Page 11 of Surrendering To The Forbidden Mountain Man

"Took you long enough," he says. "Don't hurt her, Reid. Or I'll kill you. Night."

He hangs up.

I sit in the truck in my driveway for a long time, engine off, staring at the mountains through the windshield.

Sunday. Ray Cross's house. Dinner.

And for the first time in three years, the silence doesn't feel empty. It feels like a holding pattern before something good.

Chapter Four

MIRA

Four days of texts. Four days of Reid Holloway communicating in complete sentences for what might be the first time in his adult life.

Reid:

Ben says he's fine with it.

Me:

I know. He called me.

Reid:

He threatened to kill me.

Me:

That's how Ben says he loves you.

Reid:

Sunday. Your dad's place. I'll be there at six.

Me:

Dinner's at seven.

Reid:

I know.

He shows up at 5:45. Because of course he does.

My father opens the door, and Reid is standing on the porch in clean jeans, a dark flannel with the sleeves pushed up, and boots that look like he actually polished them. His jaw is freshly shaved. The silver at his temples catches the porch light.

Dad extends his hand. Reid takes it. They shake once, firm, the way men do when something important is being communicated without words.

"Reid." My father's voice is steady. "Been a while since you sat at my table."

"Yes, sir."

"Mira says you kissed her."

My face flames. "Dad."

"Just establishing the facts." He steps back to let Reid in. "Beer's in the fridge. Don't call me sir. You've known me since you were fourteen."