Page 53 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

The drive to school is an adventure in itself. The twins chatter away in the backseat, filling me in on all the important details of their lives – who sits next to who at lunch, their favorite teachers, and why Billy Thompson is the grossest boy in the whole wide world.

I can't help but smile, remembering how Kendrick and I used to talk a mile a minute on our way to school. Meme always said we'd wear out her ears one of these days.

"Miss Kenzie?" Hazel's voice pipes up from the back. "Are you gonna pick us up after school too?"

I nod, catching her eye in the rearview mirror. "That's the plan, sugar. Unless your daddy says otherwise."

Harper leans forward, her little face scrunched up in thought. "Daddy's always working. He doesn't pick us up anymore."

My heart twists a little at that. I think about Everett, holed up in his office before the sun was even up. What kind of work keeps a man that busy?

"Well," I say, trying to keep my tone light, "that's what I'm here for. To help out so your daddy can work, and you two troublemakers can have some fun."

That seems to satisfy them, and they launch into a debate about what we should do after school. I half-listen, my mind drifting back to Everett.

There's more to his story. I can feel it. The way he holds himself, like he's carrying the weight of the world on those broad shoulders. The sadness that creeps into his eyes when he looks at the girls sometimes, like he's seeing someone else.

But that's not my business, I remind myself. I'm here to take care of the girls, not psychoanalyze their father.

No matter how intriguing he might be.

We pull up to the school, a cute little building that looks like it came straight out of a Hallmark movie. Kids are streaming in, backpacks bouncing, and voices raised in excitement.

"All right, ladies," I say, turning to face the twins. "Have a great day, okay? I'll be right here to pick you up when the bell rings."

They nod, but neither move to get out of the car. I raise an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"

Hazel bites her lip, looking suddenly shy. "Will you... will you give us a hug? Like Jillian used to?"

Oh, Lord. My heart just about breaks at that. I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb into the back, pulling both girls into a tight embrace.

"Of course I will, sweethearts," I murmur, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads. "Anytime you want, okay?"

They nod against my chest, and I have to blink back tears. These girls, I swear. They're gonna be the death of me.

Finally, we untangle ourselves, and I watch as they hop out of the van and join the stream of kids heading into school. They turn back to wave, and I blow them a kiss, feeling a surge of protectiveness I wasn't prepared for.

As I climb back into the driver's seat, I take a deep breath. It's only been one morning, and already I'm in deep. These girls, this job... it's more than I bargained for.

But it could be what I need.

Meme used to say, "Love is the balm for heartbreak."

A girl can't go wrong with a double portion.

I pull away from the curb, my mind already racing with plans for the day. I've got a few hours before pickup and a whole town to explore.

Silver Ridge, here I come. Show me what you've got.

As I drive through town, I can't help but feel like I'm in some kind of Hallmark movie. Everything's so quaint, so picture-perfect. The main street is lined with mom-and-pop shops, their windows displaying everything from handmade quilts to artisanal cheeses.

I park the van and decide to explore on foot. Might as well get the lay of the land since most of the town is sleep.

The air is crisp, with just a hint of pine. I take a deep breath, feeling some of the tension from the morning start to melt away. This place... it's not what I expected. But then again, nothing about this situation is.

I pass by Millie's Diner, and my steps falter. The memory of that kiss hits me like a freight train. I can almost feel Everett's lips on mine, his hands cupping my face...

"It was just for show. Don't go reading into things," I mutter to myself.

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