Page 29

TWENTY-NINE

SAVANNAH

“THOSE ARE SOME pretty fancy cars.” Lydia stands next to me, her brows lifted as she stares out at the line of sleek black SUVs parked along the curb in front of Christian’s house.

“The guys aren’t hard on the eyes either.” Felicity gives each of the men exiting the vehicles a slow perusal. “There’s something about tactical gear, isn’t there?”

“Definitely,” I agree, my eyes glued to the street as well. But while the women beside me are taking everything in, I’m focused on only one man. Zeke greets every member of his team as they disembark, touching base with each one as he moves through the group.

Lydia tilts her head. “I expected them to be in black.”

“Not in the snow.” Right now, Zeke stands out because he’s the only one wearing their black gear. Also because he’s the biggest and best looking, but part of that might be my own bias. “The white helps them blend in better.”

“Makes sense.” Lydia frowns. “Why is Zeke in black then?”

“He wasn’t expecting to need to blend in.” That makes it even more impressive he was able to creep around without being seen when he left me in the abandoned hotel. “I’m sure they brought him new gear to change into.”

As if he can sense my eyes on him, Zeke turns, finding me immediately. Like an idiot, I raise one hand and give him a little wave.

His expression remains hard, but the set of his mouth changes, softening the tiniest bit.

“He’s a serious motherfucker, isn’t he?” Felicity turns to me. “That give you a lady boner?”

I don’t look away from him as I answer both her questions at once. “Big time.”

The men from Alaskan Security all file through the gate securing Christian and Lydia’s small front yard. Appreciative glances continue to follow them along the sidewalk to the porch and as they pass by us as they enter the house. They each take the same hard right into the first-floor office, serious expressions intact, all business and ready for their next assignment.

Zeke brings up the rear, pausing at the open door, reaching one hand out to me. I don’t hesitate to take it, holding tight as he leads me inside. We’re the last ones in, and the room is packed, filled with all of Shadow, as well as Christian and the men he calls his brothers.

Zeke cuts through the crowd, going straight to the front of the room, taking me along with him. One of the men there stands from the chair he’s in and offers it to me. As soon as I sit, Zeke grabs the chair, dragging it closer to where he’s standing so I’m right at his side. Then he faces the room and starts explaining.

“Yesterday, while Savannah and I were looking at a property about an hour outside of Nashville, an unidentified group attacked. They blew up a portion of the building behind us—I’m assuming thinking they’d blow us up along with it—then attempted to locate our position.” His eyes come to me, looking me over like he needs reassurance I’m fine after what happened. “I was able to get her out, but my ability to collect intel was limited.”

He continues offering up what little he knows, occasionally glancing my way. Once he’s finished, he lays out their plan for the day.

I’m a little relieved to learn shipping me back to Fairbanks isn’t part of it.

Once he’s finished and everyone files out, I stand, keeping my voice low when I say, “I thought you would want to send me back.”

“I do.” Zeke cups my face with one hand. “But I’m not sure you’ll be any safer there than you are here.” His eyes move over me. “And I’m not sure how I’ll handle being that far away from you.”

A tiny bit of hope blooms in my chest. “You’re not going to be staying in Nashville?”

“I’ll be back and forth, along with the rest of the team. Christian says there are more than enough spare rooms at the firehouse across the street, and I think that’s a safer bet than a hotel.” Zeke rakes one hand through his hair. “It would have been nice to already have a place set up around here.”

“I guess Pierce is onto something then.” I hide my smile. “I’m not going to tell him that though.”

Zeke’s quiet for a minute, his eyes searching my face. “When the new place is finished, we should come here. Leave Alaska.” He swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing with the movement. “Find a house like this for you to decorate however you want.”

I take a shaky breath. “A place like this would be too big for just me.” I don’t miss his use of the word “we”, and I can’t forget how Zeke made a claim last night, but the things people say in the heat of the moment sometimes don’t line up with how they really feel. I don’t think he would ever lie to me or make me think this is something it’s not, but I can’t stop myself from fishing for confirmation.

A hint of a smile teases his lips. “Good thing it won’t be just you then.” One arm snakes around my waist, pulling me close. “If you’re worried about too much extra space, I’m happy to do my part in filling it with as many people as you want.”

So many things felt out of reach for me for so long. A relationship. A home. A family. But that’s all changing fast, and my hopes and plans for the future are changing along with it.

I know I should hate this area after what happened yesterday, but I don’t. I actually still really like it. It feels so different from Alaska. Especially here with Christian and his family. It feels like a place where I could be happy. A place I could feel settled.

A place I could build a future.

A family.

“Zeke.” Maddox comes up beside us, strapping an entire arsenal onto his body as he talks. “They’re heading out in ten minutes. Isaac is on the line whenever you want to run a test on the connection.” He turns to me, adjusting his earpiece as he asks, “What are your plans for the day?”

