Page 19 of Silos and Sabotage

“I’ve got something on the other side of town that might fit the bill.” He grinned down at her. “Assuming you’re up for a short road trip. Fair warning. It’ll take us a good ten minutes to get to the other side of town. Eleven minutes if we hit Heart Lake rush hour.”

“Dare I ask what’s on the other side of town?” One minute’s worth of rush hour sounded heavenly compared to being stuck in the hour-long bottlenecks in downtown Corpus Christi.

“Since you already dared to ask,” he pointed out in a scoffing voice, “I’m just gonna tell you outright that I’m taking you to my place.” He ushered her out the door and into the hallway. “Assuming you don’t have any objections.”

“Maybe I have an objection,” Johnny Cuba drawled. He was lounged against the wall outside her room, looking sports magazine centerfold-worthy in his black cargo vest and combat boots. His black security ball cap was turned around backwards.

“Nobody asked you.” Gage shoulder-bumped past him.

Johnny’s good-humored laughter followed them down the hallway. “I’m gonna miss you, Ella,” he called after them.

“I’m gonna miss you, too.” She smiled at him over her shoulder. “Thanks for all the watch-dogging.”

He gave her a two-fingered salute, grinning from ear to ear. “Woof!”

Gage stalked ahead of her down the hallway, looking like he had steam coming out of his ears.

She followed him into the elevator. “I’m not sure what you’re so cranky about.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “Shoot, Gage! If I didn’t have a five-year crater in my memories and burst into tears every time I think about my dad, I’d probably be flirting with you.” She got all misty-eyed again at the mere mention of her father.

He leaned against the wall of the elevator, towering over her on the short ride down. “I’d probably be flirting back.” The steam was no longer coming out of his ears.

“Only if you’re still single when that day comes,” she sighed, thinking about all the counseling sessions she had on her schedule during the coming weeks. He’d insisted on it.

“I’ll still be single.” There was no hesitation in his answer.

And just like that, they were officially not yet dating with the unspoken promise that they would be at some point in the future.

She reached for his hand, liking the way his long fingers instantly tangled with hers.

Instead of taking her to the Ford Bronco he’d mentioned that he owned, he led her out a side exit to a boxy black vehicle. It looked like it belonged on the movie set for Terminator.

“New wheels?” She was wildly impressed by the look of them.

“Company wheels,” he corrected, as he assisted her into the front passenger seat. “It’s got an armored body and bullet-proof glass.”

She was unable to hold back a shiver at the realization that he considered such amenities necessary. “Please assure me you’ve got a bunker with my name on it somewhere on your property.”

“What I have is a guest house.” He gave her a lazy smile as he took his place behind the wheel. “The guy I bought my place from had it built for his in-laws. It’s located behind my farmhouse, fully furnished, and wired with a new security system. You’re welcome to stay there as long as you want.”

“Wow!” She blinked at him. “Thanks!” It was such a kind offer that she was having a hard time coming up with one of her usual pithy responses. “Just let me know what you want in the way of rent.” She had no idea what the going rate was for rent in a town this size.

He looked offended by her request. “It’s a guest house,” he reminded, “and you’re my guest.” He drove out of the medical center’s parking lot.

She lifted her chin. “I still plan to contribute.” Thanks to the way he’d safeguarded her father’s estate, she could well afford it.

“Fine. Dinner’s on you this evening.”

Her lips parted in protest. “That’s not enough?—”

“And lunch,” he interrupted with a wink.

“Gage!” She caught her lower lip between her teeth. As badly as she wanted to accept his generosity, she didn’t want to take advantage of him.

“All joking about rent aside, there’s something I could really use your help with.” He leaned one elbow on the console between them as he cruised around the sparkling lake that the town was named after.

She hadn’t been joking about the rent, but they could circle back to that later. “If it keeps me busy, count me in.” Anything was better than holing up inside her room and marinating in her grief. She gazed out the window at all the gorgeous lake homes and boat docks flying past her window. The ones with upper-level balconies probably had the most incredible views. It was too bad Gage didn’t live on the lake.

“About a month ago, I signed up to volunteer at the new Heart Lake Animal Rescue Sanctuary.” His voice was wry.

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