6 Mountain Brothers for Christmas

“I can,” I said proudly. “In fact, don’t tell anyone this, okay?”

“Okay.” Tommy nodded eagerly.

“I make the best french toast in Telluride,” I said, keeping my voice low and conspiratorial.

“You do?” Tommy asked, his eyes wide.

“Why’s that a secret?” Sarah asked sharply.

I looked at her with a smile, happy that she was finally speaking.

“Because,” I said. “If anyone else found out, they would break down my door every morning just to get some. I can’t have that, can I?”

“I bet they aren’t that good,” Sarah said.

“Sarah,” Sean said, a warning in his voice.

I glanced at him with a soft smile, silently telling him I could handle it.

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to prove it to you, won’t I?” I asked her.

Sarah eyed me for a few seconds. I looked back at her impassively. She was clearly in the challenging phase of childhood that I knew so well. As I watched her, her eyes narrowed, and she folded her arms across her chest.

“Are you going to be our new mommy?” she asked boldly.

Of all the things I expected her to say, this never even crossed my mind. I cleared my throat and shook my head.

“No,” I said kindly. “Of course not. I’m just here to help your daddy out. I’ll be your nanny.”

“What’s a nanny?” Tommy asked.

“It’s kind of like a babysitter,” I said. “Only I’m around more often.”

“Oh.” Tommy nodded, but I turned my attention back to Sarah.

“Is that okay with you, Sarah?” I asked.

Normally, I didn’t give kids this option. Most of them attacked the second they smelled fear, but with Sarah, I knew something was different. She wasn’t challenging me just because she could. She was challenging me because she needed to; because she needed to see me as an ally. It was obvious she missed her mother.

“That’s fine,” she said, her voice lighter now.

“Good.” I smiled and stood up. “I’ll get that french toast going. Sean, would you like some?”

“Gotta eat,” Sean said on a grunt.

When our eyes met, I smiled again and bounced into the kitchen. I couldn’t look at Sean for too long, or I lost myself in his blue eyes and naturally muscular body. They almost made up for his asshole demeanor. As I got breakfast ready, I observed Sean and his kids.

Tommy was obviously shy, and Sarah was bold and rude for her age, but I was sure that was just a defense mechanism. From what I could tell of Sean, he was much more like Sarah than Tommy. He wasn’t shy, but he also wasn’t talkative. He had a distant air about him that made me nervous and curious at the same time.

After I finished cooking, I laid the food down on the table and helped the kids get their plates ready. I cut Sarah’s

toast and poured Tommy’s syrup. When they each took their first bites, their faces lit up with joy, and they quickly devoured the rest.

“More?” I asked. They both nodded, and I put another slice on each of their plates. “I’m glad you like it.”

“This is awesome!” Tommy said. “Dad can’t cook at all.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” I said kindly.