I tuck my chin. “ My plans?” I glance at Zeke. “What is he talking about?”

Zeke shoots Maddox a glare. “I have to go to Nashville, but I don’t want to leave you without someone.” He turns back to me. “So Maddox is going to be here with you.”

I look between the men. “What do you mean, here with me?”

After shooting another dirty look at Maddox, Zeke says, “Maddox goes wherever you go.” His expression is serious and unwavering. “You don’t leave the house without him. Even to cross the street. Understand?” His voice softens. “I need to know you’re safe or I won’t be able to concentrate the way I need to.”

I know what he’s saying, and I have full faith in Zeke’s judgment. If he trusts Maddox, then so do I. But I would have liked a little more of a heads up so I could acclimate to the idea.

“Why did you wait until the last minute to tell me?”

“We haven’t had many minutes to spare, Sweetheart.” Zeke’s hands come to my face. “I know I should have given you time to get to know him, but we just don’t have it.” His thumbs skim over my cheeks as his dark eyes fuse to mine. “No one will work harder to keep you safe than he will.” A ghost of a smile teases his lips. “Except for me.”

I understand why he’s leaving someone with me. I’m sure Christian is quite capable—the sheer volume of cameras he has set up show how seriously he takes security—but I see how having someone from Shadow here would make Zeke feel better.

“It’s fine.” My eyes drift to where Maddox stands talking to one of Christian’s giant brothers. “Why do you think no one will work harder than him to keep me safe?”

A pinch of something that looks a lot like sadness tightens Zeke’s face. “That’s not my story to tell, Sweetheart.”

Again, my eyes drift to my new bodyguard. He’s good-looking, with the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s not nearly as big as Zeke—no one is—but he’s still tall and wide and physically intimidating. His demeanor though? There might not be a grumpy bone in that man’s body. He’s already smiled more this morning than Zeke probably has in his whole life. And while Zeke is always tense and stoic, Maddox’s stance is relaxed. Almost laid back.

As laid back as they men at Alaskan Security get anyway.

As if he can sense me staring at him, Maddox looks my way, offering a wide grin and a wink. I almost laugh because I imagine most women would probably pass out on the spot when faced with his undivided attention. Instead, I roll my eyes as I turn back to Zeke. “He’s going to drive me nuts, isn’t he?”

“Absolutely he is. But he’ll keep you safe, and that’s all I care about.” Zeke’s forehead drops to rest against mine. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Tonight?” I know I’ve only slept in the same bed as Zeke twice, but I hate the thought of him not being here. Christian and Lydia are nice enough, but I still don’t really know them. Not the way I know Zeke.

Zeke is quiet, but the guilty look on his face tells me all I need to know.

“It’s okay.” I try to sound more confident than I feel. “I’ll just hang out here.” Reaching down, I adjust the waist of the borrowed jeans irritating my skin. I know he said we couldn’t go back to the hotel last night, but… “Do you think someone can go pick up my stuff from The Gaylord today?” My stomach sinks as I add on, “If it’s still there?”

“The Gaylord is our first stop this morning.” Zeke’s eyes lift to the doorway behind me and he glares at whoever’s standing there. “I’ll make sure anything that’s there is brought here.”

I’m sure it’s too much to hope he’s the one who’ll be bringing it, so I don’t ask. “That would be great.”

“Time to go.” Luca adjusts the vest strapped to his chest as he asks Zeke, “You riding with me?”

Zeke jerks his head in a nod. “I’ll be out in just a second.” He waits until Luca is out of earshot before saying, “Maddox has a phone. Use it to call or text me whenever you want.”

I nod, trying to be brave even though I hate the thought of being without him even more this time than I did last time. “I will.”

Zeke pulls me in, pressing a lingering kiss to my lips. When he pulls back, the intensity in his eyes takes me back to the first time I saw him, making my heart flutter and my knees weak. “I’m going to clean this mess up and then we’re going to have a talk, okay?”

If any other man told me we needed to talk, I’d probably panic. Instead, I smile. “Okay.”

But Zeke doesn’t leave it at that. “You should figure out what you want while I’m gone.” His sharp gaze moves over my face. “Because when I get back, I’m going to ask what it is.”

This is one of the big reasons I feel the way I do about Zeke. There’s no pretense with him. No innuendo. No guessing. No mixed signals.

“I’ll be ready.” I don’t tell him I already know what I want. He’s got a lot on his mind and I don’t think he needs the distraction.

Me, on the other hand? I definitely need a distraction.

So while I stand on Christian’s porch, waving as Zeke pulls away, I’m already imagining the house I plan to find.

The house that will be the home I’ve been looking for.

And the home Zeke’s never had.