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All of this. A room full of people who cared whether she made it home. A man who hadn’t let go of her since he pulled her back from the edge of a cliff. A lollipop from a little girl who thought bravery deserved candy.
Two and a half months alone on a mountain and weeks of running before it had led here.
Wyatt was watching her face with a mixture of concern and tenderness.
She pressed her fingertips against his jaw. “I love you,” she said quietly.
“I love you too.” He pressed another kiss to her hair, tightening his arms around her. “I’ve got you, now and forever. I’m not going anywhere.”
With Wyatt’s steady heartbeat under her ear, she believed every word.
Whatever came next, whatever loose threads still needed tying up with Talon Group or the investigation or Lance’s eventual trial, she’d face it from here.
For the first time since this whole nightmare began, she had nothing but time and no reason left to run from any of it.
She was done running.
She was finally, completely home.
Chapter Seventeen
Wyatt watched Whitley demolish a steak. It was good to see she was back to eating anything that mooed.
The dining hall buzzed around them with forks against plates and a deep laugh carrying from the far table. Late-afternoon light slanted through the windows, catching the steam still rising off her food.
Just another evening at the lodge, and exactly the kind he would have given anything to guarantee her a few weeks ago.
The color was also back in her cheeks, and the sight made his chest ache with relief that she was feeling more herself. A few days out from the mountain now, and each day she looked stronger. Still too thin and carrying shadows under her eyes in the mornings. But stronger.
Everyone at the ranch had taken to pampering her outrageously. Extra desserts appeared at her elbow without anyone asking. Willow kept “finding” new clothes that magically fit her perfectly. And Navy had appointed herself Whitley’s official bodyguard, which mostly meant sitting as close to her as possible at every opportunity.
Wyatt understood the need to hover. He hadn’t gone more than ten feet from her side since they got off that mountain, and he didn’t plan to change that policy anytime soon.
“Rhodes.”
He glanced up at his name and lowered his fork midbite.
Carson appeared at the edge of the table, expression unreadable, which meant he’d come to discuss business. “Need a word. With both of you, actually.” He directed his gaze to Whitley, who set her fork down too. “Doc Hitchcock wants to check you over. Make sure you’re on the mend.”
Damn. He had to part ways with her, just for a little while.
Some of that color Wyatt had been admiring two minutes before drained at the reminder of why she’d need checking over at all.
Carson swung his gaze to Wyatt. “And I’d like to see you in my office.”
He traded a look with Whitley. “I’m not sure which of our summons sounds more ominous.”
She squeezed his hand under the table. “I was finished with my meal anyway. I’ve already had two desserts today.”
“Go on.” Wyatt squeezed her hand in return. “I’ll find you after.”
She nodded and pushed back her chair. Wyatt stood with her and the three of them walked away from the table. While Whitley veered off to the clinic wing, Wyatt followed Carson.
The ranch was alive with activity as the evening chores wound down. Willow stood talking to one of the veterans outside the barn, her face animated at something he said. Truman and his dog emerged from behind a shed and walked toward the lodge, probably ready to grab some dinner after a day of hard work.
Wyatt sucked in the scent of spring in the air. The chill of the mountain had changed over the past few days, bringing the bright scent of tree sap. Not for the first time, he realized how much the mountains would always be part of him, no matter what path the training took him on.
He was still rolling that surety around his head when they entered the office.
