Bear sat, and Mack dug out a treat from his pocket to give to the dog. Bear gulped it down.
“Stay,” Mack said and spun. His gaze locked with hers. He charged in her direction. “Are you hurt?”
“My legs gave out. I—” She tried to get up.
He dropped down next to her and leaned against a soaringtree. He scooped her up into his arms and settled her on his lap. Wrapping those powerful arms around her, he buried his head in her neck. “Thank God, I got to you in time. I saw Razo. The ax.”
He shuddered, breaking her heart that he had to go through such a traumatic experience. “You flew the drone. Shot Razo.”
“I did.”
“Any problems?”
“You mean flashbacks?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Not a one.” He leaned back and tipped her face up. “God was there with me. With us. He brought us through. Together. Where we’re supposed to be. I thought I was going to lose you,” he whispered against her neck. “You were only minutes away from harm. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry I let that happen. I will never let you out of my sight again.”
The terror of the night. The thought of the ax. All of it fell away, and she let herself be held and let the warmth of his strong body seep into her. She inhaled the unique scent of his strong mints and woodsy aftershave and thought about what he’d just said.
She held his gaze. “Not letting me out of your sight might be kind of difficult since we live on opposite coasts.”
“I don’t care,” he said adamantly. “I want us back together.”
“What about your PTSD issues?” She hated to ask, but she had to spell it out. She didn’t want to admit her love for him and find out his issues would still keep them apart. “Are you comfortable with that now?”
“Comfortable, no. But I know we can figure it out. I’ve had this mantra since I started counseling. A Bible verse. ‘The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.’ It’s helped me make progress, and I’ve learned in the last few days to take strength and hope from those words. To know that God doesn’t want me to be worriedor be timid about wanting to be back with you. He’ll take care of us as He always promises.”
Her heart overflowing with love for this man, she smiled at him.
“And that goes for your memory too,” he continued. “I know you hoped to have it fully back by now, but God will see you through that struggle.”
She cupped the side of his strong jaw. “I don’t need it to know I love you.”
“What?” His mouth fell open.
She held his hand over her heart. “I can feel it here. That’s all that matters.”
He gently brushed snow from her cheek. “Then, Addison Leigh, will you be my wife again?”
“Yes. Without a doubt.”
He whooped and bent his head to kiss her. She forgot about everything. About the horror. About the cold. She returned his kiss with every emotion coursing through her body. What had been simmering between them for days exploded into fireworks of joy. She really was home. Was where she belonged and would never let this man go again without a knockdown fight.
Something tugged on her sleeve. She tried to shake it off, but the pulling grew more insistent. She leaned back and drew in a deep breath, relishing the smitten expression on Mack’s face before looking at her problem. Bear released her shirt, sat down, his focus fastened on them.
“You want in on this, huh, fella,” Mack said.
Bear barked.
Addy leaned back farther, and the eighty-pound ball of fur burrowed in between them.
Mack looked at Addy over the dog’s head, a fond smile on his face. “Looks like we have one more obstacle to overcome before we can be together. At least alone together.”
Mack picked up his binoculars as Sean turned in to the defunct manufacturing plant in northeast Portland and pulled behind the dilapidated building. He left the SUV’s powerful engine idling.
Mack glassed the lot. “No sign of suspects yet.”
