“Shit,” Alec mutters. “These fucking predators.” While we all detest traffickers, he’s particularly sensitive to the issue given what Hazel went through. “What’s the plan?”
“We’ll set up a meeting with them to start,” Enzo replies. “You and Swede will head up the investigative part. Depending on the extent of what we find, we may bring in some of the guys from Blade and Arrow, too.”
Alec nods in approval. “Sounds good.”
Swede is the head tech guru for the Brotherhood Protectors, another security company with branches all over the country. We’ve worked with them before, so when they contacted us asking for support, we were happy to help.
“We’ll schedule something for next week.” Enzo’s gaze sweeps around the table. “Just let me know a few times that’ll work for you.”
“Will do,” Gage replies.
“Ditto,” Knox adds.
“I can switch my shifts at the mountain around,” I say. “This is more important. Obviously.”
And it brings up a subject I’ve been spinning in my head for a while.
Should I keep working at Stowe? Or should I quit and work for GMG full-time?
When I first moved to Vermont after leaving the Army, I wanted to do something different. Something that wouldn’t remind me of what I’d left behind, and the regrets I still had about it. Growing up in New England, I’d been skiing most of my life, so it seemed fitting to take a job at Stowe Mountain as a medic.
At the time, it seemed perfect. I could use my medical trainingandget free lift tickets to use whenever I wasn’t working. I could be single Ronan, hanging out in the lodge or the bars around Stowe, hooking up with snow bunnies who weren’t looking for anything serious.
Then Enzo’s now-wife, Winter, ended up in trouble, and he asked me to help. I knew Enzo from my years as a Green Beret, so there was no question of me agreeing. Then Enzo founded Green Mountain Guardians with the intent of providing free protection to people who had no place else to turn, just like Winter. And once again, when he asked me to help, I said yes.
At the time, the idea was to keep the company small. The five of us would still keep our regular jobs, and we’d only take on the cases we could fit into our schedules. But four years on, GMG has grown. We get more referrals, both from our contacts at other security companies and local law enforcement. We’vepicked up some paid jobs to subsidize our pro bono ones. We’ve all shifted our day jobs to part-time, so we can take on more clients. And last year, I bought a new house so I could be closer to the GMG headquarters.
But lately, I’ve been wondering if it would be better for me to quit working at Stowe entirely. Working full-time for GMG would take some of the burden off my teammates, who all have partners, and, in Enzo’s case, a baby. Plus, Gage and Rory are in the final stages of becoming registered as foster parents, so that’ll be a big time commitment for him. If I’m available to meet with more clients, put in longer hours of surveillance…
“If there’s nothing else?” Enzo asks. He casts a quick look around the table. Everyone shakes their head. “Okay. I think we can wrap things up for today, then.”
As we start gathering our things and getting up from our chairs, Enzo adds, “If anyone wants to come over for dinner, Winter said she’s making chili.”
Knox looks thoughtful. “Let me ask Lark. She might be interested.”
“Date night for me,” Gage reminds us. “But thanks.”
“Tonight’s aWorld of Warcraftnight,” Alec says. “Apparently, we’re going to explore a new dungeon with Hazel’s friends.”
“Ronan?” Enzo angles a questioning look at me. “Chili? Or—” His mouth quirks. “Do you have plans with a certainsomeonefor more cookie tasting?”
“No,” I reply dryly. “I do not. That was a one-time thing. I couldn’t exactly say no when Haley asked.”
Well, Icouldhave. I just chose not to.
Shrugging on my coat, I start heading for the door. “Despite what blabbermouth Alec said,” I continue, “there’s nothing going on with me and Angel. She’s a nice woman who needed some help. That’s all.”
“Of course,” Enzo replies. Then he flashes me a knowing smirk. “Although. That’s what I said about Winter in the beginning, too.”
Maybe it was,I silently concede as I leave the barn that serves as our headquarters and hurry through the biting cold to my car.But the situation was different.Enzo was different. He had been through some shit, but it had nothing to do with a woman. Winter wasn’t ten years younger than him—actually, eleven, since I just turned thirty-nine a few weeks ago. She didn’t have a kid. Winter didn’t need a man who could step into the father role immediately.
It’s not that I think Haley would be a burden. That’s not it. It’s just… Shit. Angel needs a man who can be all in. And that man isn’t me.
Still, it doesn’t stop me from thinking about her on my drive home.
It doesn’t stop me from wondering about the Christmas lights, and if they’re working properly.
It doesn’t stop me from remembering that cupcake scent and wondering if Angel smells like that all the time, or if it’s only one of a collection of delicious aromas she wears.
