Chapter Nine
MATT
I toss and turn on the couch, unable to settle. The wind howls outside, a constant reminder of the storm that brought us here, but it's not the wind keeping me awake. It's her—Eliza. The way she came to me, unable to sleep alone, the vulnerability in her voice when she made that offer.
She invited me into her bed, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Part of me wishes I’d said yes, but I’m torn. I have to be more than the guy she turns to when she’s scared or lonely. She has to choose me because she truly wants me—not out of comfort, but for something deeper.
I shift again, my back stiff from the unforgiving cushions. The ache in my muscles is nothing compared to the knot of uncertainty twisting in my chest. Did I do the right thing? Or am I fooling myself, holding back when I should've let her see how much I care?
I slip off the sofa and make my way to the main room, the wooden floor cold beneath my bare feet. The bedroom door is still closed, and I hear Eliza's soft, steady breathing from within. She's still asleep, and I'm grateful for that. After everything she's been through, she deserves the rest.
I tiptoe to the kitchen, intent on making coffee. As I reach for the grounds, my hand hesitates. The memory of yesterday's panic attack flashes through my mind, and I have to take a steadying breath. Not today, I tell myself. I won't let the past control me.
I open the cupboard, surprised and relieved to see a brand-new coffeepot—likely left by one of Eliza's brothers. A small gesture, but it feels like a lifeline this morning. I fill the pot with water, the simple act grounding me in the present.
As the coffee brews, I lean against the counter, breathing in the warm, soothing aroma that fills the room. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, facing the day feels a bit more manageable now. And with Eliza here, maybe I can be more than her safe haven.
I reach for the coffeemaker when a knock at the door makes me freeze.
My heart skips a beat. Through the window, I glimpse Kane standing outside, his expression as stern as ever. Shit.
For a second, I glance toward the bedroom door, listening for any sign of Eliza stirring. Nothing. My pulse quickens as I turn back to the front door, my feet moving toward it. I pause, taking a breath before I grip the handle and open it.
“Morning, Kane,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual despite the knot forming in my stomach.
Kane's eyes narrow. “Morning. Is Eliza here?”
The creak of the bedroom door interrupts the conversation. Eliza steps out, her hair tousled, still in yesterday's clothes. My pulse quickens. This is going to be hard to explain.
“Kane,” she says, surprise and a hint of defiance in her voice. “What are you doing here so early?”
“I went to check on you at the cabin. When you weren't there, I got worried.” Kane's gaze flicks between us, his jaw tightening.
If Kane thinks we're involved, it could complicate things—fast. I’m not talking about an awkward conversation.
I mean Kane, or any of her brothers for that matter, seeing me as a threat, as someone who's taking advantage of Eliza when she's vulnerable. And that’s not something they’d let slide easily.
My pulse quickens. Kane isn’t the type to talk things out—he’s more likely to drop something heavy on me while we’re fixing the lodge.
Or worse, force me to leave altogether. And if that happened, where would that leave Eliza?
Where would that leave me? Finn might never speak to me again.
And as much as I’d try to walk away with my head held high, losing the chance to be here with her, to be part of her life, would hurt more than I’m willing to admit.
“It's not what you think,” Eliza starts, but Kane holds up a hand.
“Save it,” he says, his voice gruff. “We've got work to do. The supplies will be here in an hour.”
With that, he turns and stalks off, leaving Eliza and me standing in the doorway, the unspoken words hanging between us.
Eliza sighs. “Well, that could have gone better.”
“Your brother's going to kill me, isn't he?” I whisper.
Eliza gives me a reassuring look. “Kane won't do anything.”
“Are you sure? Because that look he gave me ... I think I saw my life flash before my eyes.”
She shakes her head. “Nothing happened. Kane will realize that once he calms down.”
“Try telling that to Kane's face,” I say, peeking out the door.
My stomach knots at the thought of confronting him—and the four other brothers who won't hesitate to back him up.
“I swear, Eliza, I can already feel the bruises forming.” I close the door quickly, the tension rising in my chest. “Will you promise me one thing?”
“What's that?”
“If Kane kills me, make sure they write 'Died heroically in his sleep' on my tombstone. It sounds better than 'Murdered for being a gentleman.'“
Eliza laughs. “You'll be fine. I promise.”
I feel a little lighter. The comfort we shared last night feels distant now, but seeing her laugh, even for a moment, takes the edge off. It's a reminder that maybe, despite everything, we can still find moments of ease between us.
“I should go change,” she says, tugging at the oversized clothes she borrowed from Matt and already moving toward the door. “I'll see you at the lodge in a bit?”
“Yeah, of course,” I reply, watching her go.
As the door closes behind her, I exhale slowly, tension easing from my shoulders.
A whole day working side by side with her.
I should look forward to it, and part of me does.
But another part wonders how I’m going to get through it without revealing how much I want more than friendship.
How am I supposed to be a gentleman all day when all I can think about is how much I want to kiss her?
I get ready for the day ahead. There's work to be done, regardless of personal complications or an angry, hulking brother.
An hour later, I'm at the main lodge, helping to unload supplies from the newly arrived trailers.
Several heavy-duty ATVs are parked nearby, their engines cooling after the arduous trip up the mountain.
Kane, Rhys, and Reid are already hard at work, their movements efficient and practiced.
It's clear they know these buildings inside and out.
Eliza arrives, looking determined but out of her element. As we distribute the supplies—construction materials, tools, and essentials—I overhear Kane talking to her.
“Heard from Finn this morning,” he says, hefting a box of nails. “He's trying to get back, but Hank can't fit him into the charter schedule yet.”
“At least he knows what's happening,” she says. “Did you tell him we're handling it?”
Kane nods. “Of course.”
