Page 87 of Mountain Defender

As we walk into the rustic lodge together, he lets go of my hand and loops his arm around my waist. “Sorry,” he whispers. “I don’t know why I just got so…”

“It’s fine,” I reply in a tone low enough for only him to hear. “I mean it. Whatever you want is fine with me. And you have nothing to apologize for.”

His dark eyes meet mine. “Ror. Do you know how amazing you are?”

A surge of love—yes, love, I know that’s how I feel about him, even though I haven’t come out and said it yet—expands in my chest. “Not as amazing as you.”

Something passes between us. Something deeper than any of the words we’ve shared.

If we were alone, I might find the courage to tell him.

We’ve been so busy with Gage’s move to my place, bringing all the dogs back, dealing with the police and the cases against Mavers, Elliott, and Wade, it’s never seemed like the right time. Even though the words have been on the verge of coming out more times than I can count.

I love you.

Maybe later, once we get back to our rental cabin, I’ll finally say it. Hand the last piece of my heart over to Gage for safekeeping.

But not now. Not as we walk into the massive great room, filled with at least a hundred people clustered in small groups, talking and eating. Not when we’re immediately greeted by a tall, blonde man I recognize from Gage’s photos as Webb, and a red-headed man in glasses who must be Sam.

“McKay!” Webb gives Gage the same one-armed hug slash shoulder clap that Jackson did. “Good to see you, man.” Releasing Gage, he turns to me. “And Rory. It’s so good to finally meet you. In person, I mean.”

To Nora and Jackson, who are standing just off to the side, he explains, “We playWorld of Warcrafttogether. McKay here got Rory into it, and she’s really good.”

“She is,” Gage agrees. He pulls me closer to his side and presses a soft kiss to the top of my head. “Rory’s good at everything she does.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” I reply with a smile. And surprisingly, even though I have four relative strangers all looking at me, I don’t feel nearly as insecure as I thought I would.

“Well, I’m just glad McKay found someone to put up with him,” Sam says. He extends his hand out to me. “You ever get sick of this guy?—”

Gage kicks Sam with his prosthetic foot, grinning as Sam yelps in pain. “Find your own woman, McNeal.”

“Are you guys getting into trouble already?” Another couple approaches us, both of them smiling. The man lifts his chin at Gage. “McKay. Good to see you.”

Gage gives him a quick chin lift in return. “Layne.” To the woman he adds, “Hey, Mal. How was the trip out here?”

“Good,” she replies. “The flight was overbooked, so we ended up getting moved up to first class. So that was a nice surprise.”

As the couple looks at me expectantly, Gage says, “Rory. This is Devin Layne, and his wife, Mal. And this is Rory. My beautiful girlfriend.”

Devin takes my hand. “It’s great to meet you, Rory.” His smile slides into something more serious. “And it’s really good to see McKay looking so happy.”

It might sound like a strange thing to say without knowing the circumstances. But Gage told me about how he met Devin at Walter Reed; how they became friends as they struggled through rehab and stayed in touch ever since. So Devin would know first-hand what Gage went through. How hard it’s been for him.

“Iamhappy,” Gage agrees. “Even more than I ever thought possible.”

Malawwsquietly, and I can practically see the little hearts in her eyes.

“You want to grab a seat?” Webb asks Gage. “We have a table over in the corner. Hit the buffet, load up on some good food, and we can shoot the shit for a while. Hear about everything you’ve been up to.”

“That sounds good.” Gage’s gaze moves across the room. “But first, I want to find Vince’s parents. And I’d like to talk to his wife, too.”

Webb nods in understanding. “Of course. We’ll save you some seats.”

As Gage and I head across the room towards a couple I’m presuming are the Mattisons, he says quietly, “You don’t have to come with me, Ror. If you’d rather wait with the others…”

“No.” I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I want to be with you. Unless you’d rather talk to them alone?”

Gratitude shines in his eyes. “I want you with me, Ror. Always.”

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