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“There you are,” Devyn said as she approached Rip, sitting outside by the fire pit. “Have you seen…”

Rip didn’t even turn around. He just held up his hands, kitten in one, a tiny empty bottle in the other.

“On kitten duty, huh? Okay then. I can get used to this.” Devyn said, taking a seat next to him, Diesel lying at her feet.

“You stole my dog. It’s only fair I steal your cat,” Rip said, handing her the kitten.

“Clarification: I didn’t steal your dog. He chose me. I can’t help it if he loves me.” Devyn shrugged.

“Touché.”

“I uh. I think maybe we got off on the wrong foot.” Devyn said.

“You don’t say,” Rip replied sarcastically.

Devyn huffed. “I’m being serious. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s been insanely chaotic around here as of late, and, well, I haven’t entirely been myself.”

“Are you sure about that? Seems to come pretty naturally to you.” He smirked.

“Very funny. You know, I was actually going to apologize, but––”

“Oh no. Don’t let me stop you.” Rip continued. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m keeping your apology and your dog.”

“Diesel, heel,” Rip said. Diesel rose and moved to sit at Rip’s side and watched him, waiting for the next command.

“You play dirty.”

“Diesel, work,” Rip commanded next, and Diesel stood again, moving back to Devyn’s side.

“Wow. So, I’m just a job to him, huh? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Yes and no. His job, amongst other things, is to guard, and he chose you as the one he was to guard. So, technically…”

“He loves me.” Devyn shrugged.

“Something like that.” Rip snorted. “Normally, he waits for instruction, but he found you to be the one who needed him most.”

Her grin quickly became a frown, “He thinks I’m needy?”

“Not necessarily. You were his first impression here. He saw you in need and jumped into his role. When left up to him, he usually chooses the children, so…”

Devyn swatted Rip’s shoulder, “Children? I am not a child.”

“At my age, anyone as young as you is a child.”

“At your age? Okay, Grandpa.” She laughed. “You can’t be more than somewhere around Coy and Dill’s age if you all work together.”

“I might be around there, give or take a few years.” Rip shrugged.

“So, you’re really not going to tell me your age?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It isn’t important. Do you ask everyone you meet these questions? Is it part of your apology?” he teased.

“No, and no. I’m just curious now. That’s all. Especially now that you’re being so… weird about it.”

“I’m not being weird. It’s called privacy.”

She rolled her eyes, “Right, you operative types and your privacy. Heaven forbid I know something as telling as your age –– I might sell it to the bad guys of the world so you meet your demise.”

“Wow, you are dramatic.”

“Says the old guy, embarrassed by his age.” She fired back.

“I’m not embarrassed. It just doesn’t matter. I’m just very private.”

“Well, you need to do a better job at keeping your own secrets, then.” She surmised. “You already told me how old you are.”

“No, I didn’t.”

She giggled, “Yes, you did.”

Rip turned to face her, genuinely curious, “How do you figure?”

“Given the information regarding your age in relation to my older siblings, I’d say you’re roughly ten years older than me, give or take a few.” She said, using his words against him.

“And how old is that?” He asked, amused.

“Oh, I don’t discuss my age. After all, it’s just a number, and I keep a pretty private life.” She snickered while mocking him.

“You know I have a file on you –– I can just look it up. I have access to just about everything there is to know about you, actually.”

“Ooh. I love a good stalker.”

“Clever, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Rip. Quite clever.” She teased. “You, on the other hand, were just taken by a child .”

“I’d like to retract that statement. You’re definitely not a child. Not even a little bit.” He chuckled.

“So, you noticed, huh.”

Rip held her stare longer than probably appropriate when dealing with a client, “Maybe.”

She leaned in and whispered, “So you are a stalker.”

Realizing how far the conversation was going in the wrong direction, Rip was quick to reel it in. “No. Just doing my job.”

He saw the pain in her expression his words left, and it caused his chest to tighten. He didn’t understand how or why, and this wasn’t the time to dissect the ins and outs of feelings. Rip was determined to keep the conversation easy, and professional, despite Devyn’s efforts to take it further… and his desire to explore said efforts.

“Right. A job. Seems like I’m a lot of work for everyone around here.” She hurried away, turning her attention back to the kitten.

“Why do you say that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m sort of the outlier here. I’m not like the rest of them. Everyone is either coddling me or scolding me for being, well, me. Which is it? Should I be baby sister Dev or grown and mature Dev? Both seem to get me in trouble. I’m a walking talking contradiction.”

“I think your family just loves you so much. They’re distracted by the contradiction ,” Rip said. “I’m sure it’s hard for them. You’ve all suffered a tremendous loss followed by chaos and danger around every corner.”

“They have to realize we’re all in this together, though, right? I mean, come on, I may not be a roughneck rancher or a…whatever Coy and Dill do, but I’m capable, smart, and can contribute if they’d just let me.”

“Have you told them that?” Rip asked.

“Only my entire life.” She snorted.

“Maybe you just need to show them. Instead of running out in the road after stray kittens and throwing tantrums at the dinner table, you can show them just how capable you are.”

“I’ve tried. The will. I’m sure you heard. I took care of all the estate planning, made sure everyone was protected and taken care of, and look how that turned out.”

“That wasn’t their doing. That was your mother’s doing.”

“And if they’re taking their cues from her, it’s no wonder they question my every move and still treat me like a child.”

“Prove them wrong, Dev. Show them.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. Only you can answer that. Find a need and fill it. That’s your spot to take. Your role. Whatever you want to call it.” He said. “What’s your role going to be, Dev.”

“I don’t know. They won’t let me have a gun, even though I’m a pretty damn good shot.”

