Page 38 of Mountain Defender

“It’s a barn,” I say, announcing the obvious. My cheeks warm. “I mean, of course it’s a barn. I guess… I was expecting…”

“Something different?” Gage puts his hand on the small of my back as he leads me towards it. He glances down at me, his lips curving into a smile. “We tossed around a lot of ideas in the beginning. Modern, rustic, even something underground, but when Knox brought up the barn concept, it just seemed right. Like it fits in here.”

“It does. I like it.”

“Wait til you see inside. We’ve got—” He stops. Gives a rueful grin. “I guess I don’t need to describe it to you when you’ll see it for yourself.”

At the side door, Gage punches in a complicated code on the keypad beside it, then waits while a retinal scan verifies his identity. A second later, the door unlocks with a click and he pushes it open, gesturing for me to go in ahead of him.

Once we get inside, my anxiety takes a backseat to curiosity as I look around.

It’s an expansive space, with a huge open office area flooded with natural light. On one wall there must be a dozen monitors mounted on it, all of them showing a different view of the GMG property. Beneath them is a long desk, at least ten feet long, with six computers set along it.

On the opposite wall, there’s a sitting area with several comfortable-looking couches facing an enormous TV. A fully stocked kitchen sits in the far right corner, done up in the samestyle as the one in my cabin, with butcher block counters and modern appliances. Several doors lead to what I’m guessing must be private offices, or possibly storage rooms for all their equipment.

In the center of the room is a long, glossy wooden table surrounded by leather office chairs, four of them already taken.

Within seconds of coming in, they all stand up, lifting their chins nearly in unison.

Enzo’s at the head of the table—having met him at the shelter, I recognize him immediately—and he gives me a friendly wave. Ronan—who I met yesterday when he stopped by my cabin—follows with a smile and a, “Hey, Rory. How’s it going?”

Alec I haven’t met yet. After Gage let his team know about the shooting, they decided to have Alec stay at the GMG property to make sure it was secure while Ronan came to my place as backup for Gage. But I can tell who he is from the photos Gage has shown me, just as I can tell the tall, dark-haired man with a beard is Knox.

“Rory.” Enzo walks towards me with his hand outstretched. “How are you holding up?”

As I shake his hand, I reply, “I’m good. And I’ve been wanting to thank you. I really appreciate you and Winter going to my house to get some of my things. And going shopping, and setting up my cabin…” A beat later, I amend with a small grimace, “Yourcabin. Sorry. That’s another thing I want to thank you for. Letting me stay on your property. It’s just been…”

Trailing off, I notice everyone staring at me.

Heat rushes to my cheeks.

I have to dig my nails into my palms to keep from fussing with my hair, a habit I fall back on whenever I’m feeling uncomfortable.

“Sorry,” I mumble at the floor. “I’ll just shut up now.”

“Don’t apologize,” Gage says. His voice is a warm blanket wrapping around me. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Absolutely not,” Enzo adds. “And the cabin is yours while you’re here. Okay?”

Knox smiles. “Lark said the same thing when she stayed here.” He pauses. “Are you comfortable there? Is there anything that needs to be fixed? I always check the cabins before anyone moves in, but it’s possible I missed something.”

Somehow, I find myself in front of the conference table, with Gage’s hand still on my back. He pulls out a chair and I slide into it. When he takes the one next to mine and rolls it a little closer, some of the nervous flutters in my stomach subside. “It’s perfect,” I tell Knox. “I can’t believe you built it.”

“There’s a reason we keep him around,” Alec adds with a chuckle. “For all the free repair work.” He leans across the table to shake my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Rory. After hearing so much?—”

“Anyway,” Gage interrupts. “How about if we all introduce ourselves to Rory, and then we can get started. I’d like to make this as quick and painless as possible.”

“It’s okay,” I start, turning to him.

“No.” His expression sobers. “The sooner we’re done, the sooner you can get home to rest. I know you didn’t sleep well last night. And with your concussion, and all the—” He stops. A muscle in his jaw twitches. More softly, he continues, “I just don’t want the stress to slow your recovery, Ror. That’s all.”

Oh.

My heart goes all melty.

“I’ll rest after this,” I tell him. “I promise.”

Enzo coughs, drawing our attention to him. A tiny smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth. “If we’re ready, then?”

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