Page 10 of Ranger Devotion

“We’re human. We all make mistakes, hurt others. The important thing is to recognize our part and take responsibility for it.” The lights from the Christmas tree glided across her beautiful features, making Tate’s breath catch. “Thank you. For the apology and the explanation. We can’t erase the past, but I think it’s time we both move on from it. Start over.”

“As friends?”

Her lips quirked. “Maybe.” She hooked an arm through his. “Let’s see how things go over a cup of hot cocoa and a s’more, huh?”

He chuckled. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

They crossed the grass toward the activity center. The wind kicked up, sending an icy chill down Tate’s back. He slowed, glancing over his shoulder. Shadows gathered beyond the warm glow of the outdoor Christmas tree. Tate scanned the tree line, searching for any sign of movement.

Annie hot him a puzzled look. “Everything okay?”

Tate hesitated and then nodded. “Yeah.” He started forward again. “Sorry. Thought I sensed something.” He rolled his shoulders to shake off the feeling, but it lingered.

Was someone hiding in the dark? Watching them?

FIVE

Annie hummed a Christmas tune as she folded towels warm from the dryer. Dawn was beginning to brighten the sky. The freezing rain had come in overnight, just as Dwayne predicted. Crystals coated the yard and dripped from the trees. Thankfully, they hadn’t lost power.

Evan shuffled into the kitchen wearing pajamas, his hair rumpled and a pillow crease marking his cheek. He turned blurry eyes toward the coffee machine. “Please tell me there’s a fresh pot.”

“There is.” Annie smothered a laugh. Brooke and Evan had stayed on site, and her best friend had often complained about her husband’s grumpy morning attitude. “There’s creamer and sugar next to the cups on the counter.”

She hummed a new tune while folding another towel.

Evan leaned against the counter and downed half a cup of coffee. He eyed her over the rim. “Are you always this cheerful in the morning? Or does your good mood have something to do with Tate Atwood? I saw the two of you last night huddled together talking in the activity center.”

Annie’s cheeks heated. “Tate has nothing to do with it. I’m just feeling the holiday spirit. Don’t be such a grump.”

He harrumphed. The sound of Evan drumming a beat against the coffee mug echoed across the kitchen. Along with playing baseball, he’d been a percussionist with the band and was known for tapping out a tune on anything nearby.

“Last night was fun. Brooke did a great job organizing everything.” Annie gestured to the window, the early-morning light creeping across the yard. “The ice storm will prevent us from doing anything outside, but knowing Brooke, she’s still got a great lineup scheduled.”

He nodded. Hesitated.

Annie had been friends with Evan since the sandbox. “What is it?” She added a towel to her pile. “I can tell you have something to say.”

“Maybe it’s not my place, but I saw the way you were looking at Tate last night. It was high school all over again. You’ve always had a soft spot for him, and after what happened last time…after all you’ve been through recently with your husband’s passing…I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

The brotherly warning warmed her head. “I appreciate the concern, but it’s unnecessary. We’ve talked about what happened. He apologized; I accepted. We’re moving on as friends.”

Evan gave her a flat look. “Friends. Have you ever been able to be just friends with Tate?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Annie folded the last towel with more force than necessary. This conversation was silly. Or so she wanted to believe. But hadn’t she felt that familiar flare of attraction around Tate? Over s’mores and hot cocoa, they’d slipped back into a comfortable conversation, and for the first time since losing her husband, Annie felt butterflies. It wouldn’t go anywhere, but it was both unsettling and exciting to realize that part of her wasn’t gone forever. That maybe…at some point…she would fall in love again. Maybe even get married.

It was what James would want for her. Annie’s former job as a police officer had put her in dangerous situations, and before getting married, she’d made James promise that if anything happened to her, he’d grieve and then move on. He’d made her swear the same.

It had never once occurred to her that she’d be the one keeping the promise.

But here she was. Widowed.

And sometimes…well, sometimes…she was lonely.

Evan was still watching her. Annie sighed. “Okay, I hear you. I’ve always had a soft spot for Tate. But you don’t need to worry. I’m not the naive girl I once was, and it’ll take more than a good conversation and some laughs to lower my guard.” She turned the tables. “I thought you liked Tate?”

“I do. I just…” He scraped a hand through his hair, making his bedhead worse. “Brooke has this notion that we’re going to leave this weekend with the old crew back intact. She gets along with everyone, so it’s hard for her to understand that there’s no going back to our elementary school days. People have changed. And to be frank, most of them I’m not interested in having in my life again.”