He snorted, “I can vouch for that. There’s enough people with guns around here, though, you trying to blend in?”

“I already do.”

“Then what else?”

“I pack a good punch.” She shrugged.

“I saw you in the gym. You can handle yourself. I could probably help you and teach you a few things to make you stronger, but I’ll give credit where credit is due. You’re not bad at hand-to-hand encounters. So is Coy. So is Dillon. So is Ransom and the others. What do you do that none of them can? What’s their weakness and your strength?”

“I guess I need to figure that out.”

“Figure it out, and you might earn the respect I think you’re looking for.”

“Wow. Never really thought about it like that.” Devyn watched the fire dance while she wrapped her mind around the words he was sharing. “You were right.”

“About?”

“All that wisdom you’re dropping… you must be old.”

Rip tossed his hands in the air, “Older than dirt.”

Devyn’s smile faded to a curious stare, “Nah. You’re wise but not old. I think there’s a lot more to you than that edgy look, tattoos, muscles, and whatever kind of man bun that is on your head.”

“Man bun? This isn’t a man bun.”

“It’s a man bun. Your hair is longer than most women and tied in a knot on your head… man bun.”

“No. It’s not for fashion or a style.”

“It’s definitely a style, Rip. I mean, even your name. You’re a whole brand of broody badass –– I think it’s half your game.”

“Game, huh?” he snickered. “It’s not a game, I can assure you that. It’s just part of me. It tells a story. It’s who I am.”

“Ah. You’re sharing about yourself again. You’re a warrior. Your hair represents strength and resilience.”

“You’re observant.”

“I’m a lawyer. I don’t miss much. It’s my job to dig deep, extract all the details most miss, and use it against my opposition to win the argument.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm, what?” Devyn questioned.

“Just, hmm.”

“Rip.” Devyn’s tone was scolding.

Rip shrugged, “What?”

“Hmm. That’s what.”

“I thought it was your job to extract all the details and use them to win, or whatever.” He answered.

“That’s what hmm means?”

“Devyn Stone, you’re always the brightest one in the room, at least from where I stand, but you’re dense.”

“Dense? And here I thought we’d called a truce. We were becoming friends. But if name calling is more your speed, then…”

Rip leaned in and kissed her before she could say another word. Devyn pulled away and studied him and the sultry look he was wearing before she went in for another kiss. It was ravenous, hungry, and full of need as if igniting a wildfire of some level of desire between them. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other's embrace, surrendering to a primal passion that consumed them. And in that moment, nothing else mattered but the electrifying connection they shared, a connection that transcended words and told a story of new friendship, new understanding, and just… something new. Until… she pulled away.

“Wh-what was that?” she asked.

“If I need to answer that, then…”

“Will you stop? Of course, I know what that was, but… what was it? Why?” she asked.

“To get you to be quiet and out of your own head.” He answered.

“Is… that all?”

“What else would it mean?”

“Right.” Devyn turned away from him, “What else?”

The two sat in awkward silence for longer than either of them seemed to care to measure. When the sound of crackling branches from the nearby wooded area, Devyn couldn’t help but jump to her feet with fear, ready to run.

“Whoa,” Rip said, pulling her back down to the bench they’d been sitting on. “Where are you going?”

“I uh…” she pointed. “Did you hear… over there…”

“I did.”

“Then why are you asking where I’m going?” her voice raised to a panicked pitch. “There’s someone out there. I heard them and…”

“And you’re safe,” Rip said, full of calm. “You’re perfectly safe.”

A tear threatened to spill over, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “You don’t know that. How can you possibly know that? I-I’m scared, Rip.”

Rip hooked the end of her chin with a finger and held it so she couldn’t look anywhere but at him, “You’re safe. This place, your home, it’s safe. If there were anyone out there who wasn’t supposed to be, Diesel would let you know before he went and took care of it.”

Devyn shook her head vigorously, and that tear trickled down her face.

“Darlin’, when you’re with me, you’re always safe. You hear me?” he said, “I’ll never let anything happen to you, and not because it’s my job. You don’t have to be scared when I’m here.”

“Okay.” She whispered.

“You don’t have to be scared when I’m not here either or when Diesel isn’t nearby. You’re the most lethal one here, you know that? Because you’re the smartest. You react strictly off instincts, and that’s far more menacing than the kind of training any of us have had. I’ve seen it with my own eyes and have the bruise on my back where you shot me to prove it. Devyn, when you start believing in yourself, so will everyone else. You’re tougher and braver than you think.”

“Y-you really think so?” she asked.

“I know so, darlin’. I’ve seen you in action. More than once. You learn how to let go of that fear and unlock the fury. You’ll be unstoppable, sweetheart.”

She closed her eyes, bit her bottom lip, and willed away the fear –– and the tears went with it. Devyn sat taller, her jaw tightened, and her shoulders sharpened. Rip reached to swipe away the leftover tears, but Devyn grasped his hand in hers and stopped him. Her eyes shot open, and she looked between him and his hand in hers. Then, she released his grip and let him wipe away the fear that had been haunting her for days.

“Told you. Instincts.” The corner of his mouth quirked up, impressed with her response. “Don’t be scared. Not anymore.”

“I’m not.” She whispered, relaxing into his side. “Not anymore.”

“Besides, it was just Nash and Charlotte walking back from the garden that you heard.”

“How could you possibly know that?” she asked.

“It’s my job to know where everyone is and what they’re doing at all times. It’s why I’m here.”

“I can’t wait to get that superpower.” She snickered.

“I also saw them…” he admitted.

Devyn sat up and swatted at his knee playfully. He was quick to pull her back to his side, where they sat and enjoyed the fire in silence.