Page 49 of Homecoming

“Thank you, Grunt. Dinner was amazing, and so was the intervention,” she grinned lightly to let him know she was okay.

“Anytime, Grace,” he said as she grabbed her dish. “I hope to see you again soon.”

She smiled, but she said nothing as she left the kitchen. Thoughts were invading her mind again, and she needed to get out of this environment to think clearly. She found Owen in the mudroom. “Give me a minute and I’ll be ready to go.”

“No rush,” he said, and his voice was so rough. She knew it was from talking at length and telling her their story.

Grace bundled up and slid her boots on, then headed out the door. Owen circled the idling truck and opened the passenger side door for her, and she climbed in. Snow had fallen pretty heavily, and she wondered if they would be okay driving down. Owen didn’t seem worried, though, and he steered the truck confidently.

“Earlier, in the living room, it seemed like a couple of the men were talking without saying anything.”

He turned his head and glanced at her. “That’s one of the side effects of the serum. If we’re in close proximity, a lot of us can communicate telepathically.”

She blinked and turned to look out the front again. “Wow,” she breathed.

Grace was content to hold her tongue the rest of the way and watch the snowflakes fall in the beams of the headlights. This wasn’t how she expected her Christmas night to go. When she’d thought about coming up here, she’d hoped that there would be a way for her and Owen to be together again. That had completely flown out the window, though. She had some serious thinking to do.

When he pulled up in front of her shop, Grace finally turned to him. “I appreciate everything you’ve told me, and I hope you’ll be patient while I assimilate everything.”

“I understand,” he said, but she could tell he thought she was brushing him off.

Leaning across the seat, she gave him a kiss, her mouth teasing until he responded. Then she pulled away and stepped out of the truck.

It tookeverything in Owen to let Grace go. What the fuck had that been? A final goodbye? Why did he feel like he would not see her again? She had closed her emotions down tight.

He watched as she let herself into the shop, and then a few minutes later the lights flicked on upstairs. Shifting into gear, he pulled away, turning at the stop sign to circle around and head back up the mountain. It felt wrong to leave, but he didn’t know what else to do. This had to be her decision. And he had to abide by what she wanted.

It didn’t mean he had to like it, though.

When he got back up to the lodge, he let himself inside and skirted past the group in the living room. Or tried.

“Hey, Cap’n,” somebody called.

Owen paused and turned around, trying to keep his sigh internal.

A couple of the guys stood in the doorway of the living room. Dane Walsh made a motion with his good hand. “We just wanted to let you know that we liked her, and Mason didn’t feel any subterfuge.”

Mason’s bright blue eyes were wide as he shook his auburn head. “She was very happy to be here, and even after you talked to her in your rooms, she seemed okay, but guarded.”

“Okay. Thank you for letting me know.”

“We didn’t come on too strong, did we?” Dane asked, a line appearing on his forehead.

Owen shook his head. “You guys were fine. It’s just a lot to lay on a person. We’ve had a few years to get used to… us.” He made a motion between their heads. “She’s never been around anything like it.”

Mason cocked his head at that. “I think she’s okay with the odd and unusual. Something makes me think she’s seen some stuff, more than the average person.”

Hm. He would have to think about that and maybe ask her if she decided to come back.

“Thanks, guys. My throat is shot. I’m going to bed.”

“Okay. Night, Cap’n. And Merry Christmas.”

The fact that it was Christmas had kind of faded from his mind. He let himself into his rooms and dropped his hat on the peg. His gaze lingered on the hatband. Even if she didn’t come back, he would always wear that band, and think of her.

“Have you heard anything?”

Aiden shook his head as he entered the cabin a few days after Christmas, shedding his outerwear.

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