Page 7 of Stolen Hearts

There was a lot they didn’t know about the past few years of his life, and a lot he didn’t know about them.

“His best buddy, his six.” Carson’s throat worked on a swallow.

Denver held his breath, waiting for it.

“He couldn’t handle things when he got out. He ended his own life.”

“Goddamn,” he muttered. Now he could see what fueled Oaks to help veterans.

Silence settled between Denver and Carson as they both processed it all.

Denver set the notepad down on the desk and crossed his arms. “You need structure. You need roles. Right now, this is a bunch of guys with guns and good intentions. If you want them to work like a team, they need to know their damn jobs.”

Carson grinned, tipping his chair back. “That’s why I asked you here.”

Denver snorted. “You asked the right guy.” He picked up a scribbled note, eyes catching on the scribbled name of the person who took the message:Willow.

“Where’s our baby sister? Why isn’t she in on this meeting?”

“Lunch with Rhae.”

The pen stilled in Denver’s hand. “Rhae?”

“Yeah, she’s the new therapist.”

His throat clamped at the wordshe.

Carson was still speaking. “Been with us about six months. Fantastic, really. The guys love her. She was more than qualified since she worked with the military before.”

“Therapist…” It wasn’t a question, but Carson took it as one.

“Yep, we’ve got two. Bella, the other therapist, has been here for almost a year. It’s been good for the program to have two people specializing in different things and offering different services depending on what our vets require.”

Denver fought to keep his expression neutral, but his brain was backpedaling.

Rhae. The name echoed in his mind like a half-buried secret.

It can’t be her. Why would she be here?

“Does this Rhae have a last name?” He trained his voice into something deceptively casual. “Sunshine, maybe?”

Carson chuckled. “Cute. No, it’s Rivers. So still nature.”

Denver felt like he’d just taken another blow to the head. His mind swirled. His ears that never quit ringing rang louder.

Carson kept talking, dipping into stats and logistics concerning the success rate for the vets.

But Denver had already tuned out.

It couldn’t be her. Sure, Rhae wasn’t a common name, but it wasn’t like she’d trademarked it.

Still, the thought lodged itself stubbornly in his mind. He glanced out the window, scanning the open field beyond the ranch house where the security office was situated for any sign of movement. As if he would look out and see her standing there…the beautiful woman who haunted his dreams.

Nothing. Just swaying grass and sunlight stretching long over the horizon.

He leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming restlessly against his thigh. “Rhae Rivers,” he murmured under his breath, tasting the name on his tongue.

It tasted like…happy moments.

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