Page 28 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

Paige lets out a derisive laugh. “Oh, we’re just browsing. Although I must say, it’s quite the sight to see you playing house with the Logan girls.”

Her flunkies titter behind their hands, emboldened by Paige’s condescending tone. My muscles tighten as I watch Paige, her familiar smirk curling at the edges. Kenzie’s standing tall, but there’s something in the way her shoulders tense that makes me step a little closer, my eyes narrowing as Paige’s gaze flickers toward her like a hunter sizing up prey.

“Maybe you should leave.” I take a step closer to Kenzie.

Paige tilts her head slightly, her Barbie-doll perfectly groomed features remaining impassive, unimpressed. “And why would we do that? This is a public place?”

“I'm not doing this with you. I told you I didn't know, and you won't listen. Maybe next time, you should put your husband on a leash.” Kenzie interjects, her defiance sparking a fire in my chest.

The words hang in the air, and a quiet pride stirs in me as Harper and Hazel giggle at Kenzie’s remark. But I can also see the irritation boiling in Paige's eyes, and I know I need to step in before this escalates.

Before she can retaliate, I raise my voice, cutting through the tension. “That’s enough.”

The command echoes through the shop, silencing the room and drawing all eyes to me. I won’t let them drag her down, not while I’m here.

Paige's mouth twists in displeasure, but I can see the moment she realizes I'm not fucking around. With a haughty sniff, she turns on her heel, her minions scurrying to keep up as they exit the shop, leaving Kenzie and me in the quiet aftermath of the confrontation.

The women leave, and a surge of admiration for Kenzie’s strength hits me, along with something deeper… a protective instinct I haven’t let surface in a long time.

She stood her ground against Paige and her minions, her words sharp and unyielding, and it’s more than just impressive—it’s inspiring. I want my girls to have that kind of fire.

But after the cronies leave, she seems to deflate, the fight fading from her posture.

The fire that had burned so brightly moments ago dims, and I can see the real toll the confrontation took on her. Her shoulders slump, and she wraps her arms around herself as if trying to gather the pieces of her shattered confidence.

I step closer, the oppressive silence of the shop amplifying the weight of the moment.

“Hey,” I say softly, my voice steady. “You did great.”

Kenzie glances up, her hazel eyes catching mine, her jaw tight but her gaze searching, as if fighting to stay composed while something deeper stirs just beneath the surface.

“Yeah, well… it doesn’t feel great right now,” she admits her voice barely above a whisper. “I thought I could handle it, but…”

The heaviness of her words, the weight of the judgment she faces in this town. I want to reach out, to offer her comfort, but I hesitate, unsure of how to bridge the distance between us.

I see the spark in her that fought back against Paige, but I also see the fatigue creeping in, the emotional toll of standing up against such relentless cruelty.

They're not the only ones. Paige is the town princess, and she loves to paint herself as the victim. It's an impossible battle for Kenzie.

“You stood up to them, Kenzie,” I insist, hoping to bolster her spirit. “Not many people in this town have the guts to do that. Not with her Daddy's money and standing in this state.”

She offers a faint smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “It’s just… I didn’t expect it to feel like this. I thought I was tougher than that.”

“You are tough,” I reply, stepping a little closer. “It’s okay to feel shaken. It means you care. And that matters. Don’t let them take that away from you.”

Her eyes search mine, and for a moment, I wish I could convey just how fierce my desire is to protect her from all the hurt this town can throw at her. But I know it’s not enough to just say the words. She must feel it, too.

As I watch her process my words, I realize I’m not just admiring her strength—I’m drawn to her resilience, the way she fights against the tide of negativity.

And for a split second, I want nothing more than to wrap her in my arms, to shield her from the judgment of this town and the venomous whispers that seem to follow her.

The thought catches me off guard, a startling realization that sends my heart racing. I take an involuntary step back, shaking my head slightly as if to dispel the urge.

What am I thinking?

I barely know her, yet here I am, wanting to protect her as if she were already part of my family. It’s as if she didn't contribute to the ridicule that falls upon her when she engages in a relationship with Ian.

But then I turn my gaze back to Kenzie, and my heart sinks a little.

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