Page 64 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

No point dwelling on that now. I need to stay present and not overthink things before they happen. One step at a time.

The girls come thundering down the stairs, clean and dressed in their favorite outfits. Harper's wearing the sparkly unicorn shirt Kenzie got her last week, while Hazel's opted for her "future scientist" t-shirt.

"We're ready, Daddy!" they chorus, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Inside voices, remember?" Kenzie's gentle reminder follows as she descends the stairs.

My breath catches in my throat. She's changed into a simple sundress and boots, her hair falling in loose twists around her shoulders. Nothing fancy, but she looks beautiful.

"You clean up nice," I manage to say.

Kenzie’s cheeks warmed with color. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."

The air between us hums with a quiet intensity, our gazes locked. I want to kiss her again, to pull her close, and never let go. But the girls are watching, their eyes darting between us with poorly concealed curiosity.

"All right, troops," I say, clearing my throat. "Let's move out."

The drive to town is filled with the girls' chatter, punctuated by Kenzie's laugh. I steal glances at her, caught off guard by how right this feels. The four of us headed out for a family dinner.

As we pull into the diner's parking lot, I notice Kenzie tense up slightly. I reach over, giving her hand a quick squeeze. She's been in town since the incident with Paige. But it's usually during non-peak hours.

"It'll be fine," I say quietly.

She nods, taking a deep breath. "I know. Thanks, Everett."

We pile out of the truck and head inside. The bell over the door jingles, announcing our arrival. A hush falls over the diner as heads turn to stare.

I lift my chin, locking them with a hard stare, daring anyone to say something. Kenzie steps closer to me, her arm brushing against mine, and I take her hand. Her gaze snaps to mine, and I wink.

This softens her features, and I want to kiss her again. The girls, oblivious to the tension, bounce ahead to our usual booth.

"Evening, folks," Betty, the waitress, greets us with a warm smile. If she's surprised to see Kenzie with us, she doesn't show it. "The usual for you all?"

I nod, grateful for her easy acceptance. "Thanks, Betty. And a strawberry milkshake for the lady."

Kenzie looks up at me, surprised. "How did you know?"

I shrug, feeling a bit sheepish. "Lucky guess."

As we settle into the booth, I can feel the weight of curious stares. But I focus on my girls, on Kenzie's smile as she helps Hazel color her placemat. This is what matters. The rest of the world can go to hell.

Dinner passes in a blur of laughter and easy conversation. The girls regale Kenzie with stories from school, and she listens with rapt attention, asking questions and offering encouragement. I find myself watching her more than eating.

As the meal winds down, I excuse myself to use the restroom. When I return, I overhear a snippet of conversation from a nearby table.

"...can't believe he's parading that woman around town. After what she did to poor Paige..."

My jaw clenches, anger bubbling up inside me. I'm about to say something when I feel a hand on my arm. Kenzie.

"It's okay," she says softly. "Let it go."

I look down at her, ready to argue, but the calm in her eyes stops me. She's stronger than I give her credit for.

With a nod, I slide back into the booth. Harper immediately launches into a story about her art project, and I let myself get lost in her enthusiasm.

As we're getting ready to leave, I notice Kenzie hanging back slightly. I raise an eyebrow in question.

"I just wanted to say thanks," she says, her voice low. "For tonight. For... everything."

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