“It’s all right, Fern. I promise it’s going to be all right.” He widened his stance like a military commander or maybe a bodyguard.
In time, her tears stopped. She found a tissue in her console and mopped her face. Feeling a bit stronger, she cracked the window. Cooler air trickled in, and she gulped it.
Upchurch didn’t speak to her again, just kept watch. He and Crew were friends, and his solid presence felt like an extension of the man she was starting to have deep feelings for.
Thinking about what she felt for Crew right now, it seemed like terrible timing. But she’d spent an entire winter soul-searching, and she trusted herself. She wouldn’t question herself now.
When Upchurch turned his head, gazing down the road, her stomach dipped. A second later, another Black Heart truck came into view, and with it, Crew.
As he sped toward them, she reached for the door handle. He squealed to a stop behind Upchurch’s truck. When he jumped out, she opened the door and stumbled out too.
He raced to her, his stare locked on hers. She took two steps and fell into his arms. He yanked her against his steely body, holding her tight, his big palm cradling her head to his chest.
“It’s all right now, honey. You’re safe. I’ve got you. We’ve all got you.”
She felt him look over her head and knew he and Upchurch were exchanging a look.
She gripped his shoulders. “Thank you for coming for me. Thank you for sending Upchurch.”
“I’ll always come for you.” He tangled his fingers in her hair and she tipped her face up to his. The kiss he gave her was soft and brief, but it steadied her in ways she didn’t expect.
“Come on. I’ll take you back to the ranch.”
“What about my car?” She clung to the warmth in his eyes.
“There’s a tow truck on the way. They’ll take it back to the ranch. You might have heard of a guy named Gabe. He’s with Felicity.”
“From the bookshop?”
He nodded. “He was in the program with me, but he’s working at the training facility now. He’s also good with cars. He’s going to take a look at yours.”
She nodded and rested her head against Crew’s chest again. He tucked her close and led her to his truck.
Once they were settled, he lifted a hand to Upchurch before turning around and heading to the ranch.
He reached across the console and gently took her hand.
“I thought I was past this,” she whispered. “I thought I was stronger than this.”
His gaze on her was steady, understanding flickering in his eyes. “I know that feeling. Sometimes you think you’ve moved on…and then something reminds you. Doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re human.” He stroked her knuckles with his thumb. “We work through it. We find ways to keep moving forward.”
Something eased in her chest, like he’d named a truth she didn’t know how to explain.
They understood each other a little better with every passing minute, it seemed. And that made her feel even closer to him.
When they reached the ranch, several people converged around them. Carson and Theo and Gray, who she hadn’t met yet. After only a few minutes, the tow truck arrived with her vehicle.
“That was quick,” Crew said.
“Benefit of having connections in a small town.” Gray smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The situation was too serious.
Then an unfamiliar man walked out of the security office. Crew introduced him as Gabe. The rugged man gave her a soft greeting as he walked over to her car and opened her hood while the others talked.
Not once did Crew release her hand, occasionally darting worried glances her way.
Gabe bent over her engine. After only a minute, he straightened, hands on hips. “This is beyond me. I’m not gonna even pretend I know what’s wrong.”
Crew laughed softly. “I’ll send it to the garage in town.”
