If Skye didn’t want him.
His stomach knotted at the thought.
It had taken him weeks to realize how much he had changed in the last few years. He’d made a life for himself in Denver. He had friends at Nighthawk, men as close as his brothers in the army, women friends he admired and respected. And he was proud of the good he had done as a detective, the lives his work had helped or saved.
As soon as he had arrived in the city, he headed straight for his apartment. He didn’t call Skye. He wasn’t sure what to say. Wasn’t sure how she would react. Wasn’t sure if her feelings for him were as deep as his feelings for her.
He’d been in Denver three days when Trace called.
“I heard you were back,” his best friend said. “Conn and I are going down to the Goat for a couple of beers. Can you make it?”
He didn’t want to go. He wanted to talk to Skye, get things straight between them, but he wasn’t quite ready.
“Yeah, okay. What time?”
“After work. Six o’clock. You sure you’ll be there?”
“I’ll be there.” Edge hung up the phone. Maybe he should just call Skye, tell her he wanted to see her, get it over with. If she rejected him, at least he would know how she felt.
He was staring at his cell phone, trying to figure out what to say, when a knock came at the door. Edge walked over, checked the peephole, and smiled as he pulled it open.
His brother Gage stood in the doorway. “Welcome back.”
Edge’s smile widened. “Hey, bro. Good to see you. Come on in.”
Gage walked into the living room. They were brothers, but they didn’t look much alike. Gage was tall, with the same blue eyes as Edge, but his hair was brown, not black, and he was more muscular through the chest and shoulders. They were both extremely fit, Edge from his military training, while Gage stayed in shape to tackle the conditions he came up against as an explorer.
“You want a Coke or something?” Edge asked. “I’m meeting Trace and Conn down at the Goat. Why don’t you come with me?”
Gage nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll take a Coke in the meantime.”
They walked over to the bar, and Edge pulled a couple of Diet Cokes out of the fridge. He popped the tops and handed one of the cans to Gage. Edge sat down on the black leather stool behind the bar, and Gage sat down on the other side.
“So . . . I heard you were back in town,” Gage said, tipping up the icy can and taking a long swallow. “I wasn’t really sure.”
“Everybody seems to have heard.”
“Abby sends a hug. How’s Skye?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t talked to her yet.”
Gage frowned. “So everyone knows but Skye.”
Edge just shrugged. He didn’t tell his brother he was trying to work up the courage to face her.
Gage set his Coke can down on the bar. “You remember when you came to see me about my feelings for Abby?”
“I remember.”
“You told me Abby and I were perfect for each other. You said God doesn’t give us those kinds of gifts very often.”
Edge nodded, smiled. “Yeah, and I was right.”
“Yes, you were. Marrying Abby was the best decision of my life.”
Edge set his Coke on the bar. It wasn’t like Gage to show up at his door for no reason. “What are you trying to tell me, bro?”
Gage’s blue eyes met his. “The way I see it, you and Skye are perfect for each other. If you go back in the army instead of staying here and building a life with her, I’m worried you’re going to regret it.”
