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Another, “Hm.”

“‘Hm?’” I repeated, giving a half smile.

He ran a hand down his jaw, lifting a shoulder. “Would you rather I call you something else? Like, your old name or something?”

I snorted. “No. I love Gwen.”

“So do I.” He smirked. I laughed. “I am kinda curious now though.”

“About my old name?”

He shrugged. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to though.”

I knew I didn’t have to, but maybe I wanted to. “Lacey.”

His brows furrowed. “Lacey. Really?”

“Really really,” I said. “Why’d you make that face?”

“I dunno.” He gave me a once-over before looking back to the road. “I just can’t see you as a Lacey. Lacey is so dainty. Soft. Gwen’s strong. Beautiful and powerful.” He nodded. “Good choice.”

That warmth in my chest burned brighter, spreading all the way to my lips, lifting the edges of them high into my cheeks. “I think so too.”

24

GWEN

Sebastian and I took turns driving and napping. We stopped for gas and fast food, eating while we drove. In our team effort, we made it back to Montana by 1 P.M., and the airport closest to Black Pines by 3:30.

I did my best to hide Samson in my hoodie while he returned the rental. He hadn’t made any permanent messes in the car, but the smell could affect Sebastian’s damage deposit.

From there, we headed to Sebastian’s office. He tended to Samson’s eye with some ointment, cleaned his dirty ears, shaved off the matted fur, then followed up with an oatmeal bath to ease that pink, inflamed skin.

It was after 5 by then, right around the time we would’ve made it home if we’d flown. No one needed to know we’d driven instead of flown, so we decided not to mention it.

Lizzie had stayed with Rhiannon while we were gone, so we grabbed Sebastian’s car from airport parking and drove to the ranch. When we got to my cabin, he kissed me goodbye. It was a long kiss, a slow one. I ached for more, but we were back in reality. Back to responsibility.

Once I got inside, I set up Samson’s bed on the floor beside the couch, his litter box in the bathroom, but I let him get cozy in my bed. Better to control his and Honey’s meeting carefully.

I shot Simone a text.

Hey, I’m home. Are you? Can I come get Honey?

Her response was instant.

Simone

I’ll come to you. Kinda need to debrief anyway.

What? Why?

What’d happened in the two days I was gone? Was Honey alright? Debrief? About what?

Simone

I’ll explain when I get there.

Ten minutes later, she walked through the door with my fluff ball. Honey barreled toward me at lightning speed, jumping more than her height from the hardwoods. I dropped to the floor beside her, roughing up her scruff, kissing her all over, checking for damage. Simone hadn’t implied that something had happened to my girl, but still. Had to be sure.