Page 59 of Hunted Hearts
He drew in a slow breath, steadying the storm building in his chest. Losing her wasn’t something he’d survive.
Tonight was for Gabe. Tomorrow, he’d figure out how to make sure Juliette was still standing when this was all over.
Even if it meant drawing blood—his or anyone else’s—he would make sure no one touched her ever again.
* * * * *
The party was in full swing. Juliette had been to a lot of celebrations—balls, dinners, awards ceremonies. But she’d never been to a party like this before.
Everywhere she looked, the people were enjoying themselves in a way that made them feel like a big family. The shuffle of boots and the hum of voices filled the space, sometimes growing louder and drowning out the country tunes playing from speakers. The only time silence fell was when Gabe gave a small and emotional speech about good friends and new horizons.
Her own throat had clogged with emotion, and Theo had taken one look at her face and dragged her away to grab a drink. When he placed a paper cup of steaming hot cocoa in her hands,she couldn’t have been more surprised that the drink would be served at a party like this.
At first, she had tucked herself along the edge of the gathering, not knowing quite where she fit in. These people weren’t the polished, practiced crowds she’d grown up around in Vienna, Paris or New York, where every word and smile could be a blade.
These people…were something else entirely.
Warmth radiated from every corner the lodge, in the laughter of the vets and the Malone family as they passed the baby around.
And Theo…he wasn’t anything like Juliette first thought he was. He wasn’t a muscled shadow barking orders at her.
Theo stood with the others, his powerful frame at ease for once, the rigid edge he always carried stripped away. When he came to escort her to the party, and she saw him round the corner in that cowboy hat, she didn’t think the heat swirling through her veins would settle anytime in the next decade.
She eyed him now, how he wore the hat low on his head like his brother Denver. It sported a black feather and shadowed his sharp features even more and made it impossible for her to tear her gaze from him.
Aspen and Honor came over to talk to Juliette, and she reluctantly pulled her attention away from her handsome bodyguard to join in the conversation. Soon, she was laughing with the rest of them. When Rhae approached with Navy in her arms, the child tipped toward Juliette, arms out.
She darted a look at Rhae, unsure what to do.
Rhae issued a quiet chuckle. “Feel free to hold her if you like. She clearly wants to make sure she doesn’t miss a single person in the room.”
Juliette had little experience with children of this age, but how hard could it be? The child must be sturdy enough if all these rough men could handle her without breaking her.
She reached for the girl and tucked her close to her body. She smelled sweetly of baby shampoo, and her chubby little body fit perfectly against her.
All at once, she wondered if she and Theo had a child, if she’d look like Navy.
Her eyes misted over as she stared down at the little girl.
“Juliette, are you all right?” Concern pinched Rhae’s brows. “If you’re not comfortable—”
“No, no. It’s not that.” She shook her head. It was just…
It hit her. The ladies were staring at her, and she felt the need to explain…to share.
“It’s just that this place, and all of you…you’re so warm and welcoming. You’ve all adopted me so easily despite the fact that I don’t belong here.”
Aspen placed a hand on her arm. “Of course you belong here.”
She went on. “I’m an only child, raised in a world where love came in carefully scheduled visits and affection was expressed with lavish gifts, not time or touch. My parents believed they were giving me a perfect childhood, and itwaswonderful. I had the best schools, every opportunity and endless lessons to polish my musical talents. But none of it filled the empty spaces inside me…the places where time and presence should’ve been.”
The women fell silent, listening raptly to her. Even the baby’s stare was fixed on her face like she could soak in every word in ways adults couldn’t.
“Then I come here, and this…” She swept a look around. “Your casual, chaotic family unit, with the baby and jokes and all the food is so far from what I know. And yet soperfect.”
Honestly, it wasn’tanythinglike she’d ever envisioned as her heart’s desire. But now, with Navy snuggled against her and the women smiling at her like she’d been part of this circle for years, she couldn’t think of anything she wantedmore.
Helping the orphanage had been about giving those kids what she thought they needed most—opportunities, instruments, scholarships. She hadn’t realized until now that what they needed, whatshehad needed all along, was this. A family. A home.
