Page 88 of Mountain Defender

The closer we get to the Mattisons, the more nervous Gage gets. His fingers are cold and stiff around mine, his shoulders are high and tense, and I can practically feel the anxiety radiating from him.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper. “And no matter what, I have your back.”

And despite Gage’s fears, itisokay.

The Mattisons aren’t angry. Instead, they both give Gage big hugs and thank him profusely for coming.

When Gage starts to apologize, Vince’s father brushes it off, saying, “There’s nothing to be sorry for, son. We always knew you were thinking of Vince.”

Then Mrs. Mattison tells Gage, “We’re just glad you’re okay, Gage. We’ve been so worried about you. And Vince of all people would understand if you weren’t ready to come until now.”

Gage stares at her for a long moment, swallowing hard before he replies, “I think about Vince every day.”

Mrs. Mattison gives Gage another long hug. “I know you do.”

Another hard conversation is the one with Vince’s widow, Melissa. She and Vince had only been married six months before he died, had their whole lives ahead of them, plans for a house and kids and a lifetime together. Instead, she was widowed at thirty-one.

“I’m sorry,” Gage tells her immediately. “I should have done a better job of staying in touch. I should have called more. Come here sooner.” He sighs. “I was struggling. But that’s not an excuse.”

Melissa stares at him, her silence long enough to make me think she might not accept his apology. That she might reaffirm all his fears of letting down Vince’s family.

Then she gives him a small smile. “It’s okay. I understand.” She pauses. Her gaze drifts to me, then to Gage’s arm still wrapped around my waist. “But it looks like you’re doing better now.”

Gage nods at her. “I am. It took a while. But I think I’m finally doing okay.”

Once the conversation is wrapped up and we’re headed to Gage’s friends’ table, he leans his head down and says in a low tone, “I’m more than okay now. I didn’t want to say that to Melissa and rub it in. But with GMG and Dewey… I was good then. And now that I have you, I can’t imagine being any happier.”

Oh.

There’s that feeling again. Like my heart is too big for my body.

I have to tell him.

But first.

“So, how do you feel now? Having talked to Vince’s parents? His wife?”

Gage thinks for a second. “I feel good. Talking to his parents… I realized all the guilt was just in my head.”

In the corner of the room, Sam waves us over to the table.

“Thank you for coming with me,” Gage adds. “And thank you for supporting me through this. I can’t tell you how much it means to have you here.”

“Always.” I brush my mouth across his. “So. Let’s go spend some time with your friends. And later, we can go back to the cabin to do some sexy things?”

His eyes light up. “Sexy things?”

“Yes. Lots of sexy things.” I kiss him again, this time nipping at his bottom lip and stroking away the small sting with my tongue. As he pulls me against him, he hardens, jutting against my belly.

Desire throbs in my core, heavy and aching.

Gage looks at me with hooded eyes, lust turning them a molten chocolate. “I like the sound of that.”

“Me too,” I breathe.

Sexy things first. AndthenI’ll tell Gage I love him.

CHAPTER 18