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“Damn bastards,” Gray muttered, his jaw set hard enough to chisel stone. He surveyed the area, eyes scanning for clues in that methodical way of his. “Eryn, the side door was jimmied.”
“What?”
He pointed to the door further back from the air conditioner. It led to the mudroom but I hadn’t been using it much. I always kept it locked.
Now, it sat open an inch, the lock clearly broken, marks of some sort of tool—was it a crow bar people used for such a thing?—indented into the jamb.
“They got inside,” I said, my voice losing its fight.
Gray was already on the phone with the sheriff’s office. “Right, see you soon,” he said, putting the phone back in his pocket.
“I should have called them first, I didn’t even think.”
“No, you did exactly right, baby. You called me, because I’m right there,” he pointed over to his land across the creek, “and you know you can trust me.”
A tear did overflow now, just one, sliding down my cheek and onto my chin. Gray wiped it with the gentlest touch of his thumb and kissed me, slow, soft. A comfort, and a promise.
“I'll find out who did this, Eryn. I will fight the damn devil himself before I ever let anything happen to you. You’re mine now. And I take care of what’s mine.”
A shiver ran down my spine at his possessive words, and when he wrapped his arms around me, I sunk into him, allowing his strength to steel me.
“I won't be scared off or bullied. This place is going to be more than just an old building. It's where I'll put my stamp on the world.”
He pulled back and held my arms. “It absolutely will be. I have so much faith in you. Don’t let these setbacks stop you from going after what you want. And you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here with you now. Every step of the way.”
“Oh there’s no way in hell I’m stopping now. If they thought that’s what they’d achieve, then they sorely miscalculated.”
“Stubborn woman,” he said, he corner of his mouth twitching.
“Resilient woman,” I corrected him, straightening my shoulders. “And don't you forget it.”
He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending sparks of heat down my neck. “Never could,” he murmured.
In that moment, standing amid the ruins of my plans, with the man who was the antithesis of everything I knew, I felt a resolve steel within me. We were from different worlds. But maybe we were exactly what the other needed.
* * *
I was sitting on the front porch, disassociating from my problems when I heard the rumble of a car pulling up my gravel driveway. Enzo's sleek black sedan looked almost comically out of place in Whittier Falls. I stepped off the porch, the wooden boards creaking beneath my feet, as he unfolded himself from the driver's seat, his smile brilliant against his olive skin.
“Enzo!” I called out, my heart skipping in joyous anticipation.
“Eryn!” He swept me up into a hug that spun us around, his Italian accent wrapping around me as warmly as his arms. “Look at you, bella. This town hasn't dulled your sparkle.”
“Never,” I laughed, hugging him back just as fiercely. “I've missed you.”
We pulled apart, and that's when I noticed Gray's towering form leaning against his truck, watching us. There was a hint of a scowl on his weathered face, but his eyes held that familiar smolder I'd come to—dare I say it—adore?
“Gray thinks we should both stay at his place,” I said to Enzo, tilting my head towards the cowboy who had so unexpectedly galloped into my life.
“Because it's not safe here,” Gray interjected gruffly, pushing away from his truck and joining us. His blue eyes were stormy with concern.
“Thank you, but no.” My voice was firm, resolute, even as my gaze lingered on Gray's stubbled jawline. “We won't be scared away that easily.”
“Stubborn as a mule,” Gray muttered under his breath, but there was no real bite to his words.
“Resilient as a daisy,” I shot back, flashing him a grin that I knew would get under his skin—in the best way.
“Well, wait a moment, why is it not safe?”
