Page 101 of The Secret of Emerald Cottage

“As soon as the ambulance gets here, I’ll send them right up. And I’m praying …”

He almost managed a smile. “Thanks, Aunt Lilly. We’ll see you soon.” Ending the call, he punched in Sloan’s number, grateful for the man who had cleared the way for Brec with Molly by stepping aside. He really did owe the guy a debt of thanks.

“Sloan Kennedy,” a gruff voice answered, and Brec was shocked at how much he suddenly liked the guy.

“Sloan, this is Brec. Molly’s okay, but she’s been attacked again by the guy who attacked her at Pete’s, who turns out to have been a prison mate of Harley’s rather than Harley himself. We were to have a picnic at the falls, and I arrived on the scene after she’d fought the scum off, throwing him off the ledge before he could throw her.”

Dead silence.

“Sloan?”

“Yeah … yeah, I’m here.” His voice broke for a moment before the professional tone kicked in, telling Brec just how much Sloan Kennedy cared about Molly. “You sure she’s okay?”

Brec shot another look over his shoulder, love welling inside over the woman who held his heart in his hands. “Yeah, I think so. A little bruised up, maybe, both physically and emotionally, but she’ll be fine. An ambulance is on its way.”

“Good. So am I.”

“And, Sloan?” Brec said in a rush, before the detective could hang up. Emotion clogged in his throat, cracking his voice. “Thanks. For everything.”

Seconds thudded by like heartbeats before Sloan spoke again, this time with a hint of humor. “Wish I could say you’re welcome, McGill, but I can’t. So, I’d save your thanks for God because if it had been up to me?”—Brec could almost see the hard bent of Sloan’s smile, confirming he meant every single word—“You wouldn’t be thanking me right now. I’m on my way.”

The connection went dead and Brec couldn’t help but smile while he slipped his phone into his pocket, completely aware that Sloan Kennedy was right. Sucking in a deep draw of air, he lifted his gaze to heaven, where flurries of fleecy clouds languished in the crisp autumn sky. “Well then, God, I guess I’m in total agreement with Sloan Kennedy for the first time, so thank you, Lord, for all the blessing—and mercy—you’ve poured into my life, for Molly and Aunt Lilly, and good friends like Chase and Cat. And yes, even for Sloan Kennedy.” He blinked hard to dispel the sudden glaze of tears in his eyes. “But most of all, thank you for loving me enough to give me a second chance.”

Swiping at his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, he grinned as he turned back to take care of Molly, because deep down in the recesses of his soul, he could have sworn he heard …

You’re welcome.