Page 54 of Anything for You (Veterans of Silver Ridge #7)

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Dorian

A full week after Dove’s kidnapping, I straightened my tie in the mirror of my bathroom right before the doorbell rang. Bear’s nails tapped as he hustled to the front of the house, no doubt knowing exactly who he’d find on our porch.

I was already smiling as I pulled open the door, the ache in my ribs only a little more than a dull thud with some movements. They hadn’t been broken, thankfully, and the soreness of the bruising had taken major steps of improvement in the last forty-eight hours.

“You look so handsome! You didn’t need to wear a tie.” Dove reached for me, stepping over the threshold and into my arms in a heartbeat.

As usual, my heart thrummed with her nearness.

We’d spent hours together this week, basking in each other and the excuse for both of us to take time off.

Pretty soon, I’d be in the full throes of the Christmas tree season and time off would be hard to come by until at least the week before Christmas.

But for now, until Thanksgiving at least, I would give her every bit of time and attention she wanted.

“Wanted to look nice for Nan.”

She beamed. “You always look nice.”

I chuckled, pleased it didn’t cause lightning to shoot up my side anymore. “I’m not sure that’s true. I can get pretty gross out on the farm.”

Flames flickered to life in her eyes. “That’s still nice in my opinion.”

With a shake of my head, I bent to kiss her. Sometimes, her sweet mouth was just asking for it, especially when she was flirty like that.

Bear bumped against my leg and I finally, though reluctantly, pulled away. “You ready to go?”

Dove grinned. “Nan is going to be over the moon.”

As we loaded up into the truck and eased off the property, I eyed the entrance to the tree farm as we passed it. I’d been debating something and wanted to bring it up, but hadn’t managed to make myself say it yet.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, uncannily sensing my thoughts, no doubt.

With a light laugh, I glanced at her. Damn, but she was beautiful. The November temps had dropped enough that she was bundled in jeans, boots, and a bright blue jacket sporting a faux-fur-lined hood. It was adorable on her and made me want to bury my face into her neck.

Or maybe I always wanted to be close to her. Not even maybe. I did. And the further from danger and stress and exhaustion we’d gotten, the more the desire gripped me .

She’d resolved to back off on work because apparently, being kidnapped had given her some major perspective.

She wanted to find the joy in her work again, and now that she’d let herself take a break, she already felt it coming back.

In a surprising bonus to the ordeal, she’d said how meaningful she’d found helping the women on the compound and planned to go back and visit them…

when she was feeling up to it. I’d made her promise not to rush it, and I believed her when she said she wouldn’t.

For my part, I’d committed to ending my part-time work with Saint and letting myself focus fully on the farm. Maybe I’d help with admin or something at some point, but while we were heading into the busiest season for the farm, staying focused on the one thing was my plan.

And maybe, this one other idea.

But part of me wondered why we hadn’t committed to simply spending at least three days a week naked in bed. Something to work towards.

“Dorian?”

I cleared my throat, my imagination running away from me. “Sorry. I have this idea, but I’m not sure how I feel about it.”

“You could tell me, if you like.” Her hand found my leg and squeezed gently.

I resolved not to look at her to avoid distraction while driving and also because I’d end up pulling over so I could kiss her, and we didn’t need that kind of delay.

“I’ve been wondering about a little stand or maybe even a small building next to the trees. I could bake stuff and it could be open, mostly during the Christmas season, but I think I’d like to try to open the apple orchard for you-pick next year, and?— ”

“Oh my gosh, I love this so much. Yes, and yes, and yes!”

She started asking questions and making suggestions and generally cheering for me and didn’t stop until we walked into Silverton Springs Retirement Community and ran into Bruce as he was exiting. After greeting him, she winked at me and slipped inside to see Nan while I chatted with Bruce.

“Good to see you out in the world,” he said, shaking my hand and hauling me into a back-slapping hug.

As he released me, I admitted, “Thanks. Good to be out.” And it was. I felt generally less anxious since deciding about Saint, though my pulse ticked up as I pushed forward now. “I’d like to talk to you and Wilder this week, if possible.”

