Page 38

GAGE

“Do you want to stop by Blissful Brews next, or head over to The Laughing Goat?”

Rory looks over at me, her cheeks pink from the sun and heat.

Strands of hair blow in front of her face, caught by the light summer breeze.

There’s a light in her eyes that I feared I wouldn’t see after that night at the cabin.

I was afraid Melissa’s shocking outburst—assault, to get technical about it—would be too much for even my strong Rory to overcome.

After all, it was a fourth attack—a fourth brush with death—and no matter how resilient my incredible girlfriend is, everyone has their breaking point. And in the days immediately after, when Rory’s PTSD was back with a vengeance, I worried she might have hit hers.

I was wrong. After the third night of nightmares, Rory announced over breakfast the following morning, “I’ve been doing the weekly virtual counseling sessions, but I don’t think they’re enough.

Not right now. I’m going to go more often.

And if you’re willing, I’d really like it if you could come with me for some of them. So we can work through this together.”

As if I’d say no, even though my knee-jerk reaction was to insist I was okay?

So I brought her to counseling in Bliss twice a week, attending half of those sessions with her.

At first, I didn’t want to talk about myself—the crushing guilt, the nagging fear that something would happen to Rory if I left her alone, the worry that she’d realize I was too much trouble and end up leaving me.

But I did it for Rory. And once I forced myself to open up, it actually helped.

It helped both of us.

While it’s still early days; just three weeks since the night in Blue Mountain Lake, I can tell we’re both making progress. The nightmares are fewer. Rory’s not as jumpy as she used to be. And I left for my first overnight job in Burlington last weekend without turning into a complete wreck.

But I still did it. And when I got home, loaded down with fancy cheese and jams and expensive prosciutto, we spent the rest of the day making love and gorging ourselves on stinky cheese and I discovered that coming back to my sexy girlfriend after a trip was pretty great, too.

Another thing that made it tolerable to leave her?

The knowledge that everyone who hurt Rory is locked away.

Mavers and Ford are both looking at twenty-plus years in prison for attempted murder and murder for hire, respectively.

Wade already made a plea bargain, pleading guilty to attempted murder, embezzlement, and fraud, and won’t be eligible for parole for at least twenty-five years.

And then, Melissa. As angry as I am about what she did, like Rory, I can’t help feeling sorry for her.

And I can’t help wanting to do something to help the widow of my fallen teammate.

So we leaned on some of our contacts in the police department, and along with Rory and my testimony, Melissa isn’t going to jail.

Instead, she’s in an inpatient treatment facility with probation and community service to follow.

Is it enough? I hope so. But Alec’s keeping an eye on her, anyway. So if Melissa even enters the state of Vermont, if she does anything that could be considered a threat, we’ll be the first to address it.

“Gage. Are you listening to me?” Rory tugs my hand. Amusement sparkles in her eyes. “Or are you already thinking about what kind of food you’re going to try?”

“Of course I’m listening to you.” I lift her hand to my mouth and press a soft kiss to her palm. “I’m always listening to you.”

She stares at me for a second before laughing. “So you were listening the other night while I was talking about the pros and cons of a raw diet for the dogs? Or when I was trying to decide what color to paint the downstairs bathroom?”

As a couple hurries past us, I wrap my arm around Rory and lead her off the gravel path that leads through the town park.

Once we’re safely out of the way, I reply, “I was absolutely listening. Raw food has less preservatives, but there’s the risk of bacteria in it.

And the light blue is soothing, but the pale yellow would be more cheerful. ”

She doesn’t answer for a second. Then she grins. “Okay. Fine. You were listening.”

“Like I said.” I brush my lips across hers. “I care about everything you say.”

A soft expression moves across her face. “Gage.”

“What?”

“Have I mentioned today how much I love you?”

Gathering her into my arms, I kiss her again. Lingering a bit longer this time, but still aware that we’re in the middle of town surrounded by hundreds of other people. “Yes. You did. But you can always tell me again.”

“I love you, Gage McKay.” Another wisp of hair blows across her forehead. “And I’m so happy to be here with you. Enjoying my first Taste of Bliss Festival with my amazing boyfriend.”

Pushing her hair behind her ear, I let my fingers trail along her jaw and down her neck. “I love you too, Rory Townsend. More than anything.”

