Page 30 of Relentless Hearts
Denver pointed to the computer terminal in the corner of the office, the screen displaying what looked like a complex security system interface.
“Get into this system,” Denver said. “You’ve got five minutes.”
He sank into the seat, fingers hovering over the keys. He studied the screen for maybe thirty seconds. Then hisfingers flew across the keyboard as he identified the encryption protocols and found the back door he needed. Two minutes later—okay, maybe it was three—he was in.
Denver stared at the screen in disbelief. “How the hell did you do that?”
“Read a book on it.” Decker shrugged, as if breaking into military-grade security systems was something he did for fun.
Denver shook his head. “Unbelievable. What exactly did you do on your team?”
He shot him a grin. “Classified.”
Denver snorted, and Theo outright laughed.
“One more thing.”
Carson appeared at Decker’s shoulder. The patriarch of the family looked satisfied, but there was something else in his expression. Something that looked almost like relief.
“What’s that?”
“Go talk to Rhae.”
The weight of those four words settled over Decker. This wasn’t just about joining the team anymore. This was about officially ending his time as a patient…and beginning his new life as part of the Black Heart Security family.
As part of Willow’s world.
He found himself nodding, anticipation and nervousness warring in his chest. “When?”
“Now.” Carson stepped back, clearing the way to the door. “She’s expecting you.”
On the way out, Decker looked each brother in the eye and nodded as a show of respect to what he hoped would soon be his new brothers.
As he walked toward the therapy building, his mind still reeled from everything that happened in the past few hours. The kiss with Willow, the tests, the prospect of finally, officially,being more than just another broken soldier trying to put himself back together.
For the first time since arriving at the ranch, he felt like he might actually get a shot at the life he wanted but didn’t deserve.
He stopped outside Rhae’s door and took a deep breath.
Time to make it official.
Chapter Six
Willow took pride in her morning coffee. It had become a ritual that grounded what was sure to be another hectic day in a whole string of them that made up a year.
She filled the grinder with whole dark roast beans and set it to the perfect grind. Then she padded across the kitchen and filled a copper pot with milk, whisking until tiny bubbles formed.
The house was dead silent, giving her mind space to breathe. That didn’t mean her mind was blank—far from it.
In fact, it was consumed with the memory of the kiss she shared with Decker the previous day.
Each time she relived the moment, tingles spread to every corner of her body.
The way his eyes darkened…the tender yet almost desperate way he cupped her face before he moved in to press his mouth to hers…
It wouldn’t quit playing on repeat through her mind.
Caught up in her daydream, she leaned against the counter as the coffeemaker burbled to a halt. She poured the dark brew into a rustic artisan pottery mug that gave her all the cozy vibes and topped it with a cloud of frothy milk.
