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GAGE

When Enzo first floated the topic, I wasn’t sure about it.

Given how uneasy Rory gets about being around people she doesn’t know well, I was worried a party might be too much for her. Especially on top of everything else she’s dealing with.

But it’s not my place to make decisions for her, no matter how much I might want to shield Rory from things that might be upsetting. After all, she’s thirty-six years old. She’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

Well.

Most of the time, at least. When it comes to decisions about where to live and running her shelter and getting the latest updates on her case—which is another thing I don’t love telling her about—I know Rory can handle it.

Did she like hearing about the disappointing lack of progress in locating the man—or men—who attacked her? Of course not. Was she thrilled when Enzo gently asked if she’d consider using a hypnotherapist to try to get her memories back? Not particularly.

I was sitting beside her during the meeting yesterday, so I saw her face go white at his suggestion.

I felt her fingers dig into my leg and heard her sharp intake of breath.

But she held it together as Enzo said, “I know it’s not ideal.

But this therapist was recommended by a friend of ours.

Emily is married to Cage, who works for the Brotherhood Protectors, a security company out in Colorado.

She says this therapist is great, very gentle with his techniques, and he’s had a lot of success helping people recover their memories. ”

Seeing her reaction, I wanted to pick Rory up and whisk her out of there.

I wanted to bring her back to the cabin and do whatever I could to get that worried look off her face.

Watch a marathon of Too Cute . Cook her whatever she wants—or at least, attempt it.

Kiss her until she’s flushed and breathless and this screwed up situation is the last thing on her mind.

But I didn’t do any of those things. I just held Rory’s hand and listened as she told Enzo, “I’ll do it. If your friend thinks it’ll work. But maybe… we could wait until after the weekend? Just in case my memory comes back on its own?”

After the meeting, she pretended she was fine. But I could tell she was upset. Worried. On the way back to the cabin, she quietly admitted, “I know I need to remember. It’s the best chance of ending this. But I’m scared to remember, too. Is that crazy?”

It’s not crazy. And I’m not exactly looking forward to watching some hypno therapist—which I’m still not completely sold on—force Rory into reliving one of the most traumatic experiences of her life.

So is it any wonder I was hesitant about bringing up this impromptu party and potentially putting even more stress on her?

But our friend Leo and his wife, Georgia, are in Vermont for the week, and they wanted to stop by for a visit.

Which is fine, of course, we’re always happy to see them.

Leo was in the same Green Beret battalion as Enzo, and I know Leo from the years we were both stationed at Fort Campbell.

Not to mention, Leo’s part of Blade and Arrow Security, based out of Sleepy Hollow, New York, and his team has been a huge help in getting us started, sending referrals and assisting with some of our cases.

But Leo and Georgia are new to Rory, so I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about meeting them.

So when I brought up Enzo’s idea of a game night over breakfast this morning, I followed it with, “It’s not a problem if you’d rather stay here tonight.

We can hang out with the dogs, watch a movie, or run through a couple of easy quests in World of Warcraft to get you some better equipment. ”

She said yes. And in hindsight, I shouldn’t have been surprised. When has Rory ever turned away from a challenge?

Still, I worried.

All day today and on the walk over to Enzo’s house this evening, I worried.

As I introduced Rory to Leo and Georgia, I worried. Leo’s a great guy, and probably one of the nicest people I know, but he’s like Max—tall and intimidating if you don’t know him.

Even as we settled around the dining room table to play our first round of Extreme Jenga, which is an adaptation of the game Leo came up with back in his early days at Fort Campbell, I worried.

Then Rory—my brave, smart, funny Rory—showed me I had nothing to worry about.

Yes, she was quiet at the start of the night.

But by the middle of the second Jenga game, she was cheering and laughing and attempting to cheat along with the rest of us.

And when she won the third round, beating Knox in a tense one-on-one showdown, she was all smiles, even giving him a quick hug at the end.

So that was pretty great.

Another thing that was great? Finally understanding what all my coupled-up friends have. Not that me and Rory are engaged or married, like my friends are, but we’re a couple. At least, that’s how I see it.

Before, I’d notice Enzo holding Winter’s hand or Knox playing with Lark’s hair and put it aside as something other people did.

Not me, not the perpetually single guy who had no plans to look for a relationship.

