Page 11 of Montana Rain

Yes. I had.

“Feel free to use this whenever,” Daniel said. “Though I’m sure you could run up and down the mountain too.” I winced, and his eyes dropped to my leg. “Still?”

“It’s fine. Not sure it’ll ever be the same, but it’s doing all right.”

Noah tossed me some gym shorts. We were about the same size. “They’re clean, I swear.”

“Well, I’m not going to smell them to find out.”

He shoved down a laugh, and I held out a hand. “I know we’re all…mostly good, but since you’re all here, and I haven’t said it to anyone but Daniel, I’m sorry. I was a jackass and a dick to every single one of you, and my reasons for it don’t matter. Thank you for letting me spend some time here.”

The words hung in the air, but something significant relaxed. I felt the shift, and Grant nodded once, meeting my gaze. “Accepted.”

I pulled off my jacket and shirt, followed by my jeans and shoes. The borrowed shorts went on, and by the time I was finished, three guys were almost ready. “I hope you’re not planning to spar with me all at once.”

“Nah.” Jude tossed me the tape for my hands. “But they all want a go.”

Noah, Grant, and Harlan all looked ready to spar, and considering they were all different builds, it wasn’t going to be easy. I sat down on the mats and began to tape my hands. “It’s been a while. You’ll have to take it easy on me.”

Harlan grinned. “Are you saying a member of the esteemed Federal Bureau of Investigation isn’t ready for anything at all times?”

“Not ones who’ve been behind a desk for a year,” I laughed. “But don’t worry, I can still kick your ass.”

“I hope so.”

Good. It was the answer I wanted. If they weren’t looking for me to let them win, then things really were fine. This wasn’t just about getting a free chance to beat the hell out of me; it was only sparring.

Satisfaction settled in my chest.

This, I could do.

Noah was the first one on the mat with me, and we were well matched. He jumped toward me, aiming to land a punch that would have put me on the floor. But I moved out of the way. He wouldn’t get me so easily.

Fuck, this felt good. I hadn’t sparred like this in forever. Since before I’d come to Resting Warrior the first time. It dawned on me as I ducked under Noah’s arm, that was the point.

They saw what I needed and offered it. Because if I was out here, hiding in a cabin, I needed an outlet for something.

The realization slamming down onto me like one of those two-ton weights from the cartoons distracted me, and I was suddenly on the floor without knowing how I got there.

I swore, and Noah helped me to my feet. “Not bad, Phillips.”

“Let me get another chance once I’m in practice again.”

“Done.”

I looked around, and Grant was gone. Harlan tipped his head toward the door. “His wife called, needed something. You’ve got me.”

Harlan had both height and weight on me. But I was warmed up now. At least I had a decent shot. This time, I struck first. I was faster, but his advantages made him hit harder.

Incredibly, it was a more even fight. We went back and forth, our energy draining, until Harlan finally made the mistake I was waiting for. Stepping inside his guard, I swept his legs out from under him, and he went down.

“Fucking finally,” Lucas said, and all of us were laughing. “Thought you both would be fighting all the way through dinner.”

I reached down and helped Harlan up. We locked eyes, and I saw respect there. This had helped both them and me.

“Speaking of dinner,” a feminine voice said. “It’s about time for that.” A short, curvy woman with streaks of color in her hair crossed over to Jude. He dwarfed her, but the love between them was so tangible it was magnetic. He curled himself around her, and I looked away.

Toward the door.

---