Page 131 of The SEAL and the Sheriff

Her mom switched on the oven and slid the dish inside. “How’s the case?”

Hudson’s arm curved around Sarah’s waist. She didn’t move away.

“Moving. Cord’s cooperating. If he’s lucky, he’ll receive a reduced sentence. Hale’s clearance has been revoked and the investigation’s widening.” Hudson’s thumb moved against her side. “Everyone who came after Sarah is in federal custody.”

Sophie’s mouth firmed. “Good. What about that poor marshal that got hurt?”

“Mercer? He’s recovering.” Hudson gave a wry grin. “Already complaining about being stuck behind a desk.”

“Owen says the weapons trail goes back years,” Wyatt said.

Hudson nodded. “We pulled a thread. Turns out it was attached to something bigger.”

The old flatness was gone. It was work now, not penance.

Her mom looked up. “How is Owen?”

“He’s still in town, tying up loose ends. Maybe more.”

“And Ben Taggart’s family?”

Hudson’s expression shifted into something private and tender. “The investigation’s been reopened. His death will be reclassified.” He cleared his throat. “I wrote to them to let them know.”

Sarah let the brief silence that followed belong to Ben.

“Wyatt, can you help me with the salad while Sarah and Hudson go sit down?”

Sarah caught her mom’s eye. Her mom looked entirely innocent.

Wyatt pushed off the counter. “Mom⁠—”

“Thank you, Wyatt.” She pulled a bag of baby greens from the fridge and thrust it at him. “Salad bowl’s in the cupboard.”

Wyatt put his beer down and accepted the salad while firing Sarah the sibling side-eye as she led Hudson through to the living room, trying not to smirk.

“Right, let’s get this fire lit.” Hudson crouched beside the stove, stacked the kindling, then coaxed the first flames to life beneath the logs.

She smiled. She’d never imagined life with Hudson would feel this ordinary. Or this right.

Woodsmoke scented the room as the fire crackled and built. From the kitchen came the clink of bowls and the low murmur of Sophie and Wyatt’s voices, softened by laughter.

Once the fire was lit, Hudson stood and took hold of her hands.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He smiled. “Just looking.” He gave her hands a squeeze. “I talked to my boss.”

“And?”

“There’s an option with the Anchorage office. A remote liaison position I can do from here.” His thumb brushed across the back of her hand. “Something we could make work.”

Sarah’s breath hitched.

He’d already spoken to his boss. Already started rearranging the pieces of his life to fit beside hers. He reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Even now, that tiny touch left her breathless.

“So...” A smile tugged at one corner of her mouth. “Guess you’re not leaving.”

His answer came without hesitation. “Not this time.”