As the day progresses, I watch Eliza navigate her role. She's not really in charge. Her brothers' experience and familiarity with the buildings naturally put them at the forefront of the repair efforts. But she's there, learning and helping. Her determination is obvious in every task she tackles.
I admire her adaptability. It can't be easy, wanting to prove yourself capable while working alongside family members who've been doing this for years.
I see the occasional flash of frustration in her eyes when one of her brothers takes over a task she was working on, but she always rallies, finding another way to contribute.
As I watch the Hollister siblings work together, a bittersweet ache settles in my chest. An only child raised by a single mom who worked two jobs, I never had anything like this.
Despite my construction experience, there's something different about working alongside family—about having people who get it.
“Hey, Matt,” Rhys calls out, interrupting my thoughts. “Could you give me a hand with this support beam? We have to make sure it's properly anchored.”
Working alongside them, I open up more than I have in years. I share stories from my time in construction, offer suggestions based on my experience, and even crack some jokes. Now and then, I catch Eliza laughing at something I've said, or we share a glance across the worksite.
It's those moments that make me feel like I belong here, like this could be my place—not only with her family, but with her. It feels satisfying to be part of a team again, to use my skills for something constructive instead of dwelling on past mistakes.
By mid-afternoon, we've made significant progress on the lodge.
The great room, once a wreck of shattered glass and broken beams, is starting to take shape again.
The vaulted ceiling rises high above us, with exposed wooden beams now reinforced and secure.
Sunlight streams through the tall windows on the eastern wall, where Reid crouches, fitting the last pane into place.
Near the stone fireplace at the far end, Rhys and Kane work on a ladder, securing the new metal panels for the roof, their muffled voices occasionally carrying across the space.
The crackling fire in the hearth, though subdued, offers a gentle reprieve from the chill that lingers in the air.
In the center of the room, Eliza and I tackle the remaining debris.
Together, we've swept away splintered wood and fragments of glass, clearing the floor to reveal the worn but sturdy planks beneath.
As we pause for a quick break, Eliza approaches me with two bottles of water in hand, her cheeks flushed from the effort and the cold.
“You're fitting in well,” she says, handing me one bottle. “I think my brothers are impressed.”
I accept the water gratefully. “If by 'fitting in well' you mean your brothers haven't tossed me off the roof yet, then yes, I'd say I'm doing great.”
Eliza laughs, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Give yourself some credit, Matt. They like you.”
“Thanks,” I say. “They're great guys. It's been ... nice, working with all of you like this.”
Eliza tilts her head, studying me. “You know, it's refreshing to see you opening up. You seem more relaxed today.”
I take a sip of water, considering her words. “Yeah, I guess I have been. It's been a long time since I've felt part of something like this. Working together, joking around ... it feels right, but—”
“But?” Eliza prompts, her blue eyes searching mine.
I sigh. “But it also reminds me of what I never had—family, people who have your back no matter what. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to be here. It's ... bittersweet, I guess.”
As soon as I say it, I regret it. The light mood we had been sharing shifts, and I feel a pang of guilt. I didn't mean to bring things down. I needed her to understand.
Eliza's expression softens, and she places a hand on my arm. Her touch is warm, grounding me. “Matt, I'm sorry. I didn't realize.”
I shake my head. “You don't have to apologize,” I say, trying to keep things from getting too heavy. “It's not bad. Honestly, it's nice to see. And ... it feels good to be a part of it, even if it's only for a little while.”
Eliza opens her mouth to respond, but before she can, Kane's voice rings out, calling us back to work. As we return to our tasks, Eliza squeezes my arm.
“You know,” she whispers, “family isn't always about blood. Sometimes it's about who shows up when you need them the most.”
Her words stay with me, providing a comforting balance to the cold outside as we continue working.
As the sun sets, we wrap up for the day. Despite the underlying tension from this morning's awkward encounter, we've made progress.
Kane gathers everyone for a quick debrief. As he speaks, I notice how Eliza stands a little straighter, her chin lifted with pride at what we've accomplished.
Our eyes meet as Kane finishes speaking, and I catch a flicker of something in Eliza's gaze. It’s the kind of look that steals the air from my lungs—soft, unguarded, and laced with something that feels like longing.
But it’s gone in an instant, her eyes shifting away before I can convince myself it was real.
I have to remind myself not to read into it.
After all, we're in the middle of a crisis, and Eliza has more important things to worry about than whatever this is between us.
But I can't shake the memory of last night—her asking me to share her bed.
Maybe it meant nothing, but the way she's looking at me now makes me wonder if there's more to it.
That look lingers in my mind, making it hard to focus on anything else.
As everyone leaves, Kane appears at my side.
“Look, Matt,” he says, his voice low, “I can see you're fitting in well here, and I appreciate your help. But don't forget, this is temporary for you. When you leave...”
He pauses, his jaw tightening as he chooses his words.
“Eliza's been through a lot. Her ex in college .
.. it wasn't simply a nasty breakup. He took advantage of her trust, and it shattered her confidence in people.
It took her a long time to rebuild, to feel like herself again.
We all watched her struggle with that. I don't want to see her go through anything like that again—especially when you go.”
Kane's words land like a gut punch, forcing me to face the reality of my situation. I meet his gaze with all the steadiness I can muster. “I get it, Kane. Hurting Eliza is the last thing I'd ever want. I care about her, and I respect your family too much for that.”
Kane studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable, then he adds, “Remember, we're the ones who'll be here picking up the pieces if things go south.”
His words linger long after he walks away, a sobering reminder of the reality I'll soon face. The thought of leaving cuts deeper than I expected, especially now—with Eliza, with this place—when everything feels so much more important than when I arrived.