“No! Please?—Stone!”
“Easy,” He knelt at her side. “Let them do their job?—saving you. I’d like that.” He brushed the bloodied strands from her face as she lay back on the backboard. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you get away that easily.”
Epilogue
Bexar-Wolfe Lodge, Northern Virginia
A dozen stitches and a painkiller prescription later, Brighton was back at the cabin, resting on his sofa. She was numb, but it wasn’t the painkillers. It was shock over Stone coming for her. Saving her. Violently.
“Still can’t believe you came for me.”
He perched on the coffee table in front of her, his hands threaded. “I was afraid if I didn’t, I’d never see you again.”
“Would that have been so bad?” she asked, sad. Thinking of Mari, who had??—once again??—been returned to her parents. Since Mari’s kidnappers crossed state lines with her, the FBI had been called, and they’d put the family in a safehouse with the intention to set them up with new names and a new life to protect the teen. “I’ve only brought you trouble.”
“Not true.” He slipped from the table onto the floor, on his knees. “You brought love back into my life. Granted, at my age, I?—”
“Please.” Her heart thudded. “Please stop referencing our ages. Okay? I mean, we’re both adults. Considering what we’ve been through, age matters little.”
“Yes,” he said with a firm nod. “With all you have been through, all the times you’ve been forced into … things. How can …” He swiped a hand over his face. “How can you do this? Even want to be with me, let alone anyone.”
“With anyone?” She shook her head. “Unlikely. With you?” She drew in a deep, soul-entrenched breath, then let it out slowly. “I think because of you, I am able to consider love and a relationship, something I never thought I’d ever do again. But Stone, you’ve always respected me, protected??—and yes, even loved me. I saw??—felt it. It’s night and day compared to that life I was trapped in. You cared about me, not my body or buying time with me.”
He cringed.
“I know it’s crude, but that’s what most men wanted from me. I know it’s not the same with you. In fact, it’s very different. Everything is different.”
Even with his large hands, his touch was gentle as he brushed her hair from her face. “In all seriousness, thank you. Thank you for saying that.” He traced her jawline with a finger. “What we have is different for me, too. I don’t want you out of my life again. Ever.”
Unshed tears burned her eyes. “You can’t mean that.”
“Never meant anything more in my life.”
“You might want to listen to the oaf,” came a resonant voice. “He’s not big on grand gestures, so if he’s offering, I’d accept before he realizes what he’s doing.”
“Canyon, be nice,” Willow chided. “I mean, after all, maybe it’s that knot on his head. Paramedics said the concussion could make him act strange.”
“Act strange? He is strange. He’s a Metcalfe!”
Stone smirked. “On second thought, maybe you should escape while you can. I’m not sure this is a family you want to join.”
Brighton startled, searching his eyes. Join? Join the family? Was he saying what she thought he was saying?
“Dude! Did my big brother just break his vow of singlehood?” Canyon taunted. “Stone, maybe you should have that knot checked out. I’m a combat medic. I can take a look. Better yet??—give you a bigger one for taking so long to see what was right in front of you.”
Stone hung his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re going to scare her off.”
“Not possible,” Brighton said, the words tremoring past hope that dared shove itself into her life. “I’m pretty sure I have to stay here. Indefinitely. To make sure my stitches heal properly.”
Canyon sniggered. “The lady has a point. Although, if you try to get her in bed again without a ring and marriage certificate, we all might give you a knot on the other side of your head.”
“And your backside, young man, ” Mom promised.
“Man,” Stone muttered as he buried his face in the crook of her shoulder. “Maybe we should all go into witness protection??—from my family!” He stood. “But first … I thought a little surprise might help.”
Brighton’s brow rippled in confusion. “What surprise?
He nodded to the opening door. In walked Griffin and??—
