Page 34 of Shared By the Mountain Men Triplets

Rhett doesn’t say anything right away, but his body language tells me plenty. His jaw is set, and there’s tension in his shoulders.

“Boone has an errand he needs to run in town,” he says finally. “He’ll drive you.”

Boone’s eyebrows lift. He looks almost as surprised by this announcement as I am.

“Isn’t Boone going with you? I’ll be fine.”

Rhett’s eyes are hard. “Fine isn’t a plan.”

“No, but staying inside until I lose my mind isn’t a plan, either.”

Rhett turns his full focus to me, and the kitchen seems to shrink by half. Cade is by the door, silent as usual, watching with an expression that gives nothing away. Boone looks down into his coffee as if it’s suddenly become fascinating.

Rhett steps close enough that I feel the heat of him. “Town is probably safe,” he says in an impossibly deep voice, “but probably doesn’t mean you go alone.”

I should argue, and I want to argue, partly because he’s overbearing and partly because the way he’s overbearing affects my body in inconvenient ways.

I fold my arms across my chest, and three pairs of eyes zero in on the spot for a quick second. “So Boone has an errand.”

Boone lifts his mug in a salute. “An important one.”

“What errand?”

“I’ll know it when I find it.”

Cade’s mouth twitches, but Rhett doesn’t smile.

“What are you planning to do in town?” Rhett’s demanding tone irritates me, but the care beneath it is clear.

“I don’t know. Shop, have lunch, enjoy the change of scenery. I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“You can do all of that, but Boone will be nearby. Make sure your phone is fully charged and keep it handy. Call him if anyone so much as looks at you funny.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, because I can’t help myself.

Something dark flickers in Rhett’s eyes, and Boone clears his throat. Cade opens the door before I can think too deeply about the moment.

“We need to head out.” Rhett gives me a long look. It’s heavy, filled with concern and what looks an awful lot like possession.

Then he and Cade are gone, leaving me alone with Boone, who turns his smile on me. It’s meant to be a harmless smile, but it feels anything but.

Later, during the ride into town, Boone entertains me with tales about trips they’ve guided, and his stories are so engaging I almost forget about the illegal activity happening in the mountains at night.

When we roll down the main street, I scan the businesses’ signs and think about where I want to go first. “Where’s your errand?” I ask Boone.

“Near wherever you’re going to be.”

“How convenient.”

“Very.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re not even going to try to pretend well?”

Boone flattens a hand on his chest as if he’s offended. “Darlin’, you wound me. I always pretend well.”

He makes everything sound like flirtation, but now I notice what’s underneath. He’s charm layered over solid steel.

“I want to go to the general store, but first, I’m going to get a cup of coffee.”