Page 50 of The Flame of Carson
“You are amazing Stacey.I love you.So damned much.”Gage said, reaching for the washcloth.
“I love you too Gage.”Stacey smiled.
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It was a beautifulsunny Saturday morning, so after their shower, Gage suggested they sit on his back deck to talk.“It’s so nice today, you’d never know it’s November.”Stacey commented.
“Welcome to Texas babe.”Gage chuckled, before taking a sip of his coffee.
“It sure beats New York this time of year.”She nodded.After taking a sip of her own coffee, she opened her mouth.Words failed for her.She knew they should talk but had no ungodly idea how to start the conversation.
Sensing her unease, Gage took charge.“Stacey, what did you and Grant talk about over lunch?”
She sighed, “You know how I told you that maybe this guy isn’t someone that I actually know?”Gage nodded.“That’s what we discussed.We talked about how he could have selected me.As an editor, I don’t get out much.Krista and maybe two or three other authors are the only ones I make public appearances for.Grant mentioned that this asshat could have seen me at one of those events or something.Though I do not think that’s it.I make maybe three trips with Krista a year, and one or two a year with the others.If it wasn’t at one of those, then I have no idea how he picked me.Of course, since I have taken this new position, I will not be making anymore appearances.I just won’t have the time.”
“Maybe it had nothing to do with your job.”He remarked.
“Then what?”she questioned.
“Babe, you are not just an editor.That is your day job.You forget you also compete in Krav Maga tournaments.Not to mention you taught classes in New York.”He pointed out.
Stacey felt her eyes widen.It was an angle she hadn’t considered.“You think?”
“It’s a possibility.Maybe tonight or something you could run it by Ethan and see what he says.It cannot hurt.”Gage shrugged.“Now, should we talk about what happened to me yesterday?”
“Gage, if you don’t want to, we really don’t have to talk about it.”Stacey said, laying her hand on his arm.
“When I walked into Ethan’s office and told him what you told me the night before and he told me to back off the case, I just started getting so pissed.I kept clenching and unclenching my fists.I just wanted to pound something.He sent me and Tony to meet with that hacker guy.We are in the room, and I just lost it.The hacker was looking so smug, and next thing I know, I am jerking him out of the chair.Tony and Elias got me to let go and Tony literally threw me out of the office.I have not seen Tony look that pissed in years to be honest.He told me to go take a walk or something.”
Gage paused and lifted his mug to his lips as his mind replayed the events of the previous day.It still shocked him how fast he went over the edge.That wasn’t normal for him.He and Grant were the levelheaded ones, Tony the joker, Ethan the boss and quick to lose his temper and Lance the quiet brooder.Taking a slow breath, he continued, “After Tony went back in the room, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.I hauled ass outside and still couldn’t seem to catch my breath.My first thought was I was having a heart attack.I called Ethan.I sat on one of the concrete planters outside and just put my head between my legs.Trying to take slow breaths.It was damned scary.”
Stacey took his mug and hers and sat them on the deck table.Wanting to be closer to him, she got out of her chair and slid onto his lap.Instantly, Gage’s arms wrapped around her.They sat there just holding one another.Stacey cradled his head against her shoulder, running her fingers through his hair.It broke her heart hearing Gage describe what had happened the day before.She had always seen him as a battle seasoned warrior.Now, she saw there was more to him than she had initially thought, and it made her fall in love with him even more.
“I’m sorry Gage.Sorry you had to go through this.”
“I wouldn’t change anything.What I mean is, I would rather go through that fear to spare you of it.”
She kissed his forehead, then lifted his face so their eyes met, “I wish we didn’t have to feel this fear period.”
His arms wrapped around her as he lay his hands over hers, “Ditto babe, but we are and now we’ll just adapt accordingly.”
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Stacey lay the blanketon the sandy shore as Gage knelt down at the basket.After their talk, he had suggested they put everything behind them for a few hours and go to the lake.She had agreed and the two had gone into his kitchen and worked on a picnic lunch for them.While it was warm for November, it was still a bit too cool to go swimming.That still did not stop people from being out on the lake in boats and such.After situating the blanket, Stacey sat down and pulled her knees up against her chest.Hugging them with her chin resting on her knees, she watched the various watercraft moving across the water.
“Nice sight huh?”Gage asked, sitting behind her, and bringing his arms around her.
“Yeah.Kind of reminds me of watching the boats out at Martha’s Vineyard when we go out there during the summer.”Stacey nodded, relaxing into his embrace.
Gage knew that she had not told her parents about what was happening.He had thought about calling them but knew all it would do was worry Shelby and Richard and get him on Stacey’s bad side.“Babe, when are you going to tell your parents what’s happening?”
“Gage...”she sighed.
“Honey, I know you don’t want to, but they are your parents.What if they come out for a visit and one of the guys slips?Or Krista?Huh?”he pointed out.
