Page 52 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

He hesitates, and I can practically see the walls going up. "Just some work stuff. Nothing exciting."

I nod, not pushing it. I guess we all have our secrets.

"Well, don't work too hard," I say, backing towards the door. "Can't have you keeling over on my first day. Think of the paperwork."

That gets me another almost smile. "I'll do my best. The keys to the van are in the kitchen drawer, by the way. Feel free to use it while you're here. I'll need your license to add you to the insurance."

"Got it, boss. Thanks." I pause at the doorway, struck by a sudden urge to say something more. "Hey, Everett?"

He looks up, eyebrows raised in question.

"Make sure you get some sleep, okay?"

His expression softens. Then it's gone, replaced by his usual stoic mask.

"Yes, ma'am," he says, with just a hint of teasing in his tone.

I roll my eyes and head out, closing the door behind me. As I walk back to the kitchen, I replay our conversation in my head. It wasn't much, but it felt... different. Like maybe we're starting to find our footing around each other.

Or maybe I'm just reading too much into things. Lord knows I've done that before.

I shake my head, trying to clear it. I've got a job to do, and getting all moony-eyed over my boss isn't part of it. I need to focus on the girls and on building a life for myself here that doesn't revolve around Everett Logan and his stupidly attractive... everything.

Speaking of the girls, I hear the telltale sound of little feet padding down the hallway. Show time.

I plaster on my best Mary Poppins smile and head towards the noise. "Good morning, sunshines! Who's ready for school?"

Twin groans answer me, and I can't help but laugh. Some things are universal, I guess.

As I herd the girls through their morning routine – breakfast, teeth brushing, hair combing (a battle in itself with those curls). I try to keep my mind off Everett. But it's hard when every corner of this house seems to hold a piece of him.

There's a photo on the fridge that catches my eye as I'm packing lunches. It's Everett with the girls, all three of them grinning at the camera. They're on a beach somewhere, the twins building a sandcastle while Everett looks on with pride.

It hits me then, how much I don't know about this family. About Everett. The man in that photo looks so different from the brooding workaholic I just left in the office.

What happened to put those shadows in his eyes?

"Miss Kenzie?" Harper's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. "Can you help me with my shoes?"

"Sure thing, sweetie," I say, pushing thoughts of Everett aside. I've got a job to do, and I'm damn well gonna do it right.

As I help Harper with her laces, Hazel pipes up from the breakfast table. "Are you gonna stay with us forever, Miss Kenzie?"

My heart clenches at the hope in her voice. "I don't know about forever, honey. But I'm here now, and that's what matters, right?"

She nods, seemingly satisfied with that answer. But I can't shake the feeling that I'm already in too deep. These girls, this house... it's all starting to feel dangerously like home.

And home is something I've learned not to count on.

We pile into the van—a sleek, black monster of a vehicle that probably costs more than everything I own put together. I take a deep breath before starting the engine. This is it. My first real day as a nanny to the Logan twins.

As we pull out of the driveway, I catch a glimpse of Everett in the rearview mirror. He's standing at the window of his office, watching us go. For a second, our eyes meet, and I feel that same jolt I felt in the diner.

Then he's gone, and I'm left wondering if I imagined the whole thing.

I shake it off and focus on the road ahead. I've got two precious cargo to deliver safely to school and a whole new life to figure out.

Silver Ridge, here I come. Ready or not.

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