Page 25 of Shared By the Mountain Men Triplets

Cade’s in the hallway now, too. “Turner’s people know someone was on the ridge.”

“They don’t know it was me.”

“You’re a federal biologist from out of town,” he says. “Strangers stand out in Moon Ridge. People talk.”

“I’m not reckless. There’s a lock on my motel room door, and I use it.”

“That lock is decorative.” Now, Boone’s in the hallway too, and it’s not a big hallway. The presence of all three Wilder brothers, standing so close to me in this small space, reminds me why I can’t stay here … all alone with them in their cabin.

“You’re staying here from now on,” Rhett says. “There’s no more discussion.”

I draw myself to my full height, which, admittedly, doesn’t measure up to his. “I don’t take orders from civilians.”

As I glare into his domineering eyes, I see worry there, too, but his method of offering protection is completely out of line.

“After what you saw, those men aren’t going to let this drop,” Cade says, and somehow his words have more weight because he was there and saw the same thing I did.

“My things are at the motel,” I say. “My files are there.”

“We’ll get them,” Rhett says.

“My clothes.” My argument’s weakening, and I’m relieved when Rhett doesn’t look smug.

His tone isn’t as rigid when he says, “We’ll get those, too.”

“You’re all very comfortable rearranging my life.”

Rhett steps closer, even though there was barely any space between us. “No. I’m very uncomfortable with how easily someone else could end it.”

That sends a shudder through me, but I lift my chin. “I’m not helpless.”

“No one said you were,” Boone says.

“And I’m not cargo.”

“No,” Cade says. “You’re not.”

“I’m not something you get to close ranks around just because you’ve decided I’m yours to protect.”

The silence that follows is the kind that changes a room, or a hallway, as the case may be, and I realize too late what I just said.

Yours.

Three sets of eyes darken.

Rhett’s gaze drops to my mouth before he meets my eyes again.

“We haven’t decided anything for you.” His voice is low and tugs at something inside me. “But we are closing ranks. That part isn’t negotiable.”

It should make me angry, and it does, but my pulse is thumping hard. Everything in me that values independence wants to argue, but pride isn’t a safety plan.

I can go back to a motel room with public parking and flimsy locks, or stay in a cabin with three men who’ve already proven they can get me out of trouble.

“Do you even have a spare bedroom?”

Boone grins like he knows the argument’s been won. “We’ll make one.”

“Let’s go get your stuff.” Rhett heads toward the living room, and the rest of us follow. Before he reaches the door, he turns back to me. “Give me your keys.”