“Not yet.” Sami’s smile turns wistful. “Still working on breaking in. It’s a tough industry. I still have a lot to learn.”
“Don’t do that,” Lainey admonishes gently as she joins us. “Own your talent. Men never downplay their abilities. Why should we?”
Sami laughs, relaxing further. “Fair point.”
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Lainey announces. “Marcus, help me bring everything to the table.”
As everyone moves toward the dining room, I pull Sami back slightly, studying her face. “You sure you’re okay? We can leave if you’re not feeling well.”
“I’m fine,” she insists, though her complexion has a slight greenish tinge. “Everyone’s being so nice. I don’t want to ruin the evening.”
I press my lips to her forehead. “Nothing you do could ruin anything.”
She smiles up at me, and the sight still hits me like a physical blow. One week together, and I’m more certain than ever that she’s it for me. The one I’ve been waiting for without even knowing I was waiting.
“Come on,” I say, leading her toward the dining room. “Let’s get some food in you. Might help settle your stomach.”
Dinner is exactly what I hoped it would be. The conversation flows easily, stories and laughter bouncing around the table. Dad shares embarrassing tales from my childhood while Lainey and Ruby take turns grilling Sami about her life before Fit Mountain. Through it all, I watch her transform from nervous to comfortable to genuinely happy.
This is what I wanted her to see. That she belongs here. With us. With me.
“So, Sami,” Dad says as we’re finishing dessert, “how are you liking Fit Mountain so far?”
She considers the question, her finger tracing the rim of her water glass. “It’s growing on me. The first few months were tough, but lately...” Her eyes meet mine. “Lately it’s starting to feel like home.”
Home. The word echoes in my chest, setting off a chain reaction of possessive satisfaction. She’s mine, and she knows it. Feels it. Is accepting it.
“The mountain has a way of claiming its own,” Dad says, his knowing gaze moving between us. “Some of us just belong here.”
The double meaning isn’t lost on anyone at the table. Ruby giggles into her lemonade while Clay smirks. Lainey just looks smug, like she’s personally responsible for bringing us together.
The rest of the evening passes in a haze of contentment. I catch Dad’s approving nods when he thinks I’m not looking, see the way Ruby and Lainey include Sami in their inside jokes, notice how Clay treats her with the same respectful warmth he shows the women in our family. Every moment confirms what I already knew, that she fits here perfectly.
By the time we’re saying our goodbyes, Sami looks genuinely reluctant to leave. She hugs everyone, promising to come back soon, and I feel another piece of my plan click into place.
“Drive safe,” Lainey calls as we head toward the truck. “And Sami, don’t be a stranger!”
I help Sami into the passenger seat, noting how she still looks a little green around the edges. The queasiness has persisted all evening, though she’s tried to hide it. As I start the engine, concern overrides my satisfaction.
“Feeling any better?” I ask, reaching across to squeeze her thigh.
“A little.” She leans her head back against the seat. “Your family is wonderful, Axel. I can see why you’re so close to them.”
I pull out of the driveway, my headlights cutting through the mountain darkness. “Dad pulled me aside while you were helping Lainey clear dishes. Said you’re a keeper.”
A soft smile crosses her face.
“Your dad is nothing like I expected. After all those stories about mountain men and their possessive tendencies, I thought he’d be more intimidating.”
I chuckle at that. “Trust me, he can be terrifying when he wants to be. Ask any guy who ever looked at Lainey wrong.”
“I can’t believe they’ve only been married two years. They seem like they’ve been together forever.”
“That’s how it works around here.” I glance at her. “When you know, you know.”
The weight of my words settles between us. She doesn’t argue, doesn’t roll her eyes like she might have a week ago. Progress. She’s accepting our reality.
“Did you see how Ruby kept trying to get me alone to quiz me about us?” Sami laughs, relaxing further into her seat. “She’s persistent.”
