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I guess I can understand not wanting to ask her friend to fly with a newborn baby. Although I’m not sure how Rory convinced Isla of that. From what I understand, they’ve been good friends since college, and Rory flew there to see the baby last month…

“I’m surprised they didn’t insist on coming,” I muse. “Considering what happened and all.”

A flush darkens her cheeks. “They don’t know the details. I just told Isla that I ran into a trespasser on the property and got a little banged up.”

“A little banged up ?” Incredulity tinges my voice. “I’d hardly?—”

“I don’t want her worrying,” Rory retorts defensively. “You know what happened to Isla last year. She and Matt deserve some time to enjoy being new parents.” She pauses. “Knox didn’t tell them, did he? When I talked to Isla yesterday, she didn’t say anything.”

“No, he wouldn’t share information about your case without your permission. But you know Matt will be asking about updates. What do you want to tell him?”

Her shoulders sag. “I don’t know. I guess… I was hoping I’d remember and we could catch this guy. Then I could tell Isla about everything after.”

Turning my attention back to the packed dirt road that winds through the GMG property, I take a moment to consider my response. While I think it would be better if Rory told her friend the truth, it’s really not my place to push her.

So I back off, shifting the conversation back to her original question.

“So. I was thinking you could get settled into the cabin today, and tomorrow if you’re feeling up to it, we can have an informal meeting to talk about your case.

Not the whole team— Knox and Enzo just left this morning for a two-day job in Boston, and Ronan’s sticking close to your house to watch the dogs—but just me and Alec. How does that sound?”

There’s a brief pause before Rory responds, “That sounds… good. If you’re sure you don’t need to do it today?”

“I’m sure,” I assure her. “Your health is the most important thing right now. And I know you must be exhausted. I remember how hard it was to sleep in the hospital.”

A beat later, I silently curse myself.

Why did I bring up my own miserable hospital experience? I’ve managed to avoid the subject for the first six months I’ve known Rory, and I’d definitely rather not get into it now.

“When were you—” Rory cuts herself off. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”

Damn. I don’t want her to feel bad about her honest curiosity, especially when I was the one who mentioned the whole hospital thing.

And strangely, though I never, ever talk about those first terrible months, there’s a part of me that suddenly wants to share everything.

To tell Rory how it really felt, the anger and depression and fear of the unknown.

How lonely it was, knowing everything I’d worked so hard for was gone. That my friends were gone.

But now is not the time for unburdening myself. So, instead, I just flash a quick smile in her direction and say lightly, “It’s fine, Ror. No worries.”

Just up ahead, my house appears on the left, a little A-frame cabin surrounded by a thicket of towering oaks and spruces and maples.

A small fenced-in area for Dewey is tucked off to the side—while I normally take him for several walks each day, he likes to go out there to chase the leaves or play fetch.

“That’s my house,” I tell her, slowing as we pass by. “The place you’ll be staying is just a bit up the road from here. So I’ll be close by.”

“Oh, it’s so cute.” Rory glances at me, her expression brightening. “I can picture you here, playing with Dewey in the yard, going for walks in the woods…”

“Yeah. I really like it. When I first moved here, I wasn’t sure how it would be. My old place was out in the middle of nowhere. Now I’ve got Enzo and Winter nearby, plus any clients we have staying here, but it still feels private. Peaceful.”

“I can see that.” A smile lifts her lips. “And I know what you mean. About enjoying the quiet. When people hear that I have a dog rescue, they assume it’s noisy all the time. But it’s not. The dogs might bark when they’re excited, but usually they’re pretty quiet. And it’s nice…”

Trailing off, she goes silent for a few seconds.

Does she regret picking a house that’s so isolated?

If Rory lived in town, she would have had neighbors to run to. There might have been security cameras nearby to catch a glimpse of the man who hurt her. Or she might never have been attacked at all.

“Anyway,” she adds in a falsely cheerful tone, “your cabin is great. And I can’t wait to see where I’m staying.”

“It’s just up here.” Slowing as we take the next curve, I gesture out the window. “The one on the right.”

There are two cabins set just across from each other, each of them just about the size of mine.

They have matching porches with Adirondack chairs on them, picture windows on the first floor to let in plenty of light, and little dormers on the second floor.

The one I picked for Rory is the nicer one—the one Lark actually lived in while she stayed here.

But I did tell Rory she could choose, so maybe I shouldn’t have assumed…

“Sorry,” I add as I pull to a stop in front of the cabin.

“I know I said you could pick which one you wanted to stay in. But Knox added some things to this cabin that the other doesn’t have—a reading bench upstairs and a gas fireplace in the living room instead of wood-burning, plus some nicer finishes in the kitchen—so I thought you might like this one better. ”

“This is perfect, Gage.” She twists in her seat to face me. “That you guys are even letting me stay here, and in such a nice place… How could I possibly complain?”

“I’m happy that you’re here,” I reply quickly.

And now that I’m saying it, I’m realizing how true it is.

Not just because Rory is safe here, protected by hundreds of feet of reinforced fencing and security cameras and motion sensors and highly-trained former Spec Ops on the premises, but because I like knowing she’s close by.

Not a fifteen minute drive away, but just down the road from my house.

“Are the dogs here already?” Rory grabs the door handle and starts to open it. “Or is Ronan bringing them over later?”

“Hang on.” I touch her shoulder. “Let me come around to help you.”

“I think I can make it to the front door,” she replies with a teasing smile.

