Page 27 of Silver Secrets

Gage stood, taking a step back as Stone finished with her leg.

“Hey, Doc. Slip off your sweatshirt for me.” Gage pulled his own jacket off his body, and Sloane’s eyes lingered on the way his shirt underneath formed to his muscles. He cleared his throat, a smile on his face as she met his eyes and felt her cheeks growing warm. He’d caught her checking him out. Good lord, she just wanted the day to be over.

In one quick motion, Gage slipped his jacket around her back, helping her get her good arm into the sleeve.

“Be careful of your wrist. Go slow,” he directed.

“Who’s the doctor here?” she teased, sinking into the warmth that the jacket provided. Gage took Stone’s sweatshirt from him, placing it under her legs. She must have given him a questioning look because he just smiled before sliding his hands under her legs and behind her back. Before she could protest, she was up in the air in Gage’s steady hold.

“I’m sorry for this,” he whispered into her ear. “But I’ve got you now. I’ll make sure you get back safe. I’ll keep you safe.”

“Thank you,” she said, exhaustion washing over her. The motion of Gage’s strides through the woods, and the warmth his hold wrapped around her was making her sleepy. She would normally fight it, the deep desire to rest her head down on his shoulder. To try and trust again. But with Gage, she was starting to see it was a losing battle. Because she knew he kept his promises, and she knew that he’d keep her safe.

Eight

Aweek had passed since she’d heard from Kimi, and subsequently had a massive, so-embarrassing-she-could-cry, panic attack in the middle of the woods. There had been no update on the missing woman from Virginia, but that hadn’t stopped her from driving to Rogersville to use the computers at the library to read every article published about the disappearance. Sloane had managed to hide all week from everyone except Lily, who cornered her at the end of the work day and basically demanded she join everyone for a trip into Bell Ridge.

Which is why she found herself climbing out of her car at an ungodly hour in the practically empty parking lot behind Montgomery Defense.

“How’s that wrist feeling?”

Sloane turned around, smiling at Gage as he walked towards her. His hands were in the pockets of his fitted jeans and his dimples were on full display.

“It’s fine. On the mend.” She held her hand up and rolled her wrist a few times before reaching up to run her fingers across the pendant hanging around her neck. “I haven’t had a chance to say thank you, for the other day.”

“No thanks needed, Red. I’m just glad you’re doing better. I was worried when I didn’t see you in the gym this week.”

Shit. He’d noticed.

“I thought this was going to be a group outing? Where is everyone else?” Sloane groaned, willing him to accept the change of subject without question.

“It was supposed to be.” His eyebrows pulled together. “I know Hawk and Nash needed to run through and tweak a scenario they’re putting together for a group of Secret Service members who are coming to train at The Trident in a couple of weeks, so they bowed out.”

Sloane felt her phone buzz in her back pocket.

“And… Lily just messaged me to say Sage spiked a fever last night and they’re in zombie mode this morning. So they won’t be tagging along.”

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “What about Stone and Mae?”

Gage’s eyebrows went comically high on his forehead. “Uh. Well, I’m sure you know what they’re up to. Or at least, I’m assuming they are up to something together since neither one of them answered their phones when I called before you got here.”

“So, does that mean it’s just the two of us for the market this morning?”

“Yeah.” His hand went to the back of his neck. He looked at her sheepishly, an adorable pink tint blooming across his cheeks. “Is that okay? I get it if you don’t want to go since it’s not a group thing anymore.”

“No. I still want to go. I can follow you over to Bell Ridge if you want or?—”

“Absolutely not. It doesn’t make sense to drive two vehicles. I’ve got room in my truck.” He paused. “As long as you’re okay with that.”

“That sounds nice. Thanks.”

* * *

Gage held open the door for Sloane, catching his hand at the last second before it slid to her lower back. It was a move he’d done countless times for his wife, because he knew it made her feel safe and protected. And as much as he wanted to give Sloane that, he knew that move would have the opposite effect on her.

They’d walked along Main Street in Bell Ridge, stopping at some of the booths at the Farmer’s Market along the way. Neither one of them seemed to be in a big shopping mood, but Gage would be the first to admit he was just happy to be spending some time with Sloane.

“You know what’s crazy?” Sloane said as her eyes scanned the sub shop where they’d decided to order their lunch from.

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