Page 53 of Mountain Defender

When Enzofirst floated the topic, I wasn’t sure about it.

Given how uneasy Rory gets about being around people she doesn’t know well, I was worried a party might be too much for her. Especially on top of everything else she’s dealing with.

But it’s not my place to make decisions for her, no matter how much I might want to shield Rory from things that might be upsetting. After all, she’s thirty-six years old. She’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

Well.

Most of the time, at least. When it comes to decisions about where to live and running her shelter and getting the latest updates on her case—which is another thing I don’t love telling her about—I know Rory can handle it.

Did she like hearing about the disappointing lack of progress in locating the man—or men—who attacked her? Of course not. Was she thrilled when Enzo gently asked if she’d consider using a hypnotherapist to try to get her memories back? Not particularly.

I was sitting beside her during the meeting yesterday, so I saw her face go white at his suggestion. I felt her fingers dig into my leg and heard her sharp intake of breath. But she held it together as Enzo said, “I know it’s not ideal. But this therapist was recommended by a friend of ours. Emily is married to Cage, who works for the Brotherhood Protectors, a security company out in Colorado. She says this therapist is great, very gentle with his techniques, and he’s had a lot of success helping people recover their memories.”

Seeing her reaction, I wanted to pick Rory up and whisk her out of there. I wanted to bring her back to the cabin and do whatever I could to get that worried look off her face. Watch a marathon ofToo Cute. Cook her whatever she wants—or at least, attempt it. Kiss her until she’s flushed and breathless and this screwed up situation is the last thing on her mind.

But I didn’t do any of those things. I just held Rory’s hand and listened as she told Enzo, “I’ll do it. If your friend thinks it’ll work. But maybe… we could wait until after the weekend? Just in case my memory comes back on its own?”

After the meeting, she pretended she was fine. But I could tell she was upset. Worried. On the way back to the cabin, she quietly admitted, “I know I need to remember. It’s the best chance of ending this. But I’m scared to remember, too. Is that crazy?”

It’s not crazy. And I’m not exactly looking forward to watching somehypnotherapist—which I’m still not completely sold on—force Rory into reliving one of the most traumatic experiences of her life.

So is it any wonder I was hesitant about bringing up this impromptu party and potentially putting even more stress on her?

But our friend Leo and his wife, Georgia, are in Vermont for the week, and they wanted to stop by for a visit. Which is fine,of course, we’re always happy to see them. Leo was in the same Green Beret battalion as Enzo, and I know Leo from the years we were both stationed at Fort Campbell. Not to mention, Leo’s part of Blade and Arrow Security, based out of Sleepy Hollow, New York, and his team has been a huge help in getting us started, sending referrals and assisting with some of our cases.

But Leo and Georgia are new to Rory, so I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about meeting them. So when I brought up Enzo’s idea of a game night over breakfast this morning, I followed it with, “It’s not a problem if you’d rather stay here tonight. We can hang out with the dogs, watch a movie, or run through a couple of easy quests inWorld of Warcraftto get you some better equipment.”

She said yes. And in hindsight, I shouldn’t have been surprised. When has Rory ever turned away from a challenge?

Still, I worried.

All day today and on the walk over to Enzo’s house this evening, I worried.

As I introduced Rory to Leo and Georgia, I worried. Leo’s a great guy, and probably one of the nicest people I know, but he’s like Max—tall and intimidating if you don’t know him.

Even as we settled around the dining room table to play our first round of Extreme Jenga, which is an adaptation of the game Leo came up with back in his early days at Fort Campbell, I worried.

Then Rory—my brave, smart, funny Rory—showed me I had nothing to worry about.

Yes, she was quiet at the start of the night. But by the middle of the second Jenga game, she was cheering and laughing and attempting to cheat along with the rest of us. And when she won the third round, beating Knox in a tense one-on-one showdown, she was all smiles, even giving him a quick hug at the end.

So that was pretty great.

Another thing that was great? Finally understanding what all my coupled-up friends have. Not that me and Rory are engaged or married, like my friends are, but we’re a couple. At least, that’s how I see it.

Before, I’d notice Enzo holding Winter’s hand or Knox playing with Lark’s hair and put it aside as somethingotherpeople did. Not me, not the perpetually single guy who had no plans to look for a relationship. Not me, who spent decades avoiding commitment even before I lost my foot because I didn’t want to end up like my parents, divorced and constantly griping about each other up until my dad passed away ten years ago.

Now? I think I get it.

All night, I kept catching myself touching Rory. Holding her hand, hugging her, kissing her, and even pulling her onto my lap when we all gathered in the living room to watch Lily do her little toddler dance, complete with a tutu and tiara.

And when I saw Leo’s proud smile as he watched his daughter dancing, his wife tucked protectively under his arm, I thought,what if?

What if one day, just maybe, that could be Rory and me? Not necessarily with kids, but having our own little family, complete with Elmore and Toby and Dewey. Rory would probably make little Christmas bandanas and little stockings to hang on the mantle, and I just know she’d insist on wrapping presents for all of them.

Is it crazy to be thinking like that already?

Maybe.

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