“Maybe so. But it would make me feel better if you’d let me.” Plus, I’m still remembering how her legs wobbled when she tried to get off the hospital bed. And the last thing I want is for Rory to get hurt again.

“Okay.” Pulling her hand away from the handle, she adds, “If it makes you feel better.”

It does.

And the way Rory feels tucked up against me as I lead her to the house is completely irrelevant.

Nor is the perfect way she fits under my arm like she’s meant to be there.

Nope . I’m just helping her. Making sure she doesn’t get hurt.

“The dogs should be here already,” I say as we approach the front porch. “Ronan texted me right before we left the hospital. He was just waiting for Max to relieve him at the barn, and then he was going to head over here with Elmore and Toby.”

Almost as if they heard me, twin sets of toenails come clattering towards the door. A beat later, two excited barks follow.

“Oh!” Rory’s fingers tighten on my shirt. Her head tilts up so she can meet my gaze. Moisture shines in her eyes. “Do you think they’re okay? I hate leaving them. And after everything that happened, they must have been so scared…”

“I think they’re fine,” I soothe. “Ronan and Max have been spoiling them like crazy. They’re just excited to see you, is all.”

Excited is probably a massive understatement. Once I get the door unlocked and we step inside, the two dogs launch themselves at Rory, leaping at her legs and barking like crazy.

She drops to her knees and throws her arms around them, not even flinching at the ear-splitting noise and the wet doggie-kisses she’s receiving.

I’m a little concerned, though, given that Rory has a concussion and though she hasn’t admitted it, probably a lingering headache. So I crouch next to her and tell the dogs gently, “Hey, guys. Your mom isn’t feeling her best. Take it easy on her, okay?”

Miraculously, they seem to understand. Both dogs sink to their haunches and proceed to give Rory much less enthusiastic kisses, but it’s clear from their eyes that they’re beyond thrilled to see her.

Rory buries her face in Elmore’s fur first, then Toby’s. Then she looks back at me with pink eyes and tear-stained cheeks. “Gage.” Her chin quivers. “Thank you.”

I resist the urge to wipe away her tears. “For what, Ror?”

“Everything.” She sniffs. Small white teeth dig into her lower lip. “Finding me in the woods. Staying with me at the hospital. Getting this amazing cabin set up for me. Convincing your team to help me. To help the dogs. And bringing Elmore and Toby here…”

“Ror.” It’s torture not to hug her. “I wanted to be there. And my team wants to help.” I stop. Then I admit more than I probably should. “There’s no place I’d rather be than right here. With you.”

“Gage.” Releasing the dogs, she flings her arms around me.

A beat later, Rory pulls away, her cheeks flushing red. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—” She stands. “I don’t usually hug people like that. I just…”

“It’s fine.” More than fine, really. But I’m not saying that.

Feeling slightly unsettled myself, I fumble for something else to say. “Would you like a tour of the cabin? Then you can make yourself comfortable, maybe take a nap, or I can help you make something to eat?—”

“A tour would be great.” Rory takes a few steps into the living room, and I can’t help putting my hand on her back to steady her. Her gaze flickers towards me, and her cheeks go pink again. But she doesn’t pull away.

And honestly, I don’t want her to.

It only takes five minutes or so to explore the cabin—it’s less than a thousand square feet, with a living room that opens to a small kitchen and dining area, plus two bedrooms and one and half baths.

But any worries I might have had about Rory liking the place disappear at her first sigh of pleasure, as she looks longingly at the couch set in front of the glowing fireplace.

“I know it’s May,” I tell her, “but I thought you might like to relax by the fire. And I know you’ve been cold ever since…”

Ever since she woke up half-frozen in the woods. Not hypothermic, but close to it. And the doctor said she might feel chilled for a while until her body temperature regulates itself again.

“Oh, it’s perfect.” Pleasure brightens her gaze. “I can’t wait to cuddle up on the couch with the—” She stops. “Would it be okay if the dogs got up on the couch?”

“Of course. Whatever you want.”

More tension drains from her features. “Okay. So maybe I’ll take a quick shower, then a nap.

And I know the doctor said not too much TV, but there’s this docuseries on Nat Geo that I’ve been wanting…

” Her smile dips. “Sorry. I’m sure you’re ready to get going.

I’ve taken up enough of your day already. ”

“No.” My response is more forceful than intended. At Rory’s startled look, I amend, “I wasn’t going to leave you, Ror. Not when you just got out of the hospital. Not unless you… Well. I could text Winter or Lark, ask them to come over.”

“No, no.” She shakes her head, wincing as she does it. “That’s okay. They already did so much, getting the cabin all set. But don’t you have work to do?”

Actually, yes. I have a deadline coming up for some new flight simulator mods I’m supposed to test. And I’m supposed to be researching drones so GMG can buy one for remote surveillance.

That’s not including a more personal and pressing matter—my prosthetic, which I’ve been wearing for over twenty-four hours. I never wear it this long, and I badly need to give my leg a break. But I couldn’t exactly do that while protecting Rory in the hospital.

I should go home and take care of all of those things.

It would be fine. My house is literally a minute’s drive away.

But.

I don’t want to leave her.

“I was thinking,” I say slowly, sorting through my thoughts as I speak. “I could run home, grab a quick shower, and come back with my laptop. So I can hang here and get some work done while you nap. Would that be okay with you?”

Rory stares at me. She swallows hard. Then she nods.

The relief in her eyes is almost my undoing.

“If you don’t mind,” she replies quietly, “I’d really like it if you’d stay.”

“Of course.” And before I can stop myself, I give her a quick hug. “I’d be happy to.”