Page 48 of Stolen Hearts

Navy giggled on the floor nearby, smacking squishy blocks around. A smile tugged at Rhae’s lips in reaction. One thing about babies was they were trusting and without any burdens.

Her mind drifted again. The dinner had been more than she ever expected. She’d only driven through the nearby town of Willowbrook on her way to the Black Heart Ranch. She’d been so focused on arriving that she didn’t take the time to really see her surroundings.

This time, Denver pointed out the few small sights. She was surprised to learn that he didn’t grow up in the area—the Malones grew up in Texas. The Wyoming ranch had been their summer home until their father died.

She laughed when he told her the story of how his sister Willow believed the town was named after her when she was little, and showed her the jewelry shop perched on the quaintest corner in town that Honor owned and ran when she wasn’t busy helping the ranch veterans with art therapy.

Then Denver surprised her by bypassing the restaurant parking lot and ushering her through the kitchen entrance. He told her they were dining at the chef’s table, like it was no big deal.

“Oaks told me about it,” he told her, staring into her eyes. “He said it was worth every damn second.”

He wasn’t wrong.

They were seated at a small table right in the kitchen, with the chef moving around the space like a maestro. The food was art, the conversation easy, the wine flowing. The quiet intimacy of the atmosphere continued to cling to her. She could almost feel Denver’s fingers interlocked with hers like they’d never been apart.

The flicker of the candlelight in his eyes, the way his voice dipped low when he told her,This is just the beginning of your birthday, had settled something deep inside her.

She didn’t remember the last time she’d felt safe enough to enjoy something so simple.

A knock interrupted the memory.

“Come in,” she called.

Navy stopped playing to look up at the door, her hands waving in excitement. And no wonder—every time the door opened, she had a new playmate.

Willow pushed open the door with a gentle smile, a young man trailing behind her.

Rhae stood to greet them. “Hello.”

“Rhae Rivers, meet Justin.”

They shared a nod, and she smiled but didn’t expect one in return from him. She dealt with enough vets that she understood their need to ease in, to warm up in their own time.

“I’m showing Justin around,” Willow said. Her gaze lit on the baby, who crawled to her aunt with lightning speed. “Hi, Navy! How’s my favorite baby?”

Willow squealed in answer.

“Is it me or is she crawling faster than ever?”

Rhae bobbed her head. “Oh, she’s faster. Believe me. I’m going to need to invest in a good pair of running shoes very soon.”

They shared a smile.

Rhae looked to the young man. “Navy is my daughter. She’s in the office a lot.”

He was broad-shouldered, twitchy in a way like he was trying to act casual. “You’re the one I’m supposed to talk to, right?”

“I’m the therapist, yes. Or one of them. Bella is one of the other therapists on the ranch. Her office is right down the hall.”

“One of the guys said you’re good. How do I get on your schedule?” he asked without preamble.

She offered a gentle nod. “We don’t really do appointments here. It’s an open-door policy, meaning my door is always open. If someone is already in here, then the guys come back later on. It makes for a less rigid experience.”

Justin nodded, satisfied. “Cool. I’ll be back.”

He turned for the door. Willow tossed a shrug at Rhae and followed him out.

Rhae frowned at the abruptness of the interaction but chalked it up to Justin’s nerves. Most of the new arrivals were coiled tight when they came to the Black Heart.

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