Page 39 of Forbidden Secrets
“They do.Nosy as hell, but they’re good people.”
Back in the kitchen, the kettle was whistling.Gage poured steaming water into her mug.She walked to the mudroom and opened the door.“Addy, time to come in.”
“Aw, Mom.Me and Pancake are having fun.”
“C’mon, kid,” Gage spoke from over her shoulder.“Someone’s got to help me eat these cookies.”
Addy’s cheeks were ruddy from the cold as she trailed Pancake inside.
“Hang up your coat, Addy,” Melanie reminded her.
Gage pointed to a plastic container on a shelf.“Grab a biscuit for Pancake.It’ll keep her from having cookie envy.”
After Addy washed her hands, Gage set her up with cookies and a glass of milk at the kitchen table.Overhead lights cast a golden glow.Melanie felt another hard tug on her heart.Sharing the quiet of the evening with Gage felt exactly right.
Melanie sipped her tea and let herself breathe, relaxing for the first time since Gage’s call that morning.Addy giggled at something Gage said, and the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled.Her gaze drifted to the rough scars circling his wrists.Something had happened to him, something violent that had left physical evidence as a reminder.
When they’d finished their cookies, she said, “Time to head home, baby.Let’s take our dishes to the sink and get our coats.”
“Okay.”Addy’s voice drooped with reluctance.
“Pancake and I’ll walk you back,” Gage said, his tone casual, but the look in his eyes as they met Melanie’s made it clear: he wasn’t about to let her go home alone.
He’d picked up on her nervousness about returning to an empty house.
They walked back together with the wind whispering through the pine trees and the glow of the moon rising from behind the mountain.Addy kept up a running monologue as she walked ahead with Pancake, one hand buried in the dog’s fur.
Gage reached for Melanie’s hand, their fingers lacing together like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Nice,” he murmured.
Too nice.The kind of nice that slipped past defenses and made Melanie forget all the reasons she should be careful.
Her heart edged closer to something dangerous.
Something she wasn’t sure she could stop.
CHAPTER TEN
Gage pushed through the back door of Easy Money.Tuesday afternoon, small crowd, classic rock humming in the background.Owen’s place had the right mix of atmosphere and great food.
Gage had put out a call through the group chat.Everyone but Shane was coming.
Owen stood at the bar filling shot glasses and gave Gage a chin lift.
Jen leaned over the bar with a wink and a grin as she wiped down the polished wood.“Hey, handsome.Been a while.How’s it going?”
“Good.Busy.”He loosened his collar with a tug.He wasn’t sure why the hell he suddenly felt hot.
“Even busy boys need a break.Why don’t you pick me up after my shift?I haven’t seen you and Pancake in ages.”
He ignored Owen’s speculative look.Jen was nice and their easy, uncomplicated relationship meant easy, uncomplicated sex.No promises.No pressure.
So why did it feel like stepping off a ledge to say, “Can’t.I, uh… I’m seeing someone.Sort of.”Could he be any more of an idiot?Whatever was building between him and Melanie had him off balance.
Jen’s smile didn’t falter.“Aw, that’s sweet.Another good one off the market.”
Funny.He’d never thought of himself asonthe market.Melanie had upended that without even trying.The way she looked at him.The way she fought to protect her kid.The way she’d stood over a restrained intruder with a damn book.Yeah.Something had shifted.He was willing to sacrifice easy and uncomplicated without a backward look.
