Page 48 of Devlin (Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana #4)

TWO MONTHS LATER

Mia adjusted the strap of her bag as she stepped out of her small but cozy office on the Blackfeet Reservation.

The crisp Montana afternoon wrapped around her, the scent of pine and earth filling her lungs.

She’d quickly come to love this place—the vastness of the plains stretching toward the mountains, the way the early sun bathed the land in a golden glow.

It was different from anywhere she’d been before, but in a way that settled something inside her.

She slid into her SUV and started the engine, anxious to end the workweek.

She’d spent the past month as a nutritionist for the reservation, consulting with families, setting up programs for better food accessibility, and working alongside the local clinic to ensure expectant mothers received proper nutritional guidance.

It was a shift from her overseas work, but no less important.

Here, she wasn’t in war-torn regions, but she was still making a difference and helping people in a way that mattered.

She pulled onto the road, driving toward town.

The radio played softly, but her thoughts drifted to the first month she was back in the States.

She’d spent the weeks in Kansas, where she’d caught up with her family.

Seeing her baby nephew for the first time had been an experience she’d never forget.

Holding him, feeling his tiny fingers grasp hers, had reminded her how much she’d missed over the years.

Devlin had come with her for the first week, staying nearby with his family.

His parents had welcomed her with open arms, their enthusiasm a sharp contrast to the quiet wariness of her own family.

But the tension her family had presented around Devlin had eased by the time she left.

He wasn’t the same person he’d been a decade ago, and neither was she.

When she’d accepted the new job, she sublet an apartment near the reservation, refusing to accept Devlin’s invitation to move in with him. She just wanted to have a chance to get used to one new thing at a time. And maybe she was still protecting her heart.

Pulling into the parking lot of the local diner, she smiled at the familiar sight of Devlin’s truck parked out front.

She grabbed her bag and stepped inside, the scent of beer, french fries, and hamburgers greeting her.

The diner was bustling with laughter and conversation, blending with the servers darting about.

She spotted Devlin quickly. He stood near a table where a few Native elders sat, his easy smile and deep voice carrying over the chatter. He clasped hands with an older man, nodding respectfully. These were people he’d once worked alongside before his job with Logan had taken him elsewhere.

“Didn’t think I’d see you back here, son,” one of the men said, his weathered face breaking into a grin.

Devlin chuckled. “Didn’t think I’d be back either, but you know how it goes. You find reasons to come home.”

Mia’s chest warmed at that. Devlin turned, spotting her, and his smile softened. He reached for her as she approached, his hand sliding naturally around her waist. It was a simple touch, but one that she craved.

They made their way to a large table where familiar faces had already gathered.

Sisco and Lenore sat with their daughter, Evie, who was busy telling anyone within earshot about a dog at the barn who was going to have puppies.

Landon and Noel laughed at Sisco’s doting look while Lenore vowed no more pets could come into the home.

Logan and Vivian were busy keeping their baby entertained.

The other Keepers were there, including Mary and Bert.

Mia sat beside Devlin, reaching for the pitcher of beer in the center of the table. “It’s nice to see everyone in one place.”

“Rare occurrence,” Logan commented, bouncing his baby on his knee. “I think the stars had to align just right for it to happen.”

Sisco smirked. “Or maybe we all just got tired of chasing bad guys for a day.”

“That too,” Devlin agreed, lifting his glass in a silent toast.

The conversation flowed easily, touching everything from work to families to absurd stories from the field. Mia laughed more than she had in a long time, slipping into the group's rhythm. She felt at ease with them now, even if their world differed.

She noticed the gentle expression crossing Bert’s face every time Mary spoke, and she wondered if there was a budding romance.

A few of the single men talked about their evening plans of hitting the local bar.

“Tourists are in town,” Cory said with a gleam in his eye. He turned to Todd and added, “Be my wingman.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Timothy said. “Todd would be the worst wingman. Hell, he’d get the woman before you would every time!”

