, his voice low. "Thanksgiving tomorrow. You ready to tell them?"

I laugh softly. " You think everyone will be okay with the news?"

Everett kisses the top of my head. "They'll be thrilled, Kenz. This town loves you, you know that?"

I do know that, and it still amazes me sometimes. How I went from being an outsider to being embraced by this community. It's more than I ever dared to hope for.

The drugs found in the cabin and Paige’s part in my abduction showed the town their true colors.

I’ve received so many apologies, and thankfully, it’s behind us.

"I love them too," I say softly. "All of them. Even Paige."

Everett chuckles. "Now that's true growth."

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, watching the fire flicker and fade. My mind drifts to tomorrow's festivities, to the babies growing inside me, to the life we're building together.

"Everett?" I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

He shifts, looking down at me. "For what?"

I smile, feeling tears prick in my eyes. "For everything. For giving me a chance. For loving me. For this family we're building."

Everett's arms tighten around me. "Oh, Kenz," he murmurs. "You don't have to thank me for that. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. To us."

I tilt my head up, meeting his gaze. The love I see there takes my breath away. Slowly, deliberately, I lean in and kiss him.

It's a soft kiss, full of tenderness and promise. When we break apart, I rest my forehead against his.

"I love you," I whisper.

"I love you too," he replies.

I think about the journey that brought me here. The bus ride to Silver Ridge, that first disastrous meeting with Everett, and the drama with Ian and Paige. It all seems so long ago now, like a different lifetime.

And in a way, it was. I'm not the same person I was six months ago. I'm stronger now, more confident. I know who I am and what I want.

What I want is this - Everett's arms around me, the girls sleeping peacefully upstairs, and the promise of our growing family. What I want is Silver Ridge, with all its quirks and challenges. What I want is the life we're building together, day by day.

As the fire dies down to embers, I feel my eyes growing heavy. Everett notices, of course. He always notices.

"Come on, sleepyhead," he says, his voice warm with affection. "Let's get you to bed."

I nod, letting him help me up. "You think you can tuck me in?"

Everett, leans in and kisses the inside of my neck and then my lips. "I'll do more than tuck you in."

The heat in his words is scorching.

"Well, stop all that talking and…show me." I brush my hand over what's waiting to go down in the bedroom.

"Oh…I got you." He runs behind me and sweeps me up.

We laugh all the way to the room, and he lays me on the bed. And slowly starts removing my clothes.

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