Page 41 of Mountain Defender

Yes, I’ve been through things. But so have a lot of other people. Like Gage and his teammates, who put their own lives at risk to protect our country. Who probably saw some of their friends make the ultimate sacrifice.

And what about Winter and Lark? From what Gage told me, they each had their own traumatic experiences. But they made it through. Found their own happy endings, like Isla likes to tell me I’ll find once I finally open up to the possibility.

And I’m lucky, really. I’m alive. I have a job I love. I have friends. I have my sister—though we’ve never really understood each other, she’s still family. And I have Gage.

“You don’t have to play WoW with us,” Gage says, oblivious to my meandering thoughts. “I mean, you’re welcome to, once the doctor clears you for video games. But I won’t be insulted if you’d rather not.”

I look up at Gage, meeting his gaze. There’s something in his expression that strikes a chord in my heart. It’s soft. Affectionate. Almost… hopeful.

“I’d love to play with you. If you don’t think I’ll hold you back? Not knowing how to play and all.”

A smile brightens his face, smoothing out the worried creases between his eyes and across his forehead. “It’s no problem. I can help you level up your character, and it’s really pretty easy to play. Alec’s got plenty of extra computers, so he can bring one over for you to use. One with a good video card, so you’ll be able to appreciate the graphics.”

“That sounds great. I can’t wait.” As we walk towards the woods, the weight on my chest lifts. I take in a cleansing breath, letting the crisp Vermont air fill my lungs. The scent of pine andsoil and a faint hint of flowers wraps around me, a reminder of why I wanted to live near the woods to begin with.

“Okay.” He grins at me. “I’ll talk to Alec about the computer. It might be a little longer before you can actually play, but I can get the game installed for you. Make sure all the drivers are updated. So when the doctor gives the all-clear, you’re ready to go.”

I’m still looking at Gage, so I don’t notice the obvious rock in my path until I trip right over it. But before I can take a second, stumbling step, Gage wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against him.

“Are you okay?” he asks. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“I’m fine,” I answer in a gasp, my breath stolen not from fear, but the feeling of his arm around me again. Of feeling his warmth seeping into me, his citrusy-pine scent, absorbing the look in his eyes and the handsome lines of his face. Of wanting so badly to kiss him, to find out if my wistful fantasies are as good as the real thing.

Gage glances down at the offending rock and kicks it to the side. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Though I know I shouldn’t, I lean against him, letting my head rest on his shoulder for a second. “Totally fine. I wasn’t looking where I was going. That’s all.”

He stares at me for a second, assessing. Then his mouth curves up, apparently appeased by what he sees. “Okay. Are you good to keep going, then?”

“Of course. I’ve been wanting to look around the property more. And with the sun out, it’s a perfect day to do it.”

As we start moving through the woods again, I prepare myself for Gage to pull his arm away. For us to walk side by side, no longer touching.

But he doesn’t.

Instead, he rests his hand on the side of my waist, tugging me into his side.

Heat sparks from his touch, sizzling through my body. My heart rolls over. Hope bursts in my chest.

“In case you trip again,” he explains. A beat later, his eyes meet mine again. “If that’s okay?”

It takes me a second to answer. “Yes.”

I loop my arm around his waist and add with a smile, “Just in caseyoutrip.”

His expression softens. “Thanks, Ror.”

And as we continue into the woods, our arms looped around each other, all the bad parts of the morning—of the last week, really—fade away.

Maybe it’s not a kiss. But I’ll take it.

CHAPTER 8

GAGE

I have to tell her.

In the beginning, it didn’t seem necessary. In those first few weeks of visiting Rory at Barks n’ Bliss, we were still getting to know each other. Wearing a prosthetic had nothing to do with it.

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