by Janie Crouch
Not a chaste, we’re-in-public kiss. A deep, heated kiss that left nothing to anyone’s imagination about what he’d rather be doing with her right now.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she finally said against his lips when he let her catch her breath.
“I missed you. No more secrets.”
She stepped back, those green eyes studying him. She reached up and trailed her fingers across his jaw. “I worried you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “We’ve had too many secrets. I don’t want to leave room for something to come between us again.”
She nodded. “I meant this as more of a surprise than a secret.”
That thought had never occurred to him—that her keeping something from him could be for a good reason. “Then I’m sorry too. I forget some secrets can be good. Tell me your surprise.”
“I’ve figured out what I want to do. With my money, my time. My life.”
His stomach clenched, but he kept his features carefully neutral. He’d spent the past month making sure she knew she had endless options.
He just hadn’t thought she’d make a decision without talking to him about it first. But whatever it was, he would respect it. Support it. Even if it didn’t involve the two of them being together.
Even if that broke his fucking heart.
“Finally, Redwood is here,” Mac yelled from across the bar. “Can we announce it now?”
“Announce what?” he murmured to Lexi.
She smiled at him. “Mac wants to tell it.”
“People!” Mac banged a tray on the bar to get everyone to quiet down. “I have something I want to say.”
“Go ahead, Mac,” Finn yelled.
“Is this going to end with drinks being on the house?” Baby called out.
Mac rolled his eyes. “Maybe.”
Lots of hoots and hollers for that one.
“From now on,” Mac continued. “I’m not going to kick anybody out of the Eagle’s Nest, no matter how late it is.”
More cheers.
“Because as of this afternoon, I’m retired.”
Now it got quiet.
“You okay, Mac?” someone called out. The question all of them were thinking.
“Never better.” He picked up something from the bar and walked toward Gavin and Lexi. “I had someone make me an offer on this place, and I couldn’t refuse.”
The pieces came together in Gavin’s mind, right before Mac handed the small sign in his hand to Lexi. She held it up.
Under New Ownership.
“Meet the new owner of the Eagle’s Nest!” Mac yelled.
Lexi was beaming. “Drinks are on the house!”
Everyone cheered. The music got turned back up and the drinks started flowing.
Mac pulled Lexi in for a hug, then reached over and pulled Gavin in too. “I would’ve given it to you for free, you know. Because you’re family.”
She kissed his leathery cheek. “I would’ve given you all the money I had. Because you’re family too.”
Gavin spent the next couple of hours helping Lexi make and pour drinks. Watched her hug the people who meant the world to him—who well and truly had included her in their ranks. Saw her touch the bar and the booths with the kind of pride that meant she was content with where she found herself.
Saw her laugh and knew he had to spend forever with this woman.
It wasn’t until things started settling down that he was able to catch her by the waist and pull her onto a barstool.
“Sit. All those times you made me a fancy-named drink, now I want to make you one.”
She laughed but grimaced as he went around behind the bar. “After all the ones I sent you, I’m pretty sure I should be terrified.”
He winked at her. “I’m going to make three, and you get to choose.”
Gavin wasn’t a professional bartender, but he’d been raised by Ronald Zimmerman, so he knew his way around alcohol. Besides, the drinks he was making weren’t that complicated.
He finished all three and set them in front of her.
She raised an eyebrow. “Is that a margarita, a Bloody Mary, and sangria?”
He shook his head, tsking. “Now that you’re the owner of a bar, you’re going to have to learn to be a little more discerning with drinks.”
She smiled. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely. These are not just any margarita, Bloody Mary or sangria. It’s a Marry Me Margarita, a Bloody Marry Me, and Say I Do Sangria.”
Her eyes got big as she looked up at him from across the drinks. “Gavin . . .”
“If you’re staying in Oak Creek, I want you tied to me in every way possible, Green Eyes. So you’ve got to choose one. Which is it going to be?”
She stood up, grabbed him by his shirt, and pulled him across the bar. “I choose you. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
It was everything he’d ever wanted to hear.
