Page 45 of Homecoming

She took a sip and nodded. “This is perfect.”

“Did Angela leave,” he asked as he sank down into the couch, beer bottle in hand.

“Yes. I think she was a little stressed. I assume she went home.”

Owen frowned. “It has been a lot on them this week.”

“She said when you talk to me tonight I need to remember that these are just men,” she said, and watched his reaction.

Owen’s eyes narrowed a little, and he sighed. His thumbnail flicked at the beer bottle label, and he looked out at the group. “I had a really good time with you last night. But I probably should have talked to you first and explained some things. I think we got caught up in the emotion from the wedding…”

“Possibly,” Grace said, crossing her arms over her chest. She’d been having a good time tonight, but Owen’s expression had changed. It had gone dark, like when she’d first met him. “Why don’t you explain what you wanted to tell me last night?”

He looked at her for a long moment. “It can’t leave this room, Grace. You can’t tell your brothers or your best friend. You can’t tell your preacher. Because if you do, Fallon could be kidnapped or killed.”

Grace gaped at him, her mouth hanging open. “What?” she said faintly. The thought of that precious baby being taken, and Angela’s potential devastation, brought instant tears to her eyes.

“This is truly a matter of national security,” Owen said, his iron gray eyes as hard as she’d ever seen them, “and I’m not just saying that to be theatrical. I will tell you my story, but you have to swear that no matter how our relationship proceeds, you cannot repeat a word of this to anyone else. I know it’s too early in our relationship to ask you for any kind of commitment, but I have to. You have to swear to me that you will hold our confidence.”

Grace blinked, wondering if she should bail now, before the water got too deep. He seemed to sense that she was actually thinking about leaving, because he took a swig of beer, as if he needed the distraction, before he continued. “If it’s too soon, just say no. I can run you down the mountain and we never need to see each other again.”

The mere thought of never seeing him again gutted her. It made her physically ill, and the glass trembled in her hand. He was throwing a lot at her all at once. Owen retrieved the glassand set it on the table in front of them, along with his beer. Then he sat back in the cushion, without looking at her. He gave her time to think about what he’d said.

Could she turn away and never see him again? Never be loved by him again? Or even worse, see him on the street and have him turn away from her as if he didn’t know her? The thought was terrible. She’d spent probably less than thirty hours with him, total, in all their interactions. Owen appealed to her so strongly that she’d stepped out of her comfort zone and askedhimout. Was she ready to get married and have kids? Hell, no, but she definitely felt strongly enough about him to want to pursue more.

Last night, making love with him, it had been a revelation. One she was still dealing with. Yes, she’d been with other men, but not of them had made her feel the way Owen did. He was protective and kind despite his gruffness, and so damn sexy her mouth watered just thinking about dancing her fingers down those abs again…

Did he enjoy last night as much as she had? She’d thought so, but he hadn’t said a word about last night at all. Actually, he’d retreated a little, like he didn’t necessarily even want her here. Or like she was more trouble than she was worth.

Maybe he was just worrying about what he had to tell her about the men.

She hoped that was what it was.

The fact that she was up here on Christmas meant more than he probably understood. The Lane family usually hung out all day, until there were kids sleeping on couches and the food was all gone. When she’d told her family she was leaving early, they’d gawked at her. The thought was inconceivable. She’d given her mother a look, though, and that had been enough for her to call everyone off Grace’s case.

Well, almost everyone.

“I bet it’s for that tall sex stick in the black hat,” Finley, her younger sister, said. She was in college in Raleigh, and they’d all heard about Finley’s exploits, usually from Finley herself. A few of those exploits had followed her home over the years.

Grace had only snorted, because she’d thought of Owen that way herself a time or two. “That would be a good bet,” she’d said, winking at her sister. If there was a chance she could climb Owen The Stick, she would jump on it. Him. The mere thought warmed her in deliciously naughty ways.

That had set off her family all over again, but she’d laughed as she’d left. Her mother had winked at her, and mimed calling her later.

Now, though, things had taken a turn. She’d wanted to feel out the night and see how things rolled, but his attitude had chilled. She wanted the soft, rumpled, sexy Owen, but this was the ball-buster, compound manager Black.

All thoughts of fun had washed away. He was dead serious, and the look in his eyes told her that even though they’d shared an amazing night, he would walk away from her if it meant protecting his men.

She could only admire that.

“I don’t want you to run me down the mountain,” she said, and even hearing the words made her throat tighten with emotion. “I will hold your confidence.”

Owen closed his eyes for the barest second, and Grace was glad to see that. It was the first visible crack in his coldness. “Thank you, Grace. I feel like… well, I want to get to know you better.”

“I want to get to know you, too, Owen.” Her throat was tight, and she barely got the words out.

Then, somehow, his hand was wrapped around hers, and he was tugging her up from the couch. He led her from the room,and Grace was very conscious of everyone watching them as they left.

Owen led her down a hallway and into what looked like the private bedroom section of the lodge. There were doors all along the hallway. He led her to the one at the end on the right.

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