Page 41 of Mountain Grump Protector

“He met you five minutes ago and immediately decided I was the backup human.” I kiss her on the shoulder.

“He's a smart boy.” She turns and gives me the brightest smile I’ve ever seen on her pretty face. Only a few short days ago, she was nothing but scowls and a wall of toughness. Now…

She belongs here.

With me.

With us.

The thought pops into my head so quickly and unexpectedly, it almost slips out of my mouth.

I almost tell her how much I like all the tea mugs she leaves scattered around my cabin. How her laughter fills the emptiness I’ve felt for too long. How all of it should be driving me crazy, should have me counting down the minutes until I get my quiet existence back. Instead, I’m dreading the end of whatever this is.

Because it doesn’t feel like an intrusion. It feels right.

Dangerously right.

Willow catches me looking at her. She tilts her head and asks, “What?”

I almost tell her.

Almost tell her how I don’t want her to leave at the end of all this. How I want her to stay.

But then I remember why I can’t. There’s a damn good reason I’ve never let anyone in. And until I’m sure I won’t fail her the way I failed before, I keep my mouth shut.

“Nothing,” I lie, and then add, “Why don’t you take him out to play fetch while I get breakfast started?”

Willow

Murph tears after the ball and disappears into the trees.

Again.

He could catch the ball all day, and I think I’d probably be as happy throwing it for him.

I shade my eyes against the morning sun and wait for him to come charging back, but a flash of movement behind the woodshed catches my attention instead.

Instinctively, I take a step back, ready to go running for the shelter of the house. And Cal.

And then I see him.

My brother steps from the shadow, and my breath catches in my throat. The fear is instantly replaced by a flash of anger, followed quickly by concern.

He looks terrible.

His clothes are filthy and torn. It’s only been about a week since I’ve seen him, but he looks like he’s lost weight. Even from a distance, his eyes look tired and are no doubt bloodshot.

I take three quick steps toward him and glance over my shoulder at the house. The kitchen’s on the opposite side of the cabin, so with any luck, Cal hasn’t seen him yet. I know without asking, Bryson’s not likely to be welcomed with the same warmth that Cal offered me. Not after everything he’s done to put me in this position.

“What are you doing here?”

My brother winces. "Good morning to you, too, sis.”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

I close the rest of the distance between us and punch him hard on the shoulder. He barely reacts. Probably because he knows he deserves it. Hell, he deserves a lot more than that. Still, he looks awful, and I can’t bring myself to hit him. No matter how much I want to.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I demand. “Do you have any idea what you’ve put everyone through this time?”