Free Worthy of the Harmony (Mountains & Men Book 2) by R.C. Martin Page A

like Pepper. “Sorry, Soph.”
    “Kitchen,” says Pepper with another nod. “Don’t let the boys see you.”
    We sneak by the living room, where the boys are busy with Maestro, and head into the kitchen. They love my French bulldog; so much so, they haven’t connected the dots that if he’s here, so am I. Once we’re out of sight, Pepper leans against the counter and looks at me intently from over the rim of her cup.
    Unlike Rosy and me, she inherited more of our father’s features. Her skin is milky white, and her shoulder length hair, worn back in a ponytail more times than not these days, is a dark reddish brown color. While Rosy and I both have blue eyes, Pepper got mom’s brown eyes. When we were younger, she used to complain about how different she looked from her younger siblings, but she got over it. She’s beautiful, even now—soft around the edges after giving birth to her third child. She amazes me, really. Except, at the moment, that look in her eye has me feeling more suspicious than anything else.
    “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    “So, I talked to Rose yesterday. She had quite the interesting story to tell me.”
    “Oh, good god!” I groan, rolling my eyes.
    Pepper laughs, her amusement lighting a twinkle in her eye. “We won’t talk about it,” she assures me, for which I am grateful. “But as a fair trade, you have to tell me something. One girl—four weekends. That’s pretty impressive.”
    “I told you. I want her.”
    “So it’s going well? She’s over the age thing?”
    “We’re working on it. I’m taking her out tonight.”
    “Oh, yeah?” she asks, lifting her eyebrows at me. “Where?”
    I clear my throat once before I respond. “Giuseppe’s.”
    She immediately covers her mouth with her hand, but it does nothing to silence her gasp. “You are not taking her there.”
    “It’s where she wants to go. It’s her favorite place. What was I supposed to say, no? ”
    “Oh, Sage. You do want her, don’t you?”
    We’re interrupted by a high pitched scream followed by crying. Pepper sets her coffee down, all thoughts of Millie and Giuseppe’s fleeing her mind as she starts for the next room.
    “Wait—no, no,” I insist, handing her Sophia. “I got it. You get her ready to go.”
    “You’re sure?”
    I give her my best, oh, please , expression. “I’m Uncle Sage. I got this .”
    As soon as I walk into the room, Carter, my two-year-old nephew, looks over at me and instantly stops crying. I can’t help but chuckle as I drop to my hands and knees and crawl toward him and Henley, my four-year-old buddy. I reach out to wipe away Carter’s alligator tears and he smiles at me before he starts chatting. Whatever was bothering him before, it’s certainly not bothering him now.
    Like I said. I’m Uncle Sage. I got this.
     
     

     
    BY SOME MIRACLE, I manage to get through my entire work day without being cornered in a room by Lindsey. I know the day is coming. I know she’ll have endless questions about Sage—my admirer. I haven’t dated anyone since I started working at the college. The last guy I was silly enough to fall in love with left me just before my very first class.
    Literally. Right. Before.
    Needless to say, I haven’t had anyone to talk about. Neither am I a woman who kisses and tells, so it’s not as if she’s heard about every single one-night stand I’ve had over the past two years. I’m sure seeing Sage waiting for me at my office speaks volumes in her mind.
    Then again, to say that it doesn’t speak volumes in my own mind is a lie unworthy of the effort. The same goes for denying the anxious anticipation that has my stomach tingling as I finish my makeup. I’m excited to see him. There’s no point in lying about it. No one would believe me, not even myself. He texted me earlier, warning me what would happen if I backed out at the last minute. When I assured him I wouldn’t, he told me he’d spank me anyway, if I so desired.
    I