His eyes narrowed a bit, but his smile didn’t dim. “We’d like that. I’m guessing you’re going to tell us you’re going to focus on the farm?”

I blanched.

He chuckled and patted my back, reassurance in his every move.

“I’ve been expecting it, but not because there’s anything wrong.

” He held my gaze, that steady, open quality disarming as ever.

“You’ve been through it, and I don’t envy you the journey.

That said, you’ve climbed that mountain and then some. You deserve rest.”

An understanding like nothing else in life save those shared between people who had trained and fought together passed between us. My throat cinched tight, and I clenched my jaw against the gathering mixture of relief and grief.

“We all do.”

He nodded. “We do. For me, this is rest. For a lot of us, it is. It’s okay if that’s not the case for you. I think I’ve known that for a while, but I wasn’t sure how to help.”

Clearing my throat, I grasped for the right way to tell him. “I didn’t want to leave Saint. I love all of you and I don’t want to lose you.”

He frowned, visibly pained, and held my gaze. “You can’t lose us, Stone. We’re family, and we’re not going anywhere.”

Without my permission, my eyes misted, and I nodded. “I think I finally get that.”

He cleared his own throat and grinned, his classic Crest smile on display. “Good. Then get in there with your woman, and we’ll talk this week. You come in; we’ll make the time.”

With that, he gave me another brotherly pat and waved as he walked toward the parking lot. I glanced up at the mountains, towering and dotted with pines, no snow at the top quite yet, though it would be any day now, and felt incredible gratitude.

It didn’t replace or cancel out the fact that I still had work to do.

I was still responsible for taking care of myself and doing the things that would keep me mentally and physically well.

But a huge part of it all was knowing I had them—all of the Saint staff and especially the people I’d served with and who’d seen me through my darkest hours.

I had them, and even though I’d known it somewhere in me, maybe down in my gut, I knew it with my head and heart now, too.

With one final breath of the crisp air, I entered the building and found my way to Nan’s room. Inside, Dove was showing off the contents of the pastry box.

“There he is. Get in here, you! I want to try these things and I was told we couldn’t until you’re here to see my reaction.” Nan said this as she waved me in from her recliner. “She said apple turnover and what?”

“Cinnamon scones and then there’s a pumpkin coffee cake I’m testing out, too.”

Nan fell back, a hand on her chest. “My dying wish is to be buried with my grandson’s pastries.”

My heart stopped.

Dove’s mouth dropped open. “First, ew. No. You are not being buried with food and second, don’t talk about your dying wish because last I heard from Dr. Daniels, you are healthy and hitting triple digits?—”

“Bah,” blurted Nan, interrupting Dove’s rant.

Hands on her hips, Dove tsked at her nan. “You will! And third—” Her blue eyes flicked to mine and she bit her lip. “You just called Dorian your grandson.”

Did she think I’d be bothered? Upset? Awkward? If so, she hadn’t gotten the message well enough yet.

“Oh, please. You’ll be married before my next birthday!”

Dove blinked, evidently horror-struck.

Holding back a laugh, I asked, “When’s your birthday?”

Nan tucked a few strands of her short, silvery hair daintily behind her ear, then ran two fingers sweetly over Bear, who’d clearly found a new love. “March.”

Dove covered her mouth.

“Don’t you think, Dorian?” Nan asked, no attempt to hide her smile.

Dove rushed to me. “I’m so sorry. This is awkward. She’s?—”

“I sure hope so,” I said, speaking to Nan but eyes locked with Dove’s.

Her open mouth snapped shut before opening again. “Wait. You—you hope we’ll be married before March? ”

“Yes. As long as that’s what you want.”

She gripped my wrist. “I do. But, wait. Are you serious? Are—are you asking me to marry you?”

Nan cackled.

“Not yet, honey. But very, very soon, if that’s alright with you.”

Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she beamed. “That is very alright with me.”