Page 36 of The Trail Boss

Roxie’s lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. “I’m not used to having people in my corner.”

“You better get used to it,” Gavin said, his voice softening. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

The silence stretched again, but this time it felt different—heavier, more charged. Roxie turned to face him fully, her eyes searching his face. “Why?”

“Why what?” Gavin asked, though he already knew the question.

“Why do you care so much?” she whispered. “Why are you risking so much for me?”

Gavin set his coffee mug down on the table, leaning closer to her. “Because somewhere along the way, this stopped being about the job,” he said, his voice low, almost rough. “Because you’re not just some case, Roxie. You’re... more than that to me.”

Her breath hitched, her chest rising and falling as she tried to process his words. “Gavin, I...”

“I know,” he said, cutting her off gently. “I know this is a lot. But I need you to know that you’re not just some responsibility to me. You’re important. You matter.”

The vulnerability in his voice made her throat tighten. She looked down, her fingers trembling slightly around her mug. “Idon’t know how to do this,” she admitted. “I don’t know how to let someone care about me like that.”

“Then we figure it out together,” Gavin said softly, his hand brushing against hers. “No pressure. No expectations. Just... trust me.”

Roxie looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears—it felt like the world outside in this time and in this moment didn’t exist—just the two of them, the crackling fire, and the unspoken connection growing stronger by the second.

The moment was interrupted by the sharp knock on his door. “Damn.” He didn’t want to give up this peace of having her sitting between his legs, but he knew no one would have disturbed them unless it was important. “Come,” he called, his tone instantly professional.

Reed cracked open the door and stepped in. “I hate to disturb you, but we’ve got something. It seems Bones has been doing his own investigating of the staff at the Iron Spur. One of the guys he suspected finally cracked.”

“Do I want to know exactly what that means?” asked Roxie.

“No,” Reed and Gavin said simultaneously.

“Turns out,” Reed continued, “the guy has been passing information to the Albrights.”

Gavin’s jaw tightened, his free hand clenching into a fist. “Who?”

“Guy named Joey. Works as wait staff on the dungeon floor. Says Margaret Albright’s been paying him to keep tabs on Roxie, pass along her schedule and any... vulnerabilities.”

Gavin’s stomach churned with anger. “Where is he now?”

“Still at the club. Says he’s willing to talk, but I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him.”

“I’ll handle it,” Gavin said, his voice cold.

“Be careful,” Reed warned.

Roxie looked up at Gavin, worry etched across her face.

Her eyes widened. “You’re going after them, aren’t you?”

He nodded, his expression hard. “This ends tonight.”

As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him. “Gavin.”

He turned back, his eyes meeting hers.

“Be careful,” she said softly, her voice trembling.

“I will,” he promised. “And I’ll be back. I always will be, but you stay here. I mean it.”

With one last look, he kissed her and then moved off to shower and dress. The big shower felt lonely without her and his cock stirred when he remembered what she looked like, bent over taking her spanking, before he’d fucked her. That was a memory he would treasure for the rest of his days. He gave her another kiss before leaving her in their room—theirroom, that sounded right—and stepped out into the morning, his resolve solidifying.

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