Page 16

RORY

“Are you sure you don’t mind meeting with everyone at once?”

As Gage shifts his truck into park, he glances over at me, his eyebrows winging into a worried V. “I can ask a couple of the guys to hang back,” he adds, “if that would make you feel more comfortable.”

“But didn’t Enzo and Knox come back early just to help with the case?” In the wake of the shooting yesterday, they decided to leave Boston late last night, once their job was done, instead of returning this afternoon as originally planned.

“Yes, but they don’t have to sit in on the meeting. I can fill them in later.” He pauses. “It’s not that I don’t think you can handle it, Ror. I know you can. But after… Well. It’s been a rough week. And I don’t want to cause you more stress than necessary.”

“I know.” I twist in my seat to face him. “And I appreciate it. But I’ve been thinking. If they’re willing to disrupt their lives to help with my case, the very least I can do is meet with everyone.”

“They’re happy to help,” Gage protests. “It’s not a disruption. Not with a regular case, and definitely not with you.”

As he looks at me, an indecipherable emotion moves across his features, disappearing before I have the chance to examine it.

But the way he emphasized the word definitely makes my heart jump.

Did he say it that way because I helped Gage and Enzo find doggie companions, waiving the adoption fees as soon as I discovered they were both veterans?

Was it because he considers me a friend, just as I think of him as mine?

Could it possibly have meant more?

Is there a possibility, however slim, that Gage might feel more than simple friendship towards me?

A week ago, I wouldn’t have considered it. I thought we were securely in the just friends zone.

I told myself Gage could never see me as anything more.

But after spending so much time together over the last few days, a little voice in my head keeps whispering, what if?

What if he feels even a fraction of what I do for him?

Could he? Despite my scars?—

But he hasn’t seen all of them, has he?

The ones on my face, yes. Perhaps a glimpse of one or two on my arms. But to see all of them? The ones on my legs and stomach that never faded no matter how many creams and lotions I slathered on them? The scars that my crush in college referred to as disgusting the moment he saw them?

Ugh.

Who am I kidding? Even if Gage was interested in me, it couldn’t go anywhere.

I couldn’t bear to see the look of disappointment in his eyes if we ever got to the point of intimacy.

I don’t think he’d be cruel. Not like douchenozzle Darren, as Isla called him, was back in college.

But it would change things. I could lose a friend I’ve come to value a lot.

No. Friends is better. Safer.

“Ror?” Gage touches my arm. His voice gentles. “If you’re having second thoughts, or you need more time before we meet, that’s okay.”

“I’m good,” I reply. “Really. I’ve already put off the interrogation long enough.”

An unhappy frown thins his lips. “It won’t be like that. Not even close. Enzo will probably ask most of the questions, Alec will be typing away on his laptop, and the rest of us will just be listening. No one’s going to be firing questions at you. And anytime you need a break, just say so. Okay?”

“I was just kidding.” Mostly. I don’t really think Gage’s teammates will act like the police on those procedurals I sometimes catch on TV, with the whole good-cop-bad-cop thing going and the interrogation room thermostat set to near-freezing.

Truthfully, I’m more concerned about being the center of attention, which is something I’ve patently tried to avoid. Having one person staring at me is bad enough, but five? I’d rather not.

Still. I’ve been through much tougher things than this and survived. So I can suck it up and meet with Gage’s team, no matter how uncomfortable it makes me.

“Everyone will be really nice,” Gage promises. He opens the driver’s side door and hops out. “You’ve already met Enzo and Ronan. And Knox and Alec are great.”

Rather than jump out of the truck myself, I wait for him to come around.

Partly because I know he’ll insist on it, and also?

Because I’ve discovered I like it. I like how it feels when he takes my hand, supporting me with his other as he helps me down.

And I like how he lets his fingers linger on my back for a few seconds, ensuring I keep my balance.

Once we’re both outside the truck, Gage tilts his chin in the direction of the barn ahead of us. “Here we are. The newly-constructed headquarters. What do you think?”

Before we got here, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Maybe a cozy wooden cabin like the one I’m staying in, or the polar opposite, a sleek and austere office building fully decked out with the newest technology. But this, I wasn’t anticipating.

