Page 7 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

"Are not!" Harper gasps, looking utterly betrayed.

Before I can respond, a familiar figure catches my eye further down the street. My heart stutters as I take in the woman's tall, curvy frame and the sway of her hips.

Kenzie.

Memories of our encounter at the bus station flood my mind—the softness of her hand in mine, the kindness of her smile, the way her hazel eyes rope me in. But then I remember the scene with Ian and his wife, the accusations of her being a homewrecker.

I shake my head, pushing the conflicting thoughts away. Now is not the time to dwell on a woman I barely know, especially one who's already brought so much drama to this town. Still, I can't tear my gaze away as she strolls down the sidewalk, her head held high despite the curious looks she's getting from the locals.

There's a quiet strength about her, a resilience that calls to something deep inside me. The way she interacted with the twins at the bus station, calming them down with such ease... it was impressive, to say the least. But then there's the whole mess with Ian. What kind of woman gets involved with a married man?

I frown, hating how my body seems to betray me at the sight of her. This is ridiculous. I’m a grown man and a father. I shouldn’t be getting all tangled up over some beautiful stranger, especially one with suspect judgment.

"Earth to Everett?" Steph's voice breaks through my reverie. "You still with us, big guy?"

I blink, refocusing on her amused expression. "What? Yeah, 'course. Just... thinking."

She arches an eyebrow, clearly not buying my nonchalance. Her gaze follows mine, landing squarely on Kenzie's retreating figure.

"Ah," she murmurs knowingly. "I see."

Heat creeps up my neck, and I scowl to cover my discomfort. "Don't start, Steph."

"I didn't say anything," she protests, holding her hands up in mock surrender. But the sparkle in her eyes says it all—she's already putting the pieces together in her sharp mind.

I open my mouth, ready to shut down whatever teasing comes my way, but Hazel beats me.

"Daddy, can we go say hi to Miss Kenzie?" she asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "She was really nice at the bus station."

My stomach clenches at remembering that disastrous scene with Ian and his wife. Paige's words still ring in my ears, that venom-laced accusation of Kenzie being a "homewrecking whore."

I frown, my protective instincts kicking in. Whatever Kenzie's involvement with Ian, she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. No one does. But simultaneously, I can't risk exposing my girls to someone who might be trouble.

"Maybe we should give Miss Duncan some space," I hedge, not quite meeting Hazel's eyes.

Harper tugs on my sleeve. Her expression is earnest. "But she's new here, Daddy. Don't you think she could use a friend?"

I sigh, letting my gaze linger over my girls. They have a way of cutting straight to the heart of things, whether I want them to or not. Their compassion makes me proud, but it also worries me sometimes. The world isn't always kind to people with big hearts.

Before I can respond, another voice joins the fray—one that has me stiffening in surprise.

"Well, well. If it isn't my old pal, Everett Logan."

I spin around to see Axton O'Connor strolling our way, that cocky smirk of his in full effect. My shoulders relax as I take in the sight of my best friend since elementary school. If anyone can pull me out of this weird funk, it's Axton.

"I can't believe they let you back in town," I greet him gruffly, pulling him in for a brotherly hug.

He shrugs. "Figured it was time to come home for a while. Can't let you have all the fun, now can I?"

I snort, shaking my head. Only Axton would consider the chaos of my life "fun."

Sensing a new audience, the twins immediately swarm him with excited chatter. Axton crouches down, pulling each in for a hug and listening with an indulgent smile. Despite his tough-guy act, he's always had a soft spot for the girls.

A strange sense of peace settles over me as I watch them interact. With Axton here, maybe I can finally make some headway on the decisions I need to make.

My gaze drifts back to Kenzie, now just a speck in the distance. A part of me wants to chase after her and ask her about Ian, whether she's sticking around or if Paige has bothered her again. But I make it a point to stay away from the buzz circuit.

I've got too much on my plate—the twins, my work, and the constant struggle to balance everything. Entertaining thoughts about a woman, especially one like Kenzie, would complicate things further. The image of her warm smile flickers in my mind, but I quickly push it away.

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