This feels like more than just sex. It feels like belonging. Like the start of something real and lasting.
And as Eli turns me in his arms and kisses me slow and sweet under the shower spray, I know I never want to leave this cabin, this mountain, or this man.
I am exactly where I am meant to be.
TWELVE
ELI
The next morning feels different. Quieter. Easier. Daisy wakes up in my arms with a slow, sleepy smile that hits me straight in the chest. We linger in bed longer than we should, trading lazy kisses and soft touches until the sun is fully up and her stomach growls loud enough for both of us to hear it.
I make us breakfast while she showers. Simple things. Eggs, toast, fresh coffee. She comes out wearing one of my flannel shirts again, sleeves rolled up, hair damp and curling at the ends. She looks like she belongs here. The thought settles deep and warm inside me.
After we eat I stand and offer her my hand. “Come on. I want to show you the property. Properly this time. Not just the path between the cabin and the lodge.”
Her eyes light up. “I would love that.”
We bundle up against the cold and step outside. The snow is crisp under our boots, the air sharp and clean. I keep her hand in mine as we walk, matching my pace to hers even though her ankle is almost back to normal.
I start with the garage. It’s a large metal building tucked behind the main lodge. I slide the big door open and flip on the lights. The space is filled with vehicles. Trucks, SUVs, a couple of ATVs, and an old Jeep we keep for rough terrain.
“These are the workhorses,” I tell her. “We keep everything maintained and fueled. In winter we rotate tires and add chains. If anything happens up here we need to be able to move fast.”
Daisy walks between the rows, trailing her fingers along the hood of one of the trucks. “You all really prepare for anything, don’t you?”
“We try. Living on a mountain teaches you that fast.”
Next I take her to the armory. It’s a reinforced concrete building with a heavy steel door. I punch in the code and let her step inside. Racks of rifles, handguns, ammunition, and tactical gear line the walls. Everything is organized and locked down.
Her eyes widen but she doesn’t look scared. Just thoughtful. “This is for protection?”
“Mostly. We don’t go looking for trouble, but we’re ready if it finds us.” I rest a hand on her lower back. “You’re safe here, Daisy. I need you to believe that.”
She nods slowly. “I’m starting to.”
From there we walk to the workshop. It’s my favorite building on the property. The smell of sawdust and wood stain hits me the second I open the door. Tools hang neatly on the walls. Half-finished projects sit on workbenches.
Daisy steps inside and breathes in deep. “This smells amazing.”
I smile despite myself. “This is where I come when I need to clear my head. I build furniture. Nothing fancy. Just solid pieces that last.”
She walks over to a large oak dining table I’ve been working on for the last few months. Her fingers trace the grain. “This is beautiful, Eli. Did you make the furniture in your cabin too?”
“Yeah. All of it. The bed frame, the kitchen table, the bookshelves, even the coffee table. It calms me. After the war I needed something to do with my hands that wasn’t patching people up or holding a gun. Building things helps. It reminds me I can create instead of just destroy.”
She turns to me, eyes soft. “I love that. It makes the cabin feel even more like home knowing you made everything in it.”
The word “home” lands warmly in my chest. I pull her closer and kiss the top of her head. We spend a long time in the workshop. I show her the rocking chair I’m making for Harper and Rafe’s porch, the small bookshelf I started for Aidan’s room, the simple nightstand I’ve been sanding for my own cabin. Daisy asks questions about tools and wood types. She listens like she really cares. It feels good to share this part of myself with her.
After the workshop I walk her past the other cabins. We don’t go inside any of them, but I point each one out and tell her a little about who lives there.
“Rafe and Harper are in the big one closest to the lodge. They have the most room because of Poppi. Gavin and Kayley are two down from them with Aidan. Rhett and Emma are on the far side. Chase and Fiona are next to them. Silas and Hannah have the one furthest back. Boyd, Harlan, Thorne, and Wyatt eachhave their own smaller places. Everyone has space but we’re close enough to help if anyone needs it.”
Daisy looks at the row of sturdy log cabins nestled among the pines. “It really is like a family here.”
“It is. Found family, but family all the same.”
We head back toward my cabin as the sun starts to dip lower. The walk feels slower now, more relaxed. Daisy slips her hand into mine and leans against my side. The quiet between us is comfortable. No pressure. No fear hanging over every word.
