Her Mountain Refuge by Laurel Blount

Author:Laurel Blount
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-02-28T20:54:38+00:00

* * *

It was nearly dusk by the time they turned onto the dirt drive leading up to Ruby’s farmhouse. Logan cast a concerned look at Charlotte.

She wasn’t sleeping, although she’d pretended to be most of the drive back from Tennessee. He was worried about her.

He’d insisted on stopping at a steakhouse just inside the Georgia line, sure that she needed to eat something. She’d only picked at her food, though, and that had worried him more.

“Do you want to order something else?” he’d asked. “Maybe some fries for the road?”

She’d shaken her head. “No thanks.”

“You’ve barely eaten anything, Charlotte.” Mama B had packed their pancakes up in a to-go box, but she’d only nibbled at hers.

“Because I’m not hungry,” she’d said sharply.

He’d dropped the subject. Once they were back on the road, she’d flashed him a guilty look.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m tired. And...a little worried about facing your family.”

He’d gathered that much. He just hadn’t figured out why.

Sure, his family would have plenty to say about this—and they’d say it loudly. There was no way around that. There was also absolutely no telling how many of them would be at Ruby’s house. Maggie lived in town, so she was a sure thing. His brother Ryder and sister Torey were within driving distance, so them, too, probably. Nick and Jina were iffier because they lived farther away, but he’d be hearing from them.

His family was closer than most. Each of them had gone without family long enough to appreciate it when they finally got one. They looked after Ruby and each other. When one of them had a problem, they all did. And when one of them celebrated a milestone, they all converged.

A marriage, even one like this, would be considered a milestone. Every one of his siblings would have an opinion about what he’d done, and most of them would be angry that he’d done it without talking it over with them first. Ruby would, too.

But any hard feelings they had would be directed his way. They’d never be unkind to Charlotte. And if for some reason they did cross that line, they’d answer to him.

Logan realized he was scowling at the road. He relaxed and shook his head.

Where had all that come from?

He glanced over at Charlotte. She looked pale, and she was massaging her temples with one hand. He suddenly noticed a thin white scar running along her hairline that hadn’t been there back in high school.

He recalled that telling flinch when he’d leaned down to kiss her in the chapel, and his gut tightened.

Family or not, he and Charlotte needed to have a talk.

They’d reached the fork in the drive, and on impulse he turned the truck to the steeper incline leading up to the cabin. Charlotte peeked through her fingers and frowned.

“Where are we going?”

“To the cabin.”

“But your family—”

“Can wait.”

The old cabin rested peacefully in its clearing, as a spectacular sunset shot pink-and-gold streaks across the sky. As Logan helped Charlotte up to the porch, he heard the faint echo of voices drifting up from the farm.

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