Almost everyone laughed, but Mia saw the way Sadie pursed her lips. Sadie and Todd, sitting across from each other, weren’t exactly exuding harmony. As the others joked about the value of Todd being a wingman, Sadie tapped her fingers against her coffee cup.

Todd lifted his gaze to Sadie, and Mia could have sworn she spied longing in his eyes.

The tension was palpable, and Mia leaned over to whisper in Devlin’s ear. “Are they together? Or used to be?”

“Nah,” Devlin chuckled. “I’m pretty sure they’d never go there.”

Mia smirked. “Famous last words.” She leaned back in her chair, watching as the conversation carried on, a swirl of warmth, friendship, and the occasional bickering. This was Devlin’s world, and it had become hers too. Different from the life she’d once imagined, but good. Steady. Home.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

Two Months Later

Devlin pulled into his driveway just as the porch light flicked on, casting a warm glow over the front of the house.

He cut the engine and sat for a moment, letting the sight settle into his bones.

Inside, behind that welcoming light, was Mia.

She was here. She had moved in with him, and every time he looked at the house, he knew it truly was a home.

For years, he thought he’d never have a woman he loved sharing his life. Now, he knew it was a gift he would never take lightly again.

Stepping inside, he was hit with the scent of something warm and familiar, spices blending in the air. And then he saw her— standing in the kitchen, barefoot, a wooden spoon in one hand and a knowing smile on her face.

She turned toward him, and in the next instant, he had her in his arms. She kissed him, long and deep, the kind that could turn into something much more. But she pulled back, laughing softly as she pressed a hand against his chest.

“Let’s eat first,” she said, amusement dancing in her eyes. “It’s my night to cook, and I made something special.”

He groaned but relented, letting her lead him to the table.

The meal was perfect—kikalayi pork with vegetables.

She had occasionally added Ugandan cuisine to their meals, saying it reminded her of the good times and friends still there.

They ate while catching up, and their conversation was easy and warm.

She told him about an email from Farid—he’d just been made the lead food security officer.

And another from Karen, who was now dating Percy.

They’d decided to extend their tour in Uganda for another year.

He told her about an upcoming mission—just security planning, nothing dangerous. He’d be gone for a couple of days.

She tilted her head, considering him, then smiled. “Then I’ll have to give you a private going away party. And, of course, a welcome home one.”

His grin was slow and wicked. “I’ll hold you to that.”

After dinner, they took her wine and his whiskey to the back deck. The sky had turned into a watercolor of deep purples and oranges, and the sun was dipping below the horizon. She curled into his lap, her legs draped over the arm of the chair and her head tucked beneath his chin.

Silence stretched between them, the kind that spoke of contentment rather than distance. Then she shifted slightly and looked up at him. “Can I ask you something?”

He glanced down, amusement flickering in his gaze. “Mia, we’ve known each other for twenty years. You can ask me anything.”

She studied him for a moment before asking, “What did you think of me when you first saw me?”

His brows furrowed slightly, and then his lips quirked in a smirk. “When I first saw you? I couldn’t believe you marched down to the field, wrapped a chain around the goalpost and yourself, and locked it in place.”

She laughed softly. “That’s what you saw me do. But what did you think?”

His expression softened, and something deep and unwavering settled in his eyes. “At first, I wondered if you were nuts. But then, when I saw you stand up to the two officers and the principal, I thought you were the most fascinating person I’d ever met.”

Her smile was slow, but before she could respond, he continued. “But I’m not finished.”

She tilted her head, waiting.

“I knew, at that moment, that I would do anything in the world to protect you. I fell down on that once, but I will never let that happen again. I would scorch the earth to keep you safe from now until the day we die.”

Her smile spread slowly and radiantly until it beamed. As she tucked her head back under his chin, he exhaled deeply, his arms tightening around her.

This was it. The life he had fought for, the love he had never truly let go of. And now, finally, he had everything he had ever wanted in his arms.