It’s true. More true than anything I’ve ever said.

Even so, I can’t help revising the statement in my head.

Not, I love you, Rory Townsend.

But, I love you, Rory McKay .

I won’t ask her yet. Not when we’re still settling back into normal life. Not when living together is still so fresh, and we’re still learning so much about each other.

I love living with Rory, though. And I can’t imagine ever wanting to leave. I love our early mornings together, taking care of the dogs before a leisurely walk through the woods on the property. The property that’s now more secure than a top-secret government facility, thanks to Alec’s company.

After that, we have breakfast together before going about our daily activities. Me working on sim testing or training with the guys, while Rory spends her day coordinating rescues and expanding her new foster family program.

In the evenings, we reach my favorite time.

Dinner cooked together with Elmore, Toby, and Dewey hovering nearby, constantly on the lookout for crumbs.

Then we settle on the couch to watch some TV or a movie, Rory snuggled against me with her legs draped over mine.

And finally, off to bed, where we definitely don’t go to sleep right away.

And much to my pleasure, the four-poster bed is a hit.

I wasn’t sure how Rory would feel about it when I first brought up the idea, showing her the silk scarves I bought in hopeful anticipation.

But she lit up as soon as she saw the scarves, blushing as she admitted, “I thought about it, too. I like taking control sometimes, but being restrained by you, letting you do whatever you want… I’d really like to try it. ”

For the record, it’s pretty damn great. Rory giving herself over to me, completely trusting me to take care of her… And seeing her spread across the bed, naked and flushed with excitement, her breasts?—

“Gage?”

I jerk my mind back to the present. “Yes?”

“Um.” Her gaze drifts downward, below the waist of my shorts. To my very obvious arousal straining at the fabric. “I’d ask what you’re thinking about, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the food. Unless you get really turned on by wings and mini-sandwiches.”

Dammit. Pulling Rory close to shield me, I quickly adjust myself so I’m decent again. Then I lean down to murmur in her ear, “I was thinking about those scarves. And seeing you naked.”

She sucks in a sharp breath. Desire flares in her eyes. Beneath the thin fabric of her T-shirt, her nipples pebble into taut peaks. “Gage,” she breathes. “Not here . There are people around.”

“You’re fine.” I cup her cheek, feeling the heat of it sinking into my skin. “No one would know.”

Her eyebrows arch up, skepticism all over her face. “My nipples are?—”

“Fine, baby.” Hugging her to me, I press my lips to the top of her head.

After maybe a minute of thinking about non-sexy things—my testing schedule on the new flight sim, the meeting I have with the team tomorrow morning, schematics for the new drone I bought for GMG to use for surveillance—I finally release her.

A quick glance shows us both looking perfectly decent again.

Rory in her denim shorts that show off her toned legs and one of the Barks n’ Bliss T-shirts she recently ordered to use as a fundraiser for the rescue.

And me in my cargo shorts and matching shirt—yes, we’ve become that couple, and I’m more than okay with it.

Rory’s scars, though I barely see them anymore, are on full display.

So is my prosthetic, after years of trying to hide it.

I don’t want to hide anything anymore. I don’t need to.

Rory takes a look around the park, which looks like it must have half the population of Bliss in attendance.

At least thirty stands are set across the grass; local restaurants selling samples of their food, businesses offering coupons and prizes, and artisans selling hand-crafted items. “How about if we go to The Laughing Goat first?” she suggests.

“I saw online that they’re serving their organic chicken salad with seasonal fruits.

And then we could hit Blissful Brews to try out their summer wing selection. ”

I follow her gaze to the Blissful Brews stand, where there’s a line of at least ten people waiting already.

“Sounds good. I’ve heard their summer shandy wings are incredible.

” A beat later, I spot Alec at the front of the line, chatting with Hazel, one of the servers there.

Though we’re a good thirty feet away, I don’t miss his bright smile or the way they’re leaning towards each other like there might be more than professional interest there.

Rory catches it at the same time, turning to me with a speculative look in her eyes. “Alec and Hazel?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t said anything about her. And he’s pretty adamant about not wanting a relationship.”

“Hmm.” She stares at the two for a few moments longer.