Page 16 of Devoted

I slide open the glass door. Maddox and Clark would throw a fit if they knew I'd left it open. But it only locked and unlocked from the inside. It was my fourth day in Uncle Nate's beach cottage. I renamed it a cottage because it was cozy enough to earn the title. The location in the quiet cove was the perfect choice. I felt myself getting stronger physically and even mentally with each passing day. After the first night of unexpected drama with Maddox staying at the house, we mutually decided it might be best if Clark just made sure patrol cars were keeping an eye on the place. I had the perfect defense for the plan when Maddox hesitated. I reminded him I was the woman who chased down many bad guys and always came out of it the victor. I still didn't have my gun back due to a lot of red tape and the slow process of me getting back to what the doctors considered a hundred percent. I was still a shadow of my former self but I was trained in self-defense. Still, it was on the doctor's orders that someone check in with me daily. Today is Silvana's day and I am happy to see his sweet face peering back at me through the peephole on the frontdoor.

"You're already here," I say excitedly as I usher him inside. I glance at the box of donuts in his hand. "And you come bearing gifts. My favorite kind of visitor is the kind who comes armed with a pink bakery box." I take a whiff. "Smells like sugar glazeheaven."

Silvana laughs as he carries the pink box to the kitchen. "Hope it's all right that I came a few hours early. Maddox is busy in court today and I found myself with a couple extra hours. I thought, I'll just bet Ten could do with a donut ortwo."

"You are a jewel of a man, Silvana. A shiny, priceless jewel." I grab a few paper towels for our donut picnic and open the box. "Can't decide so I'm taking chocolate and glazed. Pardon mypigginess."

"Take as many as you like." Silvana reaches in for the maple bar. "Except this one. It's mine. But I'm cutting myself off atone."

"Tonight is the big night, eh?" We carry our donuts to the living room couch. "The big face to face meeting with—" I twist my mouth trying to remember his match's name. "Sheila,right?"

"Yes." He lifts his hand, the one not holding the donut. "Look at this shake. I've got to get rid of it before tonight." He looks pointedly at my running shoes. "Maybe I should take a run along the beach too. Good to see you're getting back to your old favorite sport—running. That'll probably help your recovery more than anything a doctor can do foryou."

"Iagree."

Silvana turns and looks out at the beach. "Are you sure it's safe for you to run though? I mean, Clark knows about it right? AndMaddox?"

I suck my bottom lip in. I've never been a goodliar.

"Ten? Tell me Maddox knows because if he doesn't then you can't expect me to keep it fromhim."

"I'll tell him. I promise. Just pretend you didn't see me in my running clothes." My plan doesn't seem to sit well withhim.

"I don't think it's a good idea. What if Freestone is out there, watching, waiting, stalkingyou?"

It's the first time that suggestion has been aired. It stuns me for a second. "He's not. Why would he? Knowing Kane, he's moved on to some new big project. I'm just a dirty smudge in his past now." Even as I say it, it bothers me to think that Kane has most likely moved on without giving me a second thought. I pick up the donut to sugar high away the silliness in my head. It doesn't matter anymore. Nothing about Kane matters anymore. I need him gone from my headforever.

I take a bite of chocolate and close my eyes to savor it. "Hmm, several months of being disgusted by food has made me far more appreciative of how fucking awesome itis."

"Yeah, I could do with just a squirt of that stuff you were addicted to—" Silvana stops. His round cheeks sink. "God, I'm sorry, Ten. I shouldn't bring up shit likethat."

"Why not? It happened. Seriously, I told Clark this. Now I'm going to tell you. Stop tiptoeing around me. It's me, Angie Tennyson. I'm not a snowflake. I was addicted to some powerful shit and that's the truth of it." My moment of courage will, no doubt, fade just as quickly as it surfaced, but I needed the men to stop treating me like I wasbreakable.

The grin returns to his face. "You are definitely not a snowflake, and I will stop with the tiptoeingthing."

"But just between you and me, Sil, I'm not looking forward to next week when I have to start talking about everything. Not sure I'mready."

"No? Then tell Clark. They shouldn't be pushing you to do that so soon. You let them know when you'reready."

"On the other hand, I feel like I need to get it over with, you know? A big hurdle to get past so I can get my badge back." I hop up. "I need milk.You?"

"No, I'mfine."

I return with a glass of milk. "Are you still going to the pie place for the firstdate?"

"Yeah, why? Does it seem like a lame way tostart?"

I shuck him on the shoulder. "You're asking the wrong gal. I love pie. It's an awesome first date as far as I'mconcerned."

Silvana looks relieved. "Hey, can I ask you a question? Feel free not toanswer."

I finish the milk and wipe the moustache with the back of my hand. "Shoot."

"When did you know you loved Maddox? Remember, you don't have to answer. Or even admit you love him. Just thought I should take some mental notes. In case this thing with Sheila turns out all right. It'd be nice to know what makes a woman fall in love. Not that I can put myself on the same plateau asMaddox."

I squeeze his arm to stop his rambling. "You're right. You're on a much higher plateau than Maddox and most men, for that matter, because you're thoughtful enough to ask what makes a woman love a man. Most guys don'tcare."

A blush creeps up above the collar of his shirt. "Thanks."

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