Page 67 of Corey
“This fucking sucks,” Chaz grumbled, “but they’re right. Hawke made a bad decision.”
“Why, though?” Lex asked. “It makes no damn sense. Why would he run off alone? That was fucking suicide.”
No one said anything.
“Unless…” Everyone looked at Wes who shrugged. “Maybe he wanted to get caught.”
“Why would you want to getcaught?” Jayson asked, looking bewildered.
No one had an answer. But Corey reached for Sera’s hand, and her heart soared at the touch. Their eyes met, and she knew he understood that his team didn’t blame either of them. Then he pulled her onto his lap, wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “Rest.”
Curling up against him, happy the tactical vest and gear were gone, she placed her cheek against his firm chest and drifted off, lulled into a light sleep by the plane’s engines and the strong, steady beating of his heart.
After safely landing, they split into two groups and wearily climbed into the waiting SUVs. The drive back to Cielo Springs went quickly and, even though it had been less than thirty-six hours since she’d been kidnapped, it felt like she’d been gone for a week.
When they reached town, Brand, Chaz and Lex headed one way while Corey, Sera, Wes and Jayson turned in the other direction. The minute the SUV pulled into Wes’s driveway, Ellie hurried outside to greet them. Wes caught her in a hug, lifting her right off her feet. After kissing her soundly, he grabbed the SUV’s door and leaned down.
“You gonna be okay?” he asked Corey.
Sera pulled Corey’s big, callused hand onto her lap, tangling her fingers with his. “He’s going to be just fine,” she assured Wes. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Wes nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Good. I like you two together.” He straightened up and patted the SUV’s roof. “Take care of each other.”
“Thanks, Murph,” Corey said. “We will.”
After closing the door, Jayson drove to his house. They drove down a graveled driveway and Sera scoped out the attractive farmhouse, split rail fencing that marked corrals and a big red barn.
“Do you have horses?” she asked.
“My daughter Emma does, and she keeps them here,” he answered. “If you and Cor ever want to go riding, we—I mean,I—have a lot of trails. Emma moved out earlier this year, so it gets kinda quiet around here.”
The moment the words left his mouth, loud rock music came blaring from next door. There was plenty of land between the homes, but they could hear it loud and clear. They all turned to look, and Jayson frowned.
“So much for quiet,” Corey said.
“New neighbor,” Jayson muttered. “We haven’t met yet, but I think we’re about to if she plans on continuing to blast that shitty music.”
“Easy, Jay. Not everyone appreciates O.G. rap like you,” Corey teased.
“I don’t care what she listens to as long as it’s played at a reasonable volume.”
“Hear, hear, Grandpaw.” Corey’s lips twitched, and it made Sera’s heart swell.
“Some of us go to bed early around here. Besides,” he quickly added, “I don’t want it spooking the horses.”
“Makes sense,” Corey agreed as he slipped into the driver’s seat and Sera moved into the passenger seat.
Jayson hefted his gear bag over a shoulder and scowled at his neighbor’s house. “See you guys later,” he mumbled, eyes glued to a window next door.
Coery and Sera said goodbye, and he turned the car toward the mountain. She couldn’t wait until she had him all alone. It was time to tell him how grateful she was for him coming to her rescue and, most importantly, to let him know how hard she’d fallen for him.
Because Sera was madly in love with the former SEAL. She just hoped he felt the same.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The moment they walked through the door, Storm appeared. The wolf bounded over and launched himself against Corey. Corey went down on his knees and hugged him hard.
“How’s my best boy?” he asked. “Give me a kiss and tell me you love me.”
