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“Doc says the leg will take a while to heal. I won’t be leaving in June as planned. Doesn’t mean I won’t deploy again.”
“I know.” She’d asked the doctor about Rock’s injuries and what his recovery would look like.
“In a year or two, I planned on applying to one of the government agencies and seeing what happened. Maybe FBI or DEA. It’d give me more freedom. Less time away from family. Can ya handle my life the way it is until then?”
She’d grown up having everything she wanted and the freedom to go wherever she wished. She’d never considered having it any other way. If being with Rock meant she needed to make a few sacrifices, she would. “Looks like we’ll be getting a lot of visits from my family.” If she and Rock couldn’t visit Providence as often as her dad liked, he’d be making a lot of trips south.
“You’re sure?”
Men. “Positive.” Then, just in case he still didn’t believe her, she used her mouth to convince him.
Chapter 22
Five weeks later
He’d love to start a fire and toss his crutches in it. Rock eased himself down and leaned the offending objects against a table. He was damn sick of the things. When he did get rid of them, he had a wonderful cane to look forward to. People told him how lucky he’d been. He couldn’t deny it and he reminded himself often. He was also thankful he’d ended up hurt and not Allison. Events that night could have turned out so much differently.
He’d come to terms with his actions that night quickly. He’d done what he had to. Protecting Allison had been all that mattered. She struggled with what happened. The first week or so after the attack, she had nightmares every night. Allison assured him them they had stopped and he believed her. She no longer called out in her sleep or woke up drenched in sweat. She still visited a therapist, and he guessed those sessions were doing the trick. Looking at her across the room laughing with her brother Gray and his fiancée, no one would ever suspect what she’d gone through.
“Do you want to hold him?” Addie sat down next to him, Kendrick in her arms.
Tonight had been the first time he’d seen his nephew. As much as he’d wanted to fly up sooner, he’d been in too much pain. Even the trip up for Sara’s wedding, which was tomorrow, had been unpleasant, but he’d known how important it was to Allison.
“He’s fed and changed, so he’s good for a little bit.”
Kendrick had spent the night so far either being held by one of the many Sherbrookes in the room or sleeping. “What do I need to do?” He’d never held an infant, and the little guy was so tiny.
Addie passed his nephew to him. “It’s not complicated. Just be sure to support his neck.”
Dark blue eyes gazed back up at him, instantly grabbing a hold of his heart. “How are you doing?” he asked. Over the past several weeks, he’d spoken only a handful of times with his sister.
“I should be asking you.”
“Gettin’ better. Should be ready for a cane soon.”
“And how’s Allison?” Addie lowered her voice when she asked the question.
Mesmerized by the bundle in his arms, he kept his gaze on his nephew. “Okay.”
“She looks happy.”
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nbsp; Rock looked up and in Allison’s direction. She’d finished up her convo with Gray and was headed toward him. The sight brought an automatic smile to his face.
“You’re in love,” Addie teased.
Damn right. “Yep.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
He didn’t need his sister to tell him Allison loved him. She both told him and showed him everyday.
“I know.”
Allison took the spot on the other side of him. “Know what? That’s it my turn to hold my nephew?”
“I love you, but you’re not getting him.”
