Page 37 of Mountain Defender

“But didn’t Enzo and Knox come back early just to help with the case?” In the wake of the shooting yesterday, they decided to leave Boston late last night, once their job was done, instead of returning this afternoon as originally planned.

“Yes, but they don’t have to sit in on the meeting. I can fill them in later.” He pauses. “It’s not that I don’t think you can handle it, Ror. I know you can. But after… Well. It’s been a rough week. And I don’t want to cause you more stress than necessary.”

“I know.” I twist in my seat to face him. “And I appreciate it. But I’ve been thinking. If they’re willing to disrupt their lives to help with my case, the very least I can do is meet with everyone.”

“They’re happy to help,” Gage protests. “It’s not a disruption. Not with a regular case, anddefinitelynot with you.”

As he looks at me, an indecipherable emotion moves across his features, disappearing before I have the chance to examine it.

But the way he emphasized the worddefinitelymakes my heart jump.

Did he say it that way because I helped Gage and Enzo find doggie companions, waiving the adoption fees as soon as I discovered they were both veterans?

Was it because he considers me a friend, just as I think of him as mine?

Could it possibly have meant more?

Is there a possibility, however slim, that Gage might feel more than simple friendship towards me?

A week ago, I wouldn’t have considered it. I thought we were securely in thejust friendszone.

I told myself Gage could never see me as anything more.

But after spending so much time together over the last few days, a little voice in my head keeps whispering,what if?

What if he feels even a fraction of what I do for him?

Could he? Despite my scars?—

But he hasn’t seen all of them, has he?

The ones on my face, yes. Perhaps a glimpse of one or two on my arms. But to see all of them? The ones on my legs and stomach that never faded no matter how many creams and lotions I slathered on them? The scars that my crush in college referred to as disgusting the moment he saw them?

Ugh.

Who am I kidding? Even if Gage was interested in me, it couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t bear to see the look of disappointment in his eyes if we ever got to the point of intimacy. I don’t think he’d be cruel. Not like douchenozzle Darren, as Isla called him, was back in college. But it would change things. I could lose a friend I’ve come to value a lot.

No. Friends is better. Safer.

“Ror?” Gage touches my arm. His voice gentles. “If you’re having second thoughts, or you need more time before we meet, that’s okay.”

“I’m good,” I reply. “Really. I’ve already put off the interrogation long enough.”

An unhappy frown thins his lips. “It won’t be like that. Not even close. Enzo will probably ask most of the questions, Alec will be typing away on his laptop, and the rest of us will just be listening. No one’s going to be firing questions at you. And anytime you need a break, just say so. Okay?”

“I was just kidding.” Mostly. I don’t really think Gage’s teammates will act like the police on those procedurals I sometimes catch on TV, with the whole good-cop-bad-cop thing going and the interrogation room thermostat set to near-freezing.

Truthfully, I’m more concerned about being the center of attention, which is something I’ve patently tried to avoid. Having one person staring at me is bad enough, but five? I’d rather not.

Still. I’ve been through much tougher things than this and survived. So I can suck it up and meet with Gage’s team, no matter how uncomfortable it makes me.

“Everyone will be really nice,” Gage promises. He opens the driver’s side door and hops out. “You’ve already met Enzo and Ronan. And Knox and Alec are great.”

Rather than jump out of the truck myself, I wait for him to come around. Partly because I know he’ll insist on it, and also? Because I’ve discovered I like it. I like how it feels when he takes my hand, supporting me with his other as he helps me down. And I like how he lets his fingers linger on my back for a few seconds, ensuring I keep my balance.

Once we’re both outside the truck, Gage tilts his chin in the direction of the barn ahead of us. “Here we are. The newly-constructed headquarters. What do you think?”

Before we got here, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Maybe a cozy wooden cabin like the one I’m staying in, or the polar opposite, a sleek and austere office building fully decked out with the newest technology. But this, I wasn’t anticipating.

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