“I am now.”
The wind whipped around us as a gust of snow blew in our faces.I lifted my hand to shield us as I guided Poppy to the inn.Gage waited for us, holding the door open so the wind couldn’t force it closed.
Once we were all inside, Gage shut the door, trapping the winter storm outside while the one raging inside of me unleashed.Poppy was already being led to the couch by her cousin when I swung around and grabbed Keith’s shirt, forcing him against the wall.
His eyes didn’t so much as even flash with a hint of fear as a smirk played across his lips.My jaw clenched as I stared at him, trying to find the words I wanted to say.I was torn between wanting to rip him a new asshole and thanking him for saving the woman I loved.
“Patrick, knock it off,” Poppy said from the couch, the exhaustion in her voice evident.
I glanced at her over my shoulder, my heart instantly melting for this incredible woman who was still alive and safe.I let go of Keith and stepped back, shoving a hand through my hair.
“Sorry,” I muttered, shaking my head.
While we were friends for as long as I could remember, I wouldn’t put it past him to file charges against me for putting my hands on an FBI agent.
“Don’t be.I get it.I would do the same for the woman I love,” he replied, giving me a knowing smile.
Gage stiffened slightly, then let his shoulders fall as if even he couldn’t be mad about Poppy and me anymore.
“Thank you,” I said, feeling the knot in my throat as emotion threatened to overwhelm me.“Thank you for protecting her.”
“My pleasure.But, if you don’t mind, I’m gonna need to get going before I get stuck in that storm,” Keith said, pointing to the window.
The snow was falling heavily in thick sheets, casting a blanket of white outside.
“I don’t think you’re going anywhere in that,” I answered.
“I don’t have much of a choice.My hotel is in town.”
“You can stay here at the inn,” Gage offered.“You’ll be our official first guest.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Keith insisted.“Really, I don’t mind.My SUV has four-wheel drive, so I should be just fine.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.Stop being difficult and just accept you’re going to be staying here for a few days,” I said, watching Poppy as she yawned and leaned into the couch cushion.It would only be a matter of minutes before she was asleep.
Keith sighed heavily, letting his shoulders fall.
“Alright.I guess I don’t have a choice.”
“I’ll show you to your room,” Gage offered, leading Keith upstairs to the rooms they had been renovating.
I went and sat on the couch next to Poppy, pulling her into my arms as she quickly drifted to sleep.
Ten minutes later, Gage headed into the kitchen to work on dinner while Keith joined me in the living room.Poppy’s snoring assured me she was asleep, which meant this was my time to ask Keith what the fuck had happened.
I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped when he held up his hand.
“While I am your friend, I am first and foremost an FBI agent, which means there’s a lot I cannot discuss with you,” he warned.
“Okay.Well, how about we start with how the fuck you got here in the first place and why you never told me you were in Silver Falls.”
He leaned back in the plush chair and rested his hands over his stomach.
“I’ve been here since the day after Officer Kearton was murdered,” he answered.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I couldn’t risk jeopardizing anything we were working on.”
