Page 31 of Mountain Mens' Curvy Obsession

“I thought you’d have gone into town once the blizzard warning hit,” he replies.

She laughs lightly. “Oh, I had every intention. But I took a hot, steaming bath, and by the time I got out, it was already snowing heavily. Serves me right for leaving the important things for the last minute.”

“How did you fare,” Booker asks, “I mean, without your avocado salads and basil tomato crostini?”

Breonna laughs again, but this time, it doesn’t feel as natural. She felt the jab. Hell, I felt it, too. There’s definitely some animosity there, hidden discretely beneath the surface.

“Hey, this figure doesn’t maintain itself. If you want to look like this, you’ve got to mind what you eat,” she says, then gives me a hard stare.

I shouldn’t take it personally, but I know it’s meant to sting. I’m the curvy one of the two of us.

“Nevertheless, I survived. Remember, I have those freezer boxes in the basement,” she tells Booker. “I’m usually stocked for up to three weeks, maybe more if I hit the pantry as well.”

“Glad to see you made it then,” Booker replies, moving closer to my side. “We expected boredom during our snow siege, but Anya has been wonderful company.”

He smiles and rests a hand on my shoulder, making me feel like I’m the prettiest girl in the world. Breonna doesn’t seem too happy about it, but she musters a grin, nonetheless.

“You’ve been keeping my handsome boys entertained, then?” she giggles.

“Actually, they saved me,” I tell her. “I crashed my car not far from here. I’d be dead if it weren’t for Nico, Chance, and Booker.”

“Oh, wow!” she gasps, her brow furrowed with concern, while her eyes worriedly search my face. “I guess that explains the little thing there…” She points to her temple.

I nod slowly and touch the bandage on mine. “Yes, they nursed me back to health.”

“Heroes!” Breonna exclaims. “Heroes in the service, heroes back home, too, it seems.”

“So, you live up here as well?” I ask her.

“Oh, just during the winter. It’s my holiday home,” she says. “With all the modern amenities, of course. Thank God I listened to Nico and paid to tap into their electrical mainline that runs underground all the way into town, otherwise I’d have been in big trouble.”

Okay, so they go way back. They’re neighbors. But there’s something more. She keeps looking at him. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she clings to the hope that he might look at her the same way. But Nico doesn’t. He averts his gaze and focuses on me.

“How soon before you clear what’s left of this road?” Breonna asks the Hayes brothers.

“We’re going steady, pacing ourselves,” Nico replies. “We should make it into town tomorrow or the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

“You guys are efficient.”

Chance gives her a curious look. “How’d you make it all the way out here? You must’ve been snowed in as well.”

“I have a shovel, like everybody else.”

“You shoveled?” Chance sounds incredulous. “With those nails?”

Breonna scoffs and takes off her gloves to reveal a delicate pale pink manicure. “Oh, please, I didn’t go for tips this month. I learned my lesson last year. By the way, I’m still sorry about the scratches—”

“Forget about it,” Booker cuts her off.

“Are you okay?” Nico asks, noticing my distress.

“Yes, just a mild headache. I’m used to it by now, but they’re getting lighter,” I say with a weak smile.

Booker kneels to look at me. “Are you sure?”

“Look at you, doting on your friend. I swear; any woman would be lucky to have you,” Breonna says, lips curled into a supposedly sympathetic smile. She’s having a hard time here, that much is obvious. “Gosh, I just realized you’ve been stuck in that lodge for a long time,” Breonna says. “Why don’t you come over to my place for a hot cocoa while the boys keep shoveling?”

“It’s okay. I wouldn’t want to impose,” I reply.

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