“Hey, sweet Luna, you hear that? Your mama says you can choose a boyfriend for her. What do you think of that?” Chassie asked, amusement shining from her eyes.
Luna stopped fiddling with the bear’s bow, cocked her head as she looked at me and said, “Okay.” Then she went right back to playing with her new plushie.
Rolling my eyes, I gave Chassie a swipe on the arm. “I was teasing. I’m off men for the time being. Once I find a job and get Luna enrolled in pre-K, life is going to be too busy for that. So, when are we leaving for Finn and Sami’s place? I could use a shower.”
“And a snack!” Luna chimed in. Her pigtails flying as she jumped up and down. Where her endless energy came from, I still hadn’t figured out. I don’t remember being so active at that age. I loved a good nap when I was four. Still do. And Luna had refused naptime when she was two and a half.
“We’ve got you both covered. Luna, I just bought a bunch of snacks. You like carrots? How about celery sticks with peanut butter?” Chassie teased.
Luna dramatically fainted backward onto the bed, then poked her tongue out, her little eyes squeezed shut.
“Hmm, I’ll take that as a no. Okay, maybe graham crackers are more your style?” My sister kept her voice even and serious.
“I like graham crackers, but cookies are better. Do you have any of those Auntie Chassie?”
“Yes, your auntie will always have cookies for you, sweetie. Let’s go get some so your mom can freshen up.” Scooping up her squealing niece, I watched my sister and my daughter begin the bonding process on their way to eat cookies together. If there was any doubt about my decision, it quickly disappeared as their voices faded down the hallway.
An hour later, after a restoring shower and change of clothes, we headed over to visit our brother and his family. It was close enough that we walked, and thoughts of the handsome, younger man and his sculpted form glistening in the late afternoon sun wouldn’t let up.
What was wrong with me? I’d never been this fixated on outward appearances with any of the men I’d dated. Perhaps it was simply not having sex in over a year, or it could be the mountain setting and the teasing of my friends in Texas that, like my sister, I’d find my own mountain man.
Highly unlikely.
Sami, my new sister-in-law, was so welcoming, and I admired the home she and West had created. My niece and nephew, Naomi and Theo, were adorable, and Luna, as the oldest of the little trio, was in heaven as they ran through the house playing. It was hard not to imagine myself having this life because once that was the dream.
Kane and Finn were stretched out on the couch in the front room, while Sami, Chassie, and I were at the dining room table, a glass of wine in front of us. Relaxed for the first time in forever, without thinking too much about how it would sound, I mentioned the hot guy without the shirt.
Chassie’s eyes widened, then she groaned. Sami just grinned.
“Sounds like Vic. He’s Lars’ brother. His much younger brother. I’ve heard he fancies himself a ladies’ man. I’m sure you won’t be seeing him again.” Chassie stressed the last part of her statement.
“Hmm. We’re pretty tight nit around here, Chas. I’m sure they’ll run into each other eventually.” Sami finished her glass and rose from the table. “I’ll go check on the kids. They’ve gone too quiet for my comfort.”
Left alone with Chassie, I wanted to reassure her I had no intention of dating anytime soon. Especially not with someone who lived on the mountain. “I was just curious, that's all.”
“That’s cool. He’s good-looking, sure. But he’s made it clear to all of us he’s not wanting to get married anytime soon. And I know that’s not what you’re looking for either. At least not for a while, right? So, whatever you do, don’t encourage him. Unless you’re looking for a fling. Are you?”
“Don’t worry, sis. I’m not sure I’ll ever let a man get that close again. And unlike you, I don’t buy into the premise that love can happen instantly. So, it’s me and Luna against the world for the foreseeable future.” And I believed every word.
CHAPTER THREE
VIC
Two days had gone by since Chassie’s sister had arrived, and I still hadn’t had an actual conversation with her. Not that I’d tried. But I’d thought about it. A lot. I’d seen her around as I finished up the punch list for my cabin. The inspector just left, and I should have the official occupancy clearance within the week. However, I wasn’t waiting. Rules were never my thing. Just ask my brothers and sisters. They were all shocked when I’d gone into the military.
As the youngest, I’d have my fill of taking orders, but I also didn’t know what the hell I wanted to do with my life, so it seemed like a good idea. And when my second tour was up, I was out.
As if I’d conjured them, three enormous shadows fell across the steps leading up to the porch of my new home. Lars and my two other brothers, Sven and Axel, because I’d know those shapes anywhere.
Wonder what had brought them here? It had been almost two years since I’d seen any of my siblings and our mom. In fact, Lars and I had never spent so much time together as we had in the past few months since I arrived. Maybe they were getting jealous. Releasing a snort at the unlikely reason, I turned around.
They were both taller than me, almost as tall as Lars but not as heavily muscled as he was. They used to intimidate me when I was a scrawny teenager, but over the last eight years I’d finally filled out, worked out till I dropped, and could now hold my own should they decide to start anything. Shaking my head, it’s a wonder my mother had ever survived the teenage years.
“What the hell are you two up to?” I took the hit to my arm from Axel and was just about to put Sven in a headlock when Lars pulled me back.
“Knock it off. We have an audience, you buffoons.” Lars raised an arm and waved. “Good morning. You out exploring?” The gentle tone threw me until I looked over his shoulder and saw the tiny tot who stood staring wide-eyed at the four of us.
“Hi, my name is Luna. Are you giants?” Luna tipped her head to the side, a serious expression on her face. She was gripping the straps of her pink backpack and calmly waited for one of us to answer.
