Everyone was here: Nathan and Kerry. Holt and Wren. Nash and Maddie. Grae and Caden. Lawson and his boys. Cady was in heaven, and so was I.
“They’ve been here forever,” he mumbled.
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “That’s why you’re glaring?”
“I’m not glaring.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. As much as Roan smiled and laughed more, big groups for long periods of time would never be his thing.
I leaned in. “Roan. I was kidnapped. You were shot. Cut them some slack. They want to make sure we’re okay.”
We were all piled into my tiny house, and Kerry had made so much food we’d never eat it all. Thankfully, Roan’s and my injuries were mild, but the hospital had wanted us to stay overnight just to be safe. Luckily, Cady just thought she was getting a fun sleepover with Nathan, Kerry, and Charlie.
But now we were home. Iris was in jail. Steven had made it through surgery. Oren had been charged with assault. And John had lost all visitor and communication privileges. Lawson’s source at the prison told him that John was already losing his mind at not having contact with the outside world.
It wasn’t justice, not truly, because it wouldn’t bring Autumn back. But Cady and I were safe now. And that was the only thing Autumn would truly care about. I had to hope our safety meant she was finally at peace.
It would take time to heal, but we would be okay—better than okay.
Roan pulled me tighter against him. He hadn’t stopped touching me since the moment he found me. Not even in the hospital. The nurses had finally given up and just let us share a bed.
I pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m okay.”
He nuzzled my neck. “I know. It’s just going to take a little while for the rest of me to believe it.”
My heart ached at that. The whole ordeal had impacted Roan more than me. I was sure I’d have nightmares for a while, but I had always known Roan would come. No one made me feel safer or more loved. I didn’t need the damn words.
Roan stood, hauling me up with him.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Need to show you something,” he said.
“Now?”
“Is this your way of telling us you want us to leave?” Holt called, his arms around Wren’s pregnant belly.
“No, I know I’m stuck with the lot of you for the foreseeable future,” Roan grumbled.
Grae laughed. “Good thing you’re aware. I was thinking we could have a pretty epic slumber party tonight.”
“Yes!” Cady cheered. “I want all the slumber parties.”
I laughed, and Roan groaned. He started tugging me toward the door. “Let’s go before they all move in.”
I grinned at Cady. “Be back in a minute, Katydid.”
“Okay, Mama.” But she was already distracted by something Charlie was showing her.
Roan guided me out the door and toward his truck.
“We have to drive to this something?”
He opened the passenger door and helped me in. “It’s not far.”
I slid in and fastened my belt. The air was cold and smelled like snow. I wouldn’t have been surprised if we got a few inches tonight.
Roan got behind the wheel and started the engine.
“Are you going to give me any clues?”
He grunted and shook his head.
The reaction only made me smile. Too many people for one day.
Instead of turning toward town, he went in the opposite direction. He guided his truck up Huckleberry Lane until we reached a gate with several cameras. He rolled down his window and punched in a code.
“Is this your property?”
He nodded. “Bought it not long after my attack. Made it as secure as I could. No one’s ever been up here but me.”
And he was letting me in. The simple action had tears gathering in my eyes.
As the gate slid open, my gaze searched for the house. It took a minute for it to come into view. A simple but gorgeous A-frame cabin. With some snow, it could’ve been a Christmas card.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, pulling to a stop.
Roan slid out and came to help me. He took my hand and led me up the walk to the front door. He slid a key into one lock after the other and then guided us inside.
The space was minimalistic, but the walls had gorgeous photographs of nature and animals. There was also a massive stone fireplace and a back wall that was all windows.
I gasped as I headed for it. His view was jaw-dropping. You could see all of Cedar Ridge. The town, the lake, the beautiful mountains surrounding us.