Page 17 of Homecoming

Aiden fell back into step with the man, looking around.Feelingaround. “It’s just a little surreal. Three days ago, mercenaries were testing our security on the building and I was getting ready to fight off a mental and physical attack. And now we’re talking craft stores.”

“Hardware stores,” Black corrected, holding up a cautioning finger.

Aiden laughed, some of the tension of the night, and the preceding days, lightening.

“Is that what encouraged the move?” Black asked, and Aiden nodded.

Grace led them through the crowd, pausing here and there to introduce them to people or point out some kind of landmark.

“Owen, did you warn him about the brothers?” she asked at one point, grinning over her shoulder.

Aiden blinked and cocked his head at Black. He knew the man’s name was Owen, but he’d never heard anyone actually call him that. Even as he watched,Owen’s jaw tightened, and he winced a little under Aiden’s look.

“Yes, I did,” he said.

“And I appreciate the warning, Owen,” Aiden said, trying not to laugh at the man’s discomfort.

Grace didn’t seem to sense anything wrong, but it told Aiden a lot. Their dour, moody administrator, who barely laughed, was loosening up. For a woman.

SEVEN

When the three-hundred pound reindeer with five foot wide horns jerked away from his handler and started jogging toward them across the square, Aiden tried not to be alarmed.

Snatching Fallon up in his arms, he felt his men moving in. Angela reached for her weapon, but hesitated. It would not be ideal to draw a gun in this crowd. Vaughn could probably wrestle the thing to the ground if he had to, but they’d certainly never trained on that.

Black moved like he was going to put himself between them, but something invisible bumped him out of the way, into Grace. He tripped and almost took her down, but he wrapped his arms around her and spun them around. It was actually a very nimble move, almost dancelike.

People scattered away from the loose animal, but nobody screamed or anything. It was like they’d seen the animal do this before.

Fallon giggled, and that was the first inkling that she was involved. She reached out her chubby hands and the massive animal jogged right up to her, pink tongue licking at her fingers.

A grinning woman followed along behind, but certainly didn’t seem to rush. She stopped beside them and took holdof the animal’s halter. She had thick dark hair drawn back in a ponytail, and a purple knit band around her ears. Her bright blue eyes creased with laughter. “I’m sorry about that. Frank gets a stubborn streak here and there and breaks away from us, but he wouldn’t hurt your little one. He likes kids.”

Aiden heaved a breath, glancing at Angela. The relief was there on her face as well.

“I think we’re okay,” he said, watching as Fallon patted the animal’s head. “She’s certainly okay with it.”

It felt like most of the town was watching them. Aiden sent out a subtle push for them to get back to what they were doing. He didn’t like tofinessegroups of people like this, but he wanted no more attention than they had to have. People began turning and walking away.

Fallon was doing her baby chatter thing with the reindeer, and Angela snapped a quick picture with her phone. A grin split her own face as she watched her daughter interact with the huge animal. The baby wasn’t scared at all.

“Aiden and Angela, this is Maya Rivers, our local vet,” Grace said, grinning and a little breathless. She hadn’t been struggling when Black,Owen, had her in his arms.

Angela shook the vet’s hand, but Aiden just gave her a nod as he held onto his wriggling daughter. Fallon was trying to do jumping jacks in his arms or something, she was so excited.

“Frank knows this is his time to shine,” Maya said, her voice wry, “and he takes advantage of it. You’re with the group from up the mountain, right?”

“Yes,” he said, deciding that wouldn’t be too bad to admit.

“Well, you don’t know us, but I promise you he’s safe. Actually, you can let her sit on him, if you want.” She lifted her dark brows expectantly.

“I think we’re okay here,” he said, giving her a slight smile.

Maya held out a little candy cane. “You can give him one of these.” She ripped the plastic wrap away and handed it to Aiden.

There was a pressure at his back, and he knew Fallon wanted him to move closer. He looked down at his daughter and shook his head. “No, Fallon.”

She blinked her big blue-grey eyes at him, and the pressure eased. He looked back at Maya. “I think this is close enough.”

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