Page 38 of Mountain Mens' Curvy Obsession

“We’ll need to keep an eye out. The guy drove off when he saw us coming that night. Chances are he’s on his own. If he’s still in town, he’ll probably look for a weakness, a crack to slip through. We won’t give him that opportunity,” Nico replies. “And I strongly believe we should get Mills involved.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that. He can just run the slugs through ballistics as a favor to us. We’re friends; it should be enough,” I say.

But Nico shakes his head. “Mills can help us. We can’t fight the fucking Bratva on our own. If they’re coming for Anya, we’re going to need all the help we can get. Mills isn’t just sheriff, remember? He’s got his own people, good men and women, sworn to different but equally righteous oaths.”

“Nico has a point. We do need all the help we can get,” Booker concedes.

“I’m confused,” I shoot back. “One minute, you’re all about getting to the truth. The next, you’re pushing to keep Anya up here for a while longer, and now, you’re fine with getting the cops involved.”

“It’s a process.” Booker chuckles dryly. “I’m working through it. The objective is the same, though.”

“Keeping Anya safe.” Nico agrees with a slight nod.

I can’t fight them on any of this, mainly because they’re both right. It doesn’t change how I feel about it, though. I came back to life the minute I realized Anya was still alive. There’s not a chance in hell I’m letting anybody take her away from me.

* * *

The next morning,Nico and I head down the mountain, while Booker stays with Anya. With the roads more or less cleared, there’s the risk that whoever came after her might try again.

It’s still a pain to drive these country roads, but we reach Flo’s Diner in one piece. Nico drops me off. I’ll meet with Sheriff Mills, while he takes care of the supply run.

“I’ll pick you up when you’re ready,” he tells me just as I’m about to shut the passenger door. “You’ve got the slugs, right?”

“And the USB drive,” I reply, patting the bag on my shoulder.

“We should be able to get cell reception soon, too.”

That doesn’t excite me as much, mainly because I know Anya will try to reach out to Aleks as soon as the cell tower is back up. I give my brother a nod and go into the diner, but not before I glance up and down Main Street.

It’s quiet. Cars drive by slowly, as the entire district comes out of two weeks of hibernation.

“Chance!” Marie, one of the waitresses, says as soon as I step through the door. “We weren’t sure when we’d see you again with this blizzard! How are you and your brothers?”

“We made it,” I reply with a broad smile.

“You keep surprising us,” Marie giggles. “Big-city boys turned big mountain men.”

“We’ve adapted quite nicely,” I say and take a seat at the counter. “How are we doing on coffee this morning?”

Marie gives me a wink. “Saved you some of my Colombian roast, you know, in case you survived the snow.”

The fine smell titillates my olfactory senses, but my eyes stay sharp and cautious. “Have you seen Sheriff Mills?

“Not yet, but he did call ahead for a Rugged Breakfast to go, and the kitchen is just about ready with it,” she says and brings my coffee over. “Here you go.”

“Thank you,” I reply and drop a bill on the counter. “Throw in a bear claw and keep the change, please.”

“Loading up on carbs, huh?”

I give her a wry smile. “There’s only so much pantry mac and cheese I can stomach in the course of two weeks, Marie.”

While Marie scoops a bear claw out of the pastry display box for me, I look around again, carefully analyzing every person. I recognize most of our neighbors, good folks who generally keep to themselves, lumberjacks and factory workers who commute out of the district, tour guides, and rangers. Seeley Lake may be small, but it’s bustling.

But one chair over at the counter, there’s a guy I don’t recognize. He’s dark-haired, clean-shaven, and handsome, with cold blue eyes and pale skin. He’s a little too well dressed for Seeley Lake, though. Definitely an out-of-towner.

“I’ll bet you don’t get this kind of fairy-tale winter in New York City,” Breonna says, sitting next to this guy, full-on giggles and charm on display. “But you did make me curious about Madison Square Garden in December, Max. I’ll be sure to give that a try next winter.”

“I’d love to be your tour guide,” the man whose name I now know is Max replies with a sly grin. “Hell, I’d show you around the whole city, if you’ll let me. A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be wandering the streets of New York alone.”

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