Page 47 of Mountain Grump Protector

We don’t get love. We don’t get that easy affection and the certainty of having someone in your corner.

But here it is right in front of me.

Watching my buddy and his fiancée, it’s hard to deny that he’s found exactly that. And so has Holt. It’s getting harder to deny that it is possible after all.

My gaze drifts back to Willow, who is watching me watch them.

Instead of glancing away, she holds my gaze and smiles. This isn’t the sassy, teasing smile from a few days ago. Or the guarded one she wore as a mask when she’d first arrived.

This one is softer in a way that makes me feel like maybe Luke isn’t completely full of shit.

Before I can think better of it. I push away from the railing and cross the porch to her.

“What are you doing?”

I reach for her hand and pull her close instead of answering her. There’s no hesitation as she lets me pull her into my side as if it’s the most natural thing in the world for her to be cozied up to me.

The feeling that settles over me is so damn unfamiliar, I almost don’t recognize it.

Almost.

But then the contentment washes over me, and I slide my arm around her waist and start to pull her into my lap as I sit in the nearest chair.

Willow's arms come up around my neck as we settle onto the chair. “This is nice,” she murmurs against my mouth.

“I can’t disagree with that.” I press my lips to hers, unconcerned with the fact that we have an audience, only caring about this woman in my arms, and how I can keep her here, when a loud metallic crash echoes from the garage.

Every head on the porch turns. Murph is on his feet, barking and charging toward the garage.

My arms tighten reflexively on Willow, as I scan for danger.

But it’s her face that captures all of my attention.

The color has drained from her cheeks so fast I almost don’t recognize her.

Her eyes are wide and fixed on the garage. For a split second, she stares, and then she scrambles to her feet.

Beside me, Luke pushes away from the railing, quickly maneuvering Lilly so she’s behind him.

Years of training don’t disappear. I see the same shift happen in him that I feel in myself, as the easy afternoon evaporates.

Willow doesn’t even look at me as she starts to move. Not toward the house and safety, but toward the garage.

“Willow!”

She doesn’t answer as she runs down the steps.

The knot in my stomach tightens. My instincts are working on overdrive, and I’m after her in a flash.

“Willow!”

This time, she stops.

She’s frozen in the yard for a second before she turns slowly. The look on her face makes my heart clench, and my stomach turn.

“Cal. It’s not…I⁠—”

“What’s in the garage?”