Page 93 of Bossy Mountain Daddies
He pulls me in tighter. I bury my face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. Then Ford is there too, his arms wrapping around both of us, and finally Griff, completing the circle.
We stand there in the entryway of Devil's Pass, holding each other tight, oblivious to the curious stares of the customers. I don't care who sees us. I don't care what anyone thinks. All that matters is that I'm here, with them, and they're holding me like they never want to let go.
"I'm so sorry," I manage to say when we finally pull apart. "I shouldn't have left like that. The note was... it wasn’t enough. You deserved better."
"You're here now," Griff says, his voice catching. "That's what matters."
"But what I did was shit." I look between them, searching their faces for signs of the anger or resentment I deserve.
"True," Ford says simply. "But we understand why you left. The fear of judgment. Daniel seeing us together?—"
"I don't care about that anymore," I interrupt, needing them to understand. "I don't care what Daniel says or posts or who finds out. I was letting fear control me, and I lost sight of what really matters." I take a shaky breath. "Which is how I feel when I'm with you. All of you."
Buck's smile spreads slowly across his face, creating those crinkles around his eyes that I've missed so much. "And how do you feel when you're with us?"
"Like I'm home," I whisper. "Like I belong."
Griff's hand finds mine, his calloused palm warm against my skin. "You do belong, Skye. Here. With us."
"We missed you," Ford adds, his blue eyes intense.
"I missed you too. So much it hurt." I squeeze Griff's hand, reaching for Buck's with my other. "Can you forgive me?"
"Already done," Griff says.
"Nothing to forgive," Buck insists.
Ford nods in agreement. "We're just glad you came back."
The door swings open behind us, and we step aside to let a customer pass. The movement reminds me that we're standing in the middle of the bar, putting on quite a show for the dinner crowd.
"I should have called first," I say, suddenly self-conscious. "I didn't think?—"
"If you'd called, I would've told you to get your ass back here immediately," Buck says with a grin. "So this worked out perfectly."
A bark cuts through the moment, and I look down to see Loverboy prancing around our feet, his tail wagging so hardhis whole back-end shakes. Behind him, Vanna stands with her hands on her hips, trying to look stern but failing miserably.
"Well, well," she says, eyeing me up and down. "Look what the cat dragged in."
My stomach tightens. Of everyone here, Vanna has the most right to be angry with me. After all, she warned me not to hurt them the way Miranda did.
"Vanna, I?—"
She cuts me off by pulling me into a tight hug. "Shut up," she murmurs against my hair. "I'm just glad you came to your senses."
When she pulls back, her eyes are suspiciously bright. "Now, go change into some beer-slinging clothes and help a girl out. We're short-staffed, and the dinner rush is about to hit full swing."
I laugh through my tears, relief washing over me. "Yes, ma'am."
"Your room's available," Griff says. "If you need a place to stay."
A fresh wave of emotion rushes through me. "Thank you," I manage to say.
"Go on," Ford urges gently. "We'll be here when you come back down."
I head back to Poppy to grab my bag before racing back inside and up the stairs to my room.
I change quickly into jean shorts and a t-shirt. As I head back downstairs, I can't stop smiling. The bar is even busier now, the dinner rush in full swing. I grab an apron from behind the bar and tie it around my waist.
