Page 8 of Unexpected Love

“Well, I still love you,” I say, pulling her back into my side.

“Gross!” she shouts, pushing me away. “I’m going to get ready for school. Love you, loser.” Liv presses a quick kiss to my cheek before she rushes out of the room.

“You sure you're doing okay?” Mom asks as she sets a plate of eggs in front of me.

“Yeah, Ma, I’m fine.” I smile at her and dig into the food. “What about Liv? She not eating breakfast again?”

“She is. She just doesn’t want the big breakfast anymore. She made herself a fresh bagel this morning.”

“You didn’t need to make all this for me. I can take care of myself, you know.” I keep my tone light, wanting to make sure she knows I’m joking.

“I know, but I like taking care of you.” Mom turns back to the stove and starts cleaning up the mess.

I watch her for a few minutes before asking her about her plans for the day and the rest of the week. It’s a simple conversation—nothing out of the norm—but it’s a comfort all the same. This farm has always been a comfort; one I took for granted.

I may not have wanted to leave the army when I did, but there are definitely worse things that could have happened. If I can’t be there, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

four

GAGE

“Are you ready for this?”Reid, another deputy and my good friend, asks as I walk up to him outside the courthouse later that morning.

“It’s a routine traffic stop violation. Nothing to get nervous about.”

“I always get nervous when dealing with a judge. It doesn’t matter how often I do it or who the judge is,” I hear Reid’s voice as he continues talking, but my attention is dragged away by a woman I’ve never seen before.

Ashford Falls is far from a tourist town. While we get the occasional person driving through, it’s not very often you see them walking up to the courthouse. My traffic violation is indeed an out-of-towner, but she isn’t this out-of-towner.

No, this woman is impossible to forget.

She’s dressed professionally in a matching pantsuit and blazer, with heels that make it seem like her legs go on for days. Though, it’s clear she isn’t tall, definitely no taller than Olivia.Her hair hangs loosely down her back in soft waves, framing her small, heart-shaped face.

She glances over toward Reid and me briefly, and I’m struck by the look in her eyes. Even though she’s looking right at me, I can tell she’s not seeing me—but I see her. I know absolutely nothing about this woman, but her stare is empty as if she’s haunted by something, and I’m instantly curious about her.

Reid pushes my shoulder, bringing my attention back to him. “Have you heard anything I’ve said?”

“No,” I answer honestly, my eyes following the woman as she enters the building. I contemplate leaving her alone for the briefest moment, but realize I can’t ignore the look I saw on her face.

“You’re due in court in ten minutes, Gage!” Reid calls after me as I walk away from him.

“I’ll meet you there,” I say over my shoulder.

I immediately start searching for the woman the second I step into the courthouse and find her easily. She’s standing in the small center atrium, looking at the signs, definitely trying to decipher where to go. And now I don’t have to come up with an excuse to talk to her.

“Can I help you find what you’re looking for?” I ask as I step in front of her.

She doesn’t even glance at me before responding. “No, I’m fine. Thank you, though.”

While she continues standing there, studying the signs around the atrium, I study her. I was right about her appearing taller than she is. Even in her heels I still tower over her, and up close I can see her eyes more clearly now. They’re a pretty hazel color, with a golden ring surrounding them—familiar to me somehow, but I can’t place it.

That emptiness I thought I saw outside is even clearer while standing this close. There’s also a stiffness to her posture, as if she’s waiting to wage war against someone.

Something in me wants to cause physical harm to whoever caused the look in her eye, but I don’t know why when I don’t even know this woman. Maybe it’s just the principle of the whole thing—being in the army and now law enforcement, I always want to find justice when deserved, and anyone who can put a look like that in someone else’s eyes deserves the worst kind of justice.

She still hasn’t moved, and now I’ve been standing here studying her for way too long. I know I’m coming off like a creep, but, even knowing that, I can’t turn away.

Slowly, her eyes move to mine. “You going to stand there staring at me all morning? Or do you have somewhere to be?”

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