Page 61 of Stolen Hearts

Just then, a knock interrupted them. She stood and moved to answer it, throwing a glance at the clock. Her other patients didn’t typically drop in at this time of day, so she thought they’d be free of interruptions.

When she opened it, she saw Honor standing there. The woman was wearing one of her long, flowy dresses with flowers on it, a thick cardigan that looked hand-knitted over it, and her new addition of cowboy boots that she’d been wearing with every outfit now that she spent so much time on the ranch with Gray Malone.

She smiled at Rhae. “I hope I’m not interrupting you. I thought I’d take Navy with me to art therapy. We’re fingerpainting today.”

“Oh yes! Let me get her for you.” She left the door slightly ajar, but Honor saw the new patient and tactfully remained in the hallway.

“I’ll just be a moment, Justin,” Rhae murmured to him as she scooped up Navy and snagged her thick blanket off the desk chair.

She felt his stare following them across the office, but he didn’t speak.

Honor reached for the baby, and Navy let out a squeal of joy to see Auntie Honor. “Ready to paint, little bean?” she asked Navy, taking the infant and wrapping the blanket around her.

“She shouldn’t be hungry for a while, but she’ll still try to eat the paint.” Rhae and Honor shared a laugh. She leaned in to brush a kiss over Navy’s head. “Have fun with Auntie Honor.”

As Honor settled Navy on her hip and turned to go, Rhae caught sight of Justin’s face.

He grimaced. Not in a subtle way. His lip curled in distaste, as if she’d just peeled smelly onions in front of him.

Honor caught it too. Her gaze landed on Rhae’s for a brief second. Then she let out a cheery, “Be back in an hour! Tell Momma bye!”

Rhae threw them a wave and quietly shut the door, turning to Justin.

“Sorry about that. Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I just don’t like kids.”

Another oddity around here. Even the guys who didn’t think they enjoyed children melted like butter around Navy.

“That’s fair. But you’ll see her around the ranch. She’s kind of a staple around here.”

He let out a low grunt and shifted uncomfortably. “I guess I’ll adjust.”

She schooled her reaction. Not everyone loved children. She couldn’t take offense. But her gut prickled.

He rambled about missions and his platoon, told her about guarding oil fields and tracking insurgents. But his terminology was off, and it seemed like he was recycling words from a movie.

At the end of the session, Rhae leaned forward in her seat. “You’ve been through a lot. But you don’t have to worry—I’ve got your six.”

She said it like she said it to all the guys, showing him that she was in his corner. That she had his back.

Justin blinked, but he didn’t react.

At all.

Maybe he’d only served in the military a short while.

Or maybe he hadn’t served at all.

The thought was a black cloud breaking over her, leaving her cold inside and out.

But that was silly. The Malones researched the vets they accepted into the program. Their natural instinct to protect,coupled with owning a security company, wouldn’t allow them to let just anybody on the ranch.

Still, she was left with a sinking feeling she couldn’t shake.

After he left, she opened a notebook and wrote some notes about their session.

Check service record. Discrepancies in language, detachment, no standard emotional cues.

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