Page 68 of Security Risk

Glen hadn’t trusted Fletcher to keep his end of the bargain after he was gone. Smart man.

It was safe to say Fletcher would be spending therest of his life in prison. The thought didn’t bring Tanner any comfort beyond knowing that he and Bree were now safe. Maybe if Tanner had shared his guilt about what had really happened with Nate—all the things he’d wished he’d done differently—instead of keeping his mistakes hidden from Ryan, everything could’ve turned out differently.

It would never have brought Nate back, but maybe Ryan wouldn’t be lost, too.

But one thing bleeding out all over the floor and watching Bree swing from that noose had taught him: every day was a gift. You learn from your mistakes, and you move on—you don’t let the past hold you captive.

Bree was learning that, too, in her own way. She was starting her first computer class for the shelter tomorrow. She’d dropped down to just one or two shifts per week at the Sunrise Diner, Dan and Cheryl more than happy to let her do that, especially once they understood the plan. They were helping at the shelter, too, offering short-order cooking classes and training for anyone who might be interested.

Cassandra and Bree had become fast friends; the two of them already had plans to expand the shelter. He had no doubt it would become a big part of the community.

She walked up the stairs of the porch and wrapped her arms around his waist.

He slipped an arm around her shoulders. “You ready for tomorrow?”

“Yep. Although I’m glad this first class is only for two women. I’ve already been thinking about some ways I could streamline it and make it more applicable to their lives.”

Of course she had been. That didn’t surprise him at all. “Oh yeah?”

“I’ve been doing some research, and I want to make this as effective as possible. These women deserve it.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I have no doubt it’s going to be the most useful class anyone’s ever been a part of, by the time you’re done with it.”

“How about you? You ready for tomorrow? Ready to go back to being Captain Hot Lips?”

He smiled at the nickname and nodded. He was more than ready. Ready to be back on the job and doing his part to keep Risk Peak safe.

“Hopefully nobody but you will call me that, but yes, definitely ready. Although being here with you is nothing to scoff at, either.”

“I know. It’s been nice having some time just the two of us. But the real world will be good, too. What we do is important.”

He hugged her more tightly against him. “It is—you’re right.”

She nodded against his chest and was quiet for a moment. “I’ve been researching some other important stuff, too.”

“Like what?” He took a sip of his coffee and prepared himself for a fifteen-minute one-sided conversation about computer programming in which he would only understand about eight percent of the terms. But he never wanted to make Bree feel like he wasn’t interested in what was going on in that giant brain of hers, even if he didn’t always understand it.

“Reverse cowgirl,” she said.

He spewed the coffee out over her head. “What?” he croaked.

“Reverse cowgirl.” She leaned back so she could look in his eyes. “It’s a sexual position where—”

“I know what it is.” His voice was still choked. Hecould not even imagine what she meant when she said she’d beenresearchingit.

She nodded solemnly. “I think I would like to try it.”

He swallowed a laugh and kissed her.This woman.She was going to keep him on his toes for the next sixty years or so.

And he couldn’t wait.