Page 66 of The Stone Family Warrior

Liberty scanned the crowd. “No Roger tonight?”

Cheryse rolled her eyes. “Oh, he’s coming. This is prime fundraising time for him. He wouldn’t miss this.” She let out a light laugh and patted Liberty’s arm. “I’m sorry about earlier, he just gets in this mode where he’s so focused on earning money for the kids.”

Liberty didn’t buy it, but she pretended to. “Of course.”

“He’s really a nice guy.” Cheryse looked between she and Trent.

Trent grunted. “Oh, he’s the best. He raises money for cancer kids, how could he not be.”

There was a tone to Trent’s voice.

Cheryse clearly picked up on it and glared at him.

Liberty didn’t want to do this. “It’s fine. It’s Christmas, let’s just enjoy.”

Cheryse pulled away and nodded, her eyes meeting Liberty’s. “Yes, I agree. I’ll catch you two later.”

She walked away and Trent sighed. “Sorry.”

There was this niggling feeling inside of her. “Are you ever going to be over her?”

Trent looked surprised. “What?”

“Nothing.” She knew it was stupid, because she felt protective of Cheryse too, especially after hearing about her past with her husband, but she couldn’t stop the old jealousy.

Trent pulled her into him.

She tried to pull back.

But he kept her close. “I’m not in love with Cheryse, Lib. That was … a long time ago.”

She felt herself relax. “I know.” And she did know. They were twelve years older than that sixteen year old version of themselves. There was some baggage from the past. She pulled back and stared up at him. “I know.” Gently, she pressed her lips to his.

He held her tighter and kissed her deeply.

So many feelings of pure attraction and bliss and what could be hung over her. Was she really feeling like this about this man?

Trent pulled back and grinned at her. He took her hand and squeezed it. “Let’s go mingle with our homeland people.”

She smarted a bit at the word home. The word sounded … not as unfamiliar as it used to be. “It could be home, I guess.”

Trent looked down at her. “It could be home, that’s for sure.” He leaned into her, smelling her.

Liberty couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are you really so blatantly smelling me in front of all these people.”

Undeterred, Trent took a longer whiff of her scent. “I don’t know, but I think we should dance so I can pull you close and sniff you without looking strange.”

She squirmed and giggled as his nose brushed her neck.

“Trent. Liberty.” Matt moved to their side.

“Hey, dude.” Trent put his fist out.

Liberty nodded by way of greeting. “Matt.”

The guys began talking about some football game, leaving her to stew in her thoughts. Once again, she went back to the word home. Was this home? Could it be? Her grandmother had tried to tell her for years that this was her home. And then, after Will had been such a jerk about South Port, she had almost forgotten what South Port mean to her.

An older gentleman made his way toward her; she immediately recognized him as Pastor Henry. His wife, Lily, walked hand in hand with him. They were the adoptive parents to their nephew, Sheriff Tim, who had married Kensi. They had all been part of the beach crew.

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