Page 77 of Devlin

She exhaled softly. “I’ll miss it.”

He nodded, squeezing her hand. “I know.”

She rested her head against his shoulder, letting the hum of the engine lull her into much-needed rest. Whatever came next, she wasn’t facing it alone.

33

TWO MONTHS LATER

Mia adjusted the strap of her bag as she stepped out of her small but cozy office on the Blackfeet Reservation. The crisp Montana afternoon wrapped around her, the scent of pine and earth filling her lungs. She’d quickly come to love this place—the vastness of the plains stretching toward the mountains, the way the early sun bathed the land in a golden glow. It was different from anywhere she’d been before, but in a way that settled something inside her.

She slid into her SUV and started the engine, anxious to end the workweek. She’d spent the past month as a nutritionist for the reservation, consulting with families, setting up programs for better food accessibility, and working alongside the local clinic to ensure expectant mothers received proper nutritional guidance. It was a shift from her overseas work, but no less important. Here, she wasn’t in war-torn regions, but she was still making a difference and helping people in a way that mattered.

She pulled onto the road, driving toward town. The radio played softly, but her thoughts drifted to the first month she was back in the States. She’d spent the weeks in Kansas, where she’d caught up with her family. Seeing her baby nephew for the first time had been an experience she’d never forget. Holdinghim, feeling his tiny fingers grasp hers, had reminded her how much she’d missed over the years. Devlin had come with her for the first week, staying nearby with his family. His parents had welcomed her with open arms, their enthusiasm a sharp contrast to the quiet wariness of her own family. But the tension her family had presented around Devlin had eased by the time she left. He wasn’t the same person he’d been a decade ago, and neither was she.

When she’d accepted the new job, she sublet an apartment near the reservation, refusing to accept Devlin’s invitation to move in with him. She just wanted to have a chance to get used to one new thing at a time. And maybe she was still protecting her heart.

Pulling into the parking lot of the local diner, she smiled at the familiar sight of Devlin’s truck parked out front. She grabbed her bag and stepped inside, the scent of beer, french fries, and hamburgers greeting her. The diner was bustling with laughter and conversation, blending with the servers darting about.

She spotted Devlin quickly. He stood near a table where a few Native elders sat, his easy smile and deep voice carrying over the chatter. He clasped hands with an older man, nodding respectfully. These were people he’d once worked alongside before his job with Logan had taken him elsewhere.

“Didn’t think I’d see you back here, son,” one of the men said, his weathered face breaking into a grin.

Devlin chuckled. “Didn’t think I’d be back either, but you know how it goes. You find reasons to come home.”

Mia’s chest warmed at that. Devlin turned, spotting her, and his smile softened. He reached for her as she approached, his hand sliding naturally around her waist. It was a simple touch, but one that she craved.

They made their way to a large table where familiar faces had already gathered. Sisco and Lenore sat with their daughter, Evie,who was busy telling anyone within earshot about a dog at the barn who was going to have puppies. Landon and Noel laughed at Sisco’s doting look while Lenore vowed no more pets could come into the home. Logan and Vivian were busy keeping their baby entertained. The other Keepers were there, including Mary and Bert.

Mia sat beside Devlin, reaching for the pitcher of beer in the center of the table. “It’s nice to see everyone in one place.”

“Rare occurrence,” Logan commented, bouncing his baby on his knee. “I think the stars had to align just right for it to happen.”

Sisco smirked. “Or maybe we all just got tired of chasing bad guys for a day.”

“That too,” Devlin agreed, lifting his glass in a silent toast.

The conversation flowed easily, touching everything from work to families to absurd stories from the field. Mia laughed more than she had in a long time, slipping into the group's rhythm. She felt at ease with them now, even if their world differed.

She noticed the gentle expression crossing Bert’s face every time Mary spoke, and she wondered if there was a budding romance.

A few of the single men talked about their evening plans of hitting the local bar.

“Tourists are in town,” Cory said with a gleam in his eye. He turned to Todd and added, “Be my wingman.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Timothy said. “Todd would be the worst wingman. Hell, he’d get the woman before you would every time!”

Almost everyone laughed, but Mia saw the way Sadie pursed her lips. Sadie and Todd, sitting across from each other, weren’t exactly exuding harmony. As the others joked about the valueof Todd being a wingman, Sadie tapped her fingers against her coffee cup.

Todd lifted his gaze to Sadie, and Mia could have sworn she spied longing in his eyes.

The tension was palpable, and Mia leaned over to whisper in Devlin’s ear. “Are they together? Or used to be?”

“Nah,” Devlin chuckled. “I’m pretty sure they’d never go there.”

Mia smirked. “Famous last words.” She leaned back in her chair, watching as the conversation carried on, a swirl of warmth, friendship, and the occasional bickering. This was Devlin’s world, and it had become hers too. Different from the life she’d once imagined, but good. Steady. Home.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

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