“It’s a barn,” I say, announcing the obvious. My cheeks warm. “I mean, of course it’s a barn. I guess… I was expecting…”

“Something different?” Gage puts his hand on the small of my back as he leads me towards it.

He glances down at me, his lips curving into a smile.

“We tossed around a lot of ideas in the beginning. Modern, rustic, even something underground, but when Knox brought up the barn concept, it just seemed right. Like it fits in here.”

“It does. I like it.”

“Wait til you see inside. We’ve got—” He stops. Gives a rueful grin. “I guess I don’t need to describe it to you when you’ll see it for yourself.”

At the side door, Gage punches in a complicated code on the keypad beside it, then waits while a retinal scan verifies his identity. A second later, the door unlocks with a click and he pushes it open, gesturing for me to go in ahead of him.

Once we get inside, my anxiety takes a backseat to curiosity as I look around.

It’s an expansive space, with a huge open office area flooded with natural light. On one wall there must be a dozen monitors mounted on it, all of them showing a different view of the GMG property. Beneath them is a long desk, at least ten feet long, with six computers set along it.

On the opposite wall, there’s a sitting area with several comfortable-looking couches facing an enormous TV.

A fully stocked kitchen sits in the far right corner, done up in the same style as the one in my cabin, with butcher block counters and modern appliances.

Several doors lead to what I’m guessing must be private offices, or possibly storage rooms for all their equipment.

In the center of the room is a long, glossy wooden table surrounded by leather office chairs, four of them already taken.

Within seconds of coming in, they all stand up, lifting their chins nearly in unison.

Enzo’s at the head of the table—having met him at the shelter, I recognize him immediately—and he gives me a friendly wave. Ronan—who I met yesterday when he stopped by my cabin—follows with a smile and a, “Hey, Rory. How’s it going?”

Alec I haven’t met yet. After Gage let his team know about the shooting, they decided to have Alec stay at the GMG property to make sure it was secure while Ronan came to my place as backup for Gage.

But I can tell who he is from the photos Gage has shown me, just as I can tell the tall, dark-haired man with a beard is Knox.

“Rory.” Enzo walks towards me with his hand outstretched. “How are you holding up?”

As I shake his hand, I reply, “I’m good.

And I’ve been wanting to thank you. I really appreciate you and Winter going to my house to get some of my things.

And going shopping, and setting up my cabin…

” A beat later, I amend with a small grimace, “ Your cabin. Sorry. That’s another thing I want to thank you for.

Letting me stay on your property. It’s just been… ”

Trailing off, I notice everyone staring at me.

Heat rushes to my cheeks.

I have to dig my nails into my palms to keep from fussing with my hair, a habit I fall back on whenever I’m feeling uncomfortable.

“Sorry,” I mumble at the floor. “I’ll just shut up now.”

“Don’t apologize,” Gage says. His voice is a warm blanket wrapping around me. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Absolutely not,” Enzo adds. “And the cabin is yours while you’re here. Okay?”

Knox smiles. “Lark said the same thing when she stayed here.” He pauses. “Are you comfortable there? Is there anything that needs to be fixed? I always check the cabins before anyone moves in, but it’s possible I missed something.”

Somehow, I find myself in front of the conference table, with Gage’s hand still on my back.

He pulls out a chair and I slide into it.

When he takes the one next to mine and rolls it a little closer, some of the nervous flutters in my stomach subside.

“It’s perfect,” I tell Knox. “I can’t believe you built it. ”

“There’s a reason we keep him around,” Alec adds with a chuckle. “For all the free repair work.” He leans across the table to shake my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Rory. After hearing so much?—”

“ Anyway ,” Gage interrupts. “How about if we all introduce ourselves to Rory, and then we can get started. I’d like to make this as quick and painless as possible.”

“It’s okay,” I start, turning to him.

“No.” His expression sobers. “The sooner we’re done, the sooner you can get home to rest. I know you didn’t sleep well last night.

And with your concussion, and all the—” He stops.

A muscle in his jaw twitches. More softly, he continues, “I just don’t want the stress to slow your recovery, Ror. That’s all.”

Oh.

My heart goes all melty.

“I’ll rest after this,” I tell him. “I promise.”

Enzo coughs, drawing our attention to him. A tiny smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth. “If we’re ready, then?”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m ready. What do you need to know?”