Not me, who spent decades avoiding commitment even before I lost my foot because I didn’t want to end up like my parents, divorced and constantly griping about each other up until my dad passed away ten years ago.

Now? I think I get it.

All night, I kept catching myself touching Rory. Holding her hand, hugging her, kissing her, and even pulling her onto my lap when we all gathered in the living room to watch Lily do her little toddler dance, complete with a tutu and tiara.

And when I saw Leo’s proud smile as he watched his daughter dancing, his wife tucked protectively under his arm, I thought, what if?

What if one day, just maybe, that could be Rory and me?

Not necessarily with kids, but having our own little family, complete with Elmore and Toby and Dewey.

Rory would probably make little Christmas bandanas and little stockings to hang on the mantle, and I just know she’d insist on wrapping presents for all of them.

Is it crazy to be thinking like that already?

Maybe.

But. I remember Finn, another member of Blade and Arrow Security, saying how he knew his wife, Hanna, was the one from the first time he met her. Knox admitted the same about Lark, even though they stayed in the friend zone for months.

Kind of like me and Rory.

“Well, we should probably get this one to bed,” Leo says, dragging my attention away from my wandering thoughts. He’s holding a drowsy Lily in one arm and has his other wrapped around Georgia. “If she falls asleep here and we wake her up…”

Georgia makes a little uh-oh face. “You don’t want to be around for that. She’s usually a sweetheart, but if you wake her up out of a sound sleep, she’s not happy. And doesn’t hesitate to let everyone know about it.”

“No worries,” Enzo says with an easy smile. He glances at Winter, and they exchange a look that makes me wonder if they’re trying for a baby, like so many of our other friends have. “Do you need anything at the cabin?”

“It’s perfect,” Georgia replies. “Thanks so much for letting us stay here. And Knox—” She turns to him. “You did such a wonderful job building them. I can’t get over how cute our cabin is.”

Knox lifts his chin. “Thanks. You ever decide to build a cabin up this way, let me know. I’d be happy to do it at cost.”

“We might take you up on that.” Leo grabs Lily’s travel bag and slings it over his shoulder. “I’ve been talking with Finn about finding a vacation house up this way. Close to hiking and family and?—”

“Beer,” Ronan interjects, chuckling. “There are some great breweries out this way, as you know.”

“Oh, Ronan, that reminds me. I have a case of beer for you,” Rory says. “I had it delivered from this place up in Greensboro Bend. To thank you for watching the dogs.”

Ronan’s eyes light up. “Hill Farmstead? I love their beer.” He pauses. “You didn’t have to get me anything for watching the dogs. But I won’t turn it down, now that you’ve got it.”

Leo nods enthusiastically. “That’s some of the best beer in the Northeast. I’ve tried to get the guys at home to try it, but they have no taste. All they want is corporate?—”

“Yes, Leo.” Georgia pats his arm patiently. “We know. Microbreweries are best.”

Lily makes an irritated noise, and Leo immediately stiffens. “Okay. That’s our cue.” He raises his chin at Enzo. “Thanks for the game night. And Rory.” He looks at her. “It was really nice to meet you.”

Georgia smiles at Rory. “It was really nice meeting you. I hope you’ll come down to Sleepy Hollow for a visit sometime.”

Rory’s cheeks turn a faint pink. “I”d like that. Once everything…”

“Of course.” Georgia darts forward to give her a hug. “I understand.”

Fifteen minutes later, as we head back to Rory’s cabin, she says, “I was a little nervous about going. It sounds bad, but I haven’t been to a party—of any size—in at least ten years.”

“It doesn’t sound bad,” I reply, hugging her to my side. “Lots of people don’t like parties.”

Rory tilts her head back to gaze up at the stars.

Then she looks back at me, the light from the moon casting a soft glow on her face.

“It was nice. I like your team a lot. Winter and Lark are great. Leo’s a little intimidating at first, but once I saw him with Lily, I could tell he’s just a big softie. And Georgia…”

“She’s nice, isn’t she?”

“Yeah.” Rory leans against me as we walk. “She told me about what happened to her. How she got the scar on her face.”

My shoulders tense. I know the story of Georgia’s stalker, and how her career as a model ended after she was intentionally scarred. I should have thought of it earlier, that it might upset Rory?—