Page 31 of Guarded By Them

“Great, thanks.”

We backed out of the makeshift office and crossed the back yard to the cabin. Ryan had made it out of the bedroom and was sitting on the couch. He wore his prosthetic leg again, and there was a little more color in his face, which I was glad to see.

“Now,” Timmo clapped his hands together, “who’s hungry?”

“Me,” I replied instantly. I was starving. It felt like it had been a long time since we’d had breakfast at the diner, and no matter how enthusiastic Dillon was about road trip snacks, it wasn’t the same as a proper meal. I was used to going hungry—not only during my time growing up, but also with the men who’d previously owned me—but I’d been spoiled during my time with Kodee, and my stomach had gotten used to three square meals.

“Good. And who wants a beer?”

Everyone put up their hands, and Timmo chuckled then bent to the fridge and pulled out an eight-pack. He set about handing them out, and the room filled with hisses as the cans were cracked open. I took a sip. The beer was cold and fizzy, bubbles going up my nose. Beer wasn’t something I drank much of, but in this situation, it felt right.

Timmo started rustling through cupboards.

“Anything I can do to help?” I offered.

“You any good at peeling potatoes?”

I laughed. “I think I can manage that.”

Kodee got to his feet as well. “I’ll help.”

“Great. The potatoes are in the basket under the counter. I grew them myself, so they’re gonna need a good scrub.”

Timmo vanished out back and returned holding a slab of dark meat that must have been hanging in a cool room somewhere. “This should give us some decent looking venison steaks,” he said, slamming the meat down onto the counter. He fished out a massive butcher’s blade to cut it down.

I located the potatoes and ran a sink of warm water then emptied the potatoes into the water to clean and peel.

Kodee stepped in beside me and got to work, scrubbing the potatoes clean, before dropping them back into the water for me to fish out and peel. I was conscious of how our bodies were hip to hip, my shoulder pressed into his side. Our hands brushed together in the bowl of muddy potato water. His palm slid over the back of mine, our fingers interlinking, and he squeezed my hand. I leaned into him, wanting to turn and bury my face in his chest, inhaling the scent of him. Something about Kodee’s scent had always been so comforting—it had been since the first day I’d been brought to the apartment and he’d given me his shirt to wear.

Timmo ignored us and got on with cutting up the meat. He was of the generation who knew how to mind their own business. He’d clearly spotted there was more than just friendship or a business arrangement going on between us, but he didn’t ask about it. It simply wasn’t his business, and he seemed happy to keep it that way.

Before long, we had potatoes and venison frying. The smell was incredible, and my stomach gurgled, my mouth flooding with saliva. When the food was ready, we all sat around the rustic dining table and filled our stomachs with meat and fried potatoes and washed it down with cold beer. The atmosphere was relaxed and just, well, normal, and for a moment I entertained the possibility that this could be the place we ended up. Well, maybe not this exact place, with Timmo living here as well, but somewhere out in the middle of nowhere, where no one was going to bother us. When we’d first arrived, I’d been fearful of the solitude, the quiet, and the space, but I was starting to see the appeal. I would happily hole away with the guys somewhere like this and live off the land, and cook together every night, and fall asleep to the sound of cicadas chirping in the back yard.

Dillon nudged my side. “Penny for them?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been sitting there daydreaming. I wanted to know what was on your mind. I hope I played a part.”

“Of course.” I smiled at him. “You’re always on my mind, Dillon.”

He hooked an arm around my neck and kissed my temple. “Good to know.” Then he pressed his lips to my ear and whispered, “You’re always on mine, too.”

We grinned at each other.

Kodee got to his feet. “Come on. Let’s clear up and then get some rest.”

“Yes, Dad,” Dillon teased.

Kodee tapped him around the back of the head as he passed.

“That was amazing, Timmo,” I told the older man. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“You’re more than welcome, young lady. Now, if you’ll excuse an old man, I think I’ll retire for the night. That beer has gone straight to my head.”

We said our goodnights, and he left us alone.

I stifled a yawn against the back of my hand. Despite the naps I’d taken during the day, all the fresh air and traveling had left me exhausted.

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