“You can sleep in the truck.” I chuckled, kissing her neck before pulling back to look down into her eyes. “Assuming you still want to get out of here today?”
“Hell yes,” she replied emphatically. “I may not be back to one hundred percent yet, but I’m more than ready to get out of here.”
“Done,” I agreed, handing her the coffee and bagel I’d picked up. “Why don’t you have something to eat while I gather up your things? I’m assuming there’s more in the car?” I asked, eyeing the duffle bag by the door. I already knew my girl well enough to know that the duffle that would sustain most for a week was likely only a few days’ worth of clothes and makeup for her.
“There’s more in the car.” She grinned sheepishly.
I chuckled, rising to start doing what I’d wanted to do since the moment I’d seen her—move her in.
She dozed off after we hit the road, after I’d made arrangements with the motel manager for her car to be transported to a local garage later that day. It’d be a one-way trip if I had my way.
She woke just as we hit Bishop town limits, perking up to take in her surroundings.
Despite not having been raised in Bishop, after over a decade here, the small town with its rugged mountain range, weather that turned on a dime, and people who helped each other without expecting a thing in return felt more like home than anything I’d ever known.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured, taking in the snow-capped mountains, dense patches of green, and blue sky. “What’s the town like?” she wanted to know, turning to me.
“Small.” I chuckled. “But it has what you need. We’ll do a full tour—or maybe Ava and the girls are better suited for that piece,” I amended, knowing my sister and the other women from the club were eager to fully embrace Grace as one of their own.
She smiled warmly. “I’d like that.”
“For now, I thought we’d head to our place so you can get some more rest. You can meet everyone and explore when you’re feeling up to it.”
“Sounds good,” she agreed softly as we headed east, just outside of town, toward the home I’d bought years ago. After meeting Grace, I had finally restarted long-neglected projects, wanting her to feel at home here, to grasp the roots I’d already planted.
The two-story home had the room to grow I wanted, and the option for security I’d needed and had installed but recently amped up in preparation for Grace’s eventual arrival. It also had a flexible layout that I was now grateful for, since it meant Grace could make her own changes as she settled in.
“Lived here for years, but it’s still pretty sparse,” I shared as we pulled up to the security gate. “I haven’t needed much. But that just means we get to pick out furniture together.” I winked.
“Oh, talk dirty to me.” She grinned as we pulled through the gate, my two Belgian Malinois hurtling toward the truck.
“How have you not told me you have dogs?” she demanded as she put her hand on the door handle, ready to hop out.
“Babe, wait, these are security dogs, trained to protect the property. They’re not pets…,” I warned, but it was too late—she was already out of the truck and being accosted with licks.
At least not listening to me worth a damn hadn’t hurt her yet.
“Goddammit, babe,” I grunted as I cut the engine and climbed out of the truck.
“They’re so sweet.” She beamed, looking up at me as she continued to be smothered in love. “What are their names?”
My confounding woman who didn’t leave the house without a blow dry and yet didn’t hesitate to stoop down in the dirt, getting dog hair and slobber all over her.
I snorted, holding a hand out to help her up. “Yeah, my highly trained attack dogs are sweet. Ram’s the slightly larger of the two. And the other is Tyson.”
“How have you not told me about them?” she asked, a crease of confusion on her brow.
“I haven’t had them long,” I explained.
She cocked her head to the side. “How long?”
I pulled her close. “Since I got home from Hawthorne and knew I needed to create a fortress fit for a queen. My SEAL team worked with this breed when I was enlisted, and I made a call.” I shrugged.
“Just like that?” she demanded lightly.
“Just like that,” I agreed, leaning in for a kiss before guiding her back to the truck. “Let’s get you home for some rest.”
She nodded, following me so willingly that I knew she still wasn’t feeling well.
