Page 27 of Anything for You (Veterans of Silver Ridge #7)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Dove

T hirty minutes in, I was formulating a plan to change Craic materially enough to accommodate Dorian.

Step one, did they have a party room? If so, maybe the Saint folks and us girls could tuck in there and eliminate some of the cacophony and sheer number of people surrounding us.

Step two, if he was comfortable, maybe he’d try some low-key headphones or ear buds if noise levels were a trigger for him. Step three?—

“Earth to Dove. Where are you tonight?”

Elise’s hand on my arm paired with her words halted my to-do list.

“Sorry. Long week.” And also, thinking about my neighbor. What was he baking tonight? Did it make me an awful person if I hoped he’d leave me some?

“How are you doing with everything lately?” Catherine asked, concern knitting her brows .

I’d shared a few updates over the last few weeks.

We’d finally have book club again next weekend and I was more than ready, but in between, we had Friday nights when I could swing it with my schedule, and the group chat.

I’d told them how great Dorian had been, how much I liked where I lived now even though it was a ways out from town.

I’d even told them my brother was at the former commune and had reached out.

What I hadn’t shared?

My tiny, itty-bitty, baby of a crush on Dorian Forrester.

And because of that paired with my general inability to be stealthy in any way, my cheeks flamed and I ducked my face into my glass of prosecco.

Jo, Nikki, and Winnie all made exclamations and sounds that were completely ridiculous. Liz smiled, and thank goodness Jess wasn’t here or she would’ve pressured me into telling them everything.

Though, I kind of wanted to.

“It’s good. Everything’s good.” Dang, my entire face had to be beet red. “I may or may not have a small crush.”

Jo clapped and said, “I knew it!” while Elise hooked an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. Nikki, Winnie, and Catherine all beamed, and Liz said, “Kenny is going to be absolutely unbearable.”

“You can’t tell him. Please. I—” How could I explain it to them? This wasn’t a normal situation. Dorian was… raw. Quiet. I didn’t want Kenny, as much as I loved the guy, to barrel in there and blabber about my crush and risk ruining our friendship.

“I won’t. I just mean if… or when you guys get together.” Liz raised her pint glass slightly. “I promise on my Silver Ridge Pale Ale.”

I chuckled. “Oh, well, that is sacred, so okay. ”

She took a sip right as I heard Kenny’s voice. “Are we toasting something?” He elbowed up to the table and dropped a kiss to Liz’s jaw.

My eyes widened, begging everyone to stay away from the subject we’d just been discussing.

“A little things toast, right, ladies?” Nikki said, raising her glass. “Want to join us, Barbie?”

He perked up instantly. “Of course. Tell me what to do.”

“You listen to everyone share a little thing they’re celebrating and share one of your own. Then we toast,” Winnie explained.

“Sounds delightful,” he said, and nodded like he was ready to start.

Nikki began. “My little thing is that I got to explain an advanced calculus concept to Kiley and she got it super quickly.” The woman practically glowed with the memory of helping her boyfriend’s little sister with math homework.

“That sounds like a nightmare, but I love that for you guys,” Elise said, and everyone chuckled.

“My little thing is that I’m helping Tristan with expanding the self-defense part of Saint and it’s been so fun to work together.” Her soft smile was so completely sweet and Winnie-like.

Everyone clapped and congratulated her.

“I figured out a way to eliminate really tough limescale without using a storebought cleaner, so I am psyched about that.” Catherine grinned, then made a face. “So glamorous.”

We all chuckled at that, but celebrated her win. The fact that she was truly living her best life being an expert house cleaner and now cleaning influencer? So dang awesome.

Jo shared about completing her most recent book, and Liz mentioned the feeling of peace she’d been enjoying since she left the CIA, and Elise shared that business at Glazed was picking up the further into fall we got.

Everyone turned to me, smiles of anticipation on their dear faces.

Emotion hit as I looked at them, these beloved people I’d gotten to know so well the last few years.

I’d had a long time without real friends—certainly while growing up, and later while I was working, in school, and trying to be there for Nan.

I’d never figured it out, always felt a little too weird, a little too needy, to fit in.

But here, with them…

“I think my small thing is just you guys. And that’s not small, but… yeah. I love you all, and I’m grateful for you.” My voice wobbled on the last word, and Elise pulled me into a hug.

Kenny cleared his throat. “Okay, you almost got me with that one, Dove Jensen.”

I chuckled. “Well, go ahead then, Kenny Carmichael.”

He grinned. “I mean, I could also say all of you. My job at Saint. My wife.” He swooped in for a kiss. “My cat. My nephew. The leaves starting to change. But I think today I’m going to say, I’m thankful that my friend Dorian isn’t out at the farm all alone these days.”

His beady little eyes fixed on me as Nikki led the salute.

“Cheers to the small things.”

We all repeated the toast, and Kenny’s eyes twinkled maniacally. One might not think such a thing could occur but trust me, if anyone could do it, it was Kenny.

After everyone had taken a drink, conversation started back up and Kenny kept his focus on me.

“So. How is my dear friend Dorian?”

My eyes darted around, keenly aware that this former super-secret soldier-type guy could probably read all kinds of truths on my face if I let him.

“He’s good. He’s a great landlord. Super nice guy. Really glad I’ve gotten to know him.”

He snapped and pointed at me. “Exactly. You’re getting to know him.”

My face fell a little.

“Hey, I think it’s awesome. He’s one of the best people I know, and so few people get anywhere close. Those of us who’ve known him since we served, our partners who are getting to see more of him… other than us and his therapist, no one knows the fabric of the guy.”

Absorbing his words, I nodded. “Yeah. He’s tucked away.”

His gaze searched mine for a second. “He is. And he needs someone who’s not afraid to push a little.”

Someone? Like… like as a friend? As someone more?

I didn’t want to entertain the possibilities, but he wasn’t being subtle.

“He also needs someone who’s kind. Gentle, like he is. Someone who will cherish him.”

When I looked at his face now, it held so much sincerity and a hint of caution.

“Are you warning me away from him?” I asked, as much in confusion as wonder.

“Not at all. If anything, I’m warning you toward him. I think you’d be amazing together, but I also don’t want him getting hurt.” His face softened. “He’s family.”

That got me. “Trust me, I have no plans to hurt him. You don’t know me all that well, but I can promise, I’m not a danger to him.” He should at least know that.

But he surprised me when a sly grin crept over his face and he ducked his head. “Oh, you definitely are.”