Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (105)

“Thank you,” I said, making the sign with it.

Orion’s gaze, the one just a few shades darker than the rest of ours, surveyed the chaos on the back lawn. He watched as the kids screamed and howled with laughter, as Brae dove for Owen and tickled his sides.

“I got you,” Nova yelled, lifting Sky into the air and then landing her on the dog pile of Owen and Brae.

“Death by squish,” Owen called, adding in some truly gruesome sound effects.

I thought I saw a hint of a smile on Orion’s face. Only for a moment. And then it was back to stoic nothingness. He turned back to me, lifting his hands again. “Watch her back. She’s good for you.”

“Jesus,” Dex muttered, signing as he spoke. “That might as well be Rion giving you the family heirloom ring.”

We all made an effort to sign. Anything to make Orion feel less different, less other.

Orion flipped him off, and it only made Dex laugh.

“Mr. Orion! Mr. Orion!” Owen called as he ran over. “I’m learning to talk with my hands. Look!” He raised his hands, moving through signs a little clumsily as he spoke. “Hi. I like your maps. And your cake.” The signing stopped as he took in the plate. “Dude, another chocolate? That’s bussin’.”

Orion frowned.

“He means it’s awesome,” Dex translated.

Orion stared at Owen for a moment and then just nodded before turning to go.

Owen grinned. “I got a nod. That means he likes me.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “You know him well.”

Nova crossed to me, sliding into my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck. “I don’t know, Orion made me cupcakes, so I think I’m his favorite.”

“He made you this full cake, too,” Dex added.

She grinned. “Total favorite status.”

“I could make you cake,” I said, suddenly defensive.

Nova pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “You could, but have you?”

“Brutal,” Dex said with a grin.

An alert sounded on my phone, and I swiped it off the deck, opening the camera app for the gate.

“Sherri?” Nova asked as if she could feel my tension.

“Yeah.” I hit the open button so my boss could get onto ranch property.

Nova pulled back, searching my face. “You’re sure about this?”

I stared up at her. “I’m sure. I don’t want to have to hide this. I don’t want our beginning to be full of lies.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too.”

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Sky chanted.

Nova grinned, lowering her face to mine.

I kissed her, not letting it get too deep but taking my time, letting her taste soothe me.

“Siiiiiiiiiick,” Owen moaned. “And not a good sick, Mr. Kol.”

Nova grinned against my mouth. “We win. We grossed the tiny human out.”

I chuckled. “No better victory.”

A door slammed, and Nova straightened, pushing off my lap. “How about afternoon ice cream sundaes?”

The roar of cheers from the two kids and Dex was deafening as they raced into the house with Nova. Brae just shook her head, but as she walked up the steps to follow them inside, her hand dropped to my shoulder.

I looked up at her in question.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

My brows pulled together. “For what?”

“For taking care of my best friend, my sister. For loving her. For making her happy.”

My throat constricted. “She does the same for me.”

“That’s how it should be. But it isn’t always. I love that you two found the good.”

It was the seal of approval from the only family Nova really had. And it meant something.

“Gonna ask her to marry me. When she’s ready, I’m gonna ask her.”

Brae’s mouth curved. “You asking for my permission?”

“Not permission, but a blessing would be nice.”

“You’ve got it, Kol. I don’t think anyone has ever seen her more. Not even me. And that’s a gift, too.”

I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “It is.”

Brae’s hand left my shoulder just as Sherri rounded the house. My boss scanned the landscape in front of us. “Forgot how beautiful it is out here.”

“Not a bad place to sit, that’s for sure,” I said.

She settled next to me on the steps, still looking out at the horizon. “Please tell me you aren’t quitting.”

“I’m not quitting.”

“Thank fuck,” she muttered.

“You know me better than that. This job is in my bones.”

Sherri turned, taking me in. “What is it, then? You don’t usually call me out here for clandestine meetings.”

“Didn’t want to leave Nova,” I admitted.

She stiffened. “Kol …”

“That’s why I called the meeting. I need you to reassign Nova’s case to another senior officer.”

Sherri’s jaw went slack. And I understood why. In my fifteen years with the Forest Service, I’d never once asked for a case to be reassigned.