“Isn’t that where I belong?”
He coughed, handed her a plate. “Eat first, make love after. Especially if you’re going to insist on hiking that new route later.”
“I already told you, I could scout it alone.”
“Not a chance in hell, sweetheart. You’re stuck with me.”
She sat down at the table on the deck, reached over and squeezed his hand. “Good.” She winked at him. “I have big plans for the tent.
She ate a few bites, gaze still making the rounds — doors, windows, shore, woods. An old habit she couldn’t quite shake. Not that he cared. Vigilance kept her safe, and that was all that mattered.
It wasn’t as if he’d lost all his idiosyncrasies. Hell, the first thing he’d done after they’d bought the sprawling piece of Oregon coastline was replace all the windows with shatter-proof glass. Installed solid steel-core doors at all the entries, with cameras panning the perimeter — a few early warning tripwires tossed in for good measure. Knowing that she appreciated his attention to detail warned his chest. Reminded him how close he’d come to losing her.
Tierney kicked at his leg, arching a brow. “Everything okay?”
He smiled because, damn she was breathtaking. Hair in a messy bun, skin sun-kissed, her blue eyes the same color as the sky. He still had to pinch himself to believe it wasn’t all a dream.
He leaned in and kissed her. “Just thinking it might be time for second breakfast.”
She slid onto his lap, straddling him. “Then, what are you…”
A low growl drowned her out, a deep vibration shaking up through the ground. He reached for his sidearm when Tierney tsked, shook her head.
She kissed him, then climbed off, holding out her hand. “Relax, it’s a surprise. Though, Dalton’s early. I told him not until after noon.”
Buck frowned. “Dalton?”
“You’ll see.” She tugged on his hand. “C’mon.”
She headed off, fingers intertwined, looking so damn beautiful he could barely breathe. They slipped through the sliding doors, across the great room, then out the front door, stopping on the covered porch.
Shadows stretched across their winding driveway, a wind chime softly sounding in the breeze.
Buck froze, mouth hanging open, a dull roar in his head. Parked out front was a massive, matte-black, heavily armored, state-of-the-art expedition RV. It looked like something built for the apocalypse, complete with solar panels, satellite dishes, a reinforced chassis, and off-road tires. The windows looked as if they were reinforced safety glass, and he didn’t miss the extra plating on the bottom.
Dalton slipped out of the driver’s door, the rest of his crew pulling up in Bodie and Nick’s trucks a second later. They jumped out, joining Dalton at the side of the RV.
Buck glanced at Tierney, his tongue not quite working, a huge lump blocking his throat.
She smiled, dug into her pocket, then handed him a set of keys. “I know the house is nice, but you said Raven’s Security needed a mobile command center. And I know you don’t sleep well unless you have the perimeter secured, and a bug-out vehicle waiting outside.”
He stared at her, utterly speechless. “Tier, I…”
She laughed. “Have a closer look.”
He turned, walked over, trying to take it all in as he circled the vehicle, stopping at the back as he stared at the words, Area 52 written subtly on the back in slate gray.
Tierney shouldered up to him. “I thought it suited her, because we all know Area 51 is just a smoke screen for the real thing.”
He laughed, picked her up and swung her around, ending with a long, hot kiss that had his buddies telling them to get a room.
He brushed his thumb along her mouth, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to say. How to thank you. This…”
“You don’t have to say anything. You’ve already shown me how much you love me. I thought it was only proper to return the favor.”
“Like I said, all I need is you. But thank you. I…”
Bodie sauntered over. “Try not to blow this one up.”
