Page 79 of Tate
He hadn’t expected that part, or the fact that she’d betray that to any of them. But Sly walked over to her and grabbed the reins of her horse. “You’ll do everything he says, without argument?”
Tate grinned as he looked over at her for her answer. Even added, “Withoutargument.”
She glanced from Sly to Tate. “You’re not the boss of me, Tator.”
“This weekend I am, honey.”
She sighed, then turned back to Sly. “Fine. Yes.”
Sly considered Tate. “And you’ll keep her safe, no matter what.”
Tate gave him a look. But since he was his boss… “With my very life.”
Sly shook his head. “Okay. But don’t forget yourdeal, bucko.”
Right, his deal. What deal was that?
“And don’t let your guard down,” Sly added, his gaze flickering to Rags, then back.
His smile fell. Because yeah, Sly was right.
He glanced again at the camera, then at Glo sitting there with the slightest smile of triumph.
Oh boy.
Ford was going to miss his brother’s wedding.
He’d come to that conclusion within twenty-four hours of arriving in town, when he heard the doctor’s prognosis.
When he saw Scarlett break in front of him.
And sure, Ford had stayed for Gunnar and the gleam the kid got when someone—anyone, probably, but especially Ford—showed him any attention.
And he’d stayed for Sammy-Jo, who needed someone to collect her memories with her, to care that they were fading, turning her world smaller with each day.
He’d stayed, of course, for Scarlett because he didn’t exactly know how he’d cope with leaving behind a mother who might not remember him the next time he returned. Or worse, giving up the one thing he’d worked his entire life for—his career—to return home and watch his mother throw her life away. So he stayed because she needed a friend.
But mostly he stayed because of Axel.
Because the man set his teeth on edge the way he now watched Scarlett’s every movement. He didn’t even bother to hide it from Gunnar, from Sammy-Jo, even from Ford.
Which is why Ford kept the boyfriend card on the table. Why he put his arm around Scarlett just often enough to make it believable without going over any personal lines between them.
Why, after that first night when he’d seen Axel consume an entire six-pack, he’d carried his sleeping bag onto the porch, right under Scarlett’s open window, just in case he heard anything.
Why he’d slept poorly that night, his dreams a poor place for his fears to linger.
And, why he stayed up on the porch, sometimes listening to an audiobook, watching Axel until the man turned off the glow of the television and went to bed.
Truth was, he couldn’t leave her. Because he still heard her voice in his head.Gary.
But for a moment there, at the ball game, he’d nearly bolted. Panicked as his heart pulled a Rambo on him and went renegade, wanting to cast the truth at her feet.I don’t know how I’d do my job without you. I mean I would, but it would…it would stink.
The words almost tipped his lips. And it would stink, but he was a pro and he’d get the job done—Hooyah—even if she wasn’t on the other side, feeding him quiet information. Truth was, he could probably figure out how to do his job without Scarlett. He just didn’t want to.
Worse, he knew how terrible it sounded. Because she was in a no-win situation with her mother, and of course, all he’d thought about was himself.
So, if she decided to leave, he’d suck it up. He didn’t do vulnerable and needy, and his panic belonged in some sappy television show they always got wrong about Navy SEALs. Something that might happen, but no one really wanted to admit.