*****
Thank you for reading REDWOOD!
The Linear Tactical series continues with the story of Nadine—the woman whose life was destroyed because of Alexandra’s lies—and Wyatt, the man who sees past her scars, in SCOUT.
Click HERE for Scout.
Or, read the book that first connected Alexandra and Nadine… SURVIVAL INSTINCT (available now, and free with Kindle Unlimited!). Grab it HERE.
•••
If you’re new to the Linear Tactical series but want more, start with CYCLONE—Zac and Annie’s story!
He’d protect her from any threat… But what if the biggest threat is him?
Click HERE for Cyclone (available in Kindle Unlimited!)
Or get it free by subscribing to Janie’s VIP Reader Newsletter HERE.
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Linear Tactical
Protective alpha heroes who’ll face down any danger for the women they love. Binge the series today!
CYCLONE
Zac & Annie
He’d protect her from any threat…
But what if the biggest threat is him?
EAGLE
Finn & Charlie
He’s fighting for what’s right.
She’s fighting just to survive…
SHAMROCK
Aiden & Violet
Every mission has a price.
He never meant for her to pay it.
ANGEL
Gabriel & Jordan
Even angels have their demons.
GHOST
Dorian & Ray
Sometimes the dead don’t stay that way.
SHADOW
Heath & Lynn
Dragging an innocent into his war was never part of the plan.
ECHO
Cade & Peyton
The deepest scars are often the ones that can’t be seen.
PHOENIX
Boy Riley & Girl Riley
You have to burn before you can rise.
BABY
Baby & Quinn
Don’t let the name fool you.
STORM
Noah & Marilyn
She needs a hero.
He’ll have to remember how to be one.
REDWOOD
Gavin & Lexi
Secrets are her only option.
SCOUT
Wyatt & Nadine
He’s the only one who sees past her scars…
BLAZE
Kendrick & Neo
This family has deep roots.
They’re going to need them to survive.
FOREVER
Ethan & Jess
They’ve always been destined for each other…
If they can stay alive long enough to make it happen.
Acknowledgments
This book has been stewing in my head longer than any other of the Linear Tactical books…ever since 2017 when Alexandra Adams showed up in Survival Instinct. She wasn’t quite a villain in that book, but she wasn’t very lovable either.
I knew making her a red
eemable character would be tricky and almost didn’t write REDWOOD for that reason. But ultimately the Alexandra found in that book and the Lexi found in this one were two totally different people.
And most importantly: Everyone deserves a second chance. I’m glad Lexi got hers and Gavin finally pulled his head out of his ass. :)
As always, it takes more than just me to bring you a Linear Tactical book. A special thanks to my alpha/beta readers, editors and proofers (many of whom read this book more than once to get it as perfect as possible): Susan, Marci, Dee, Marilize, Tesh, Diana, Aimee, Laurie, Jane. You catch things I don’t even see and I’m in awe of you all.
Much appreciation to Elizabeth at Razor Sharp Editing. Thank God you’re back. I’m the only baby you’re allow to deal with from now on.
Once again my thanks to Deranged Doctor Designs who not only created the cover for REDWOOD, but have crafted ALL the Linear Tactical covers. I dare say, mine are some of the best looking books in the biz.
It’s so difficult to believe that 2021 is the year the Linear Tactical series will wrap up—three years and fourteen books later.
But don’t worry, you’ve still got three more books coming…Wyatt and Nadine’s love story in SCOUT, Kendrick and Neo’s story in BLAZE (which includes how Dorian and Ray’s family comes to be), and Ethan and Jess all grown up in FOREVER. I think you’ll love them all, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Believe in heroes,
Janie
Also by Janie Crouch
LINEAR TACTICAL SERIES (series ongoing)
Cyclone
Eagle
Shamrock
Angel
Ghost
Shadow
Echo
Phoenix
Baby
Storm
Redwood
Scout
Blaze
Forever
INSTINCT SERIES (series complete)
Primal Instinct
Critical Instinct
Survival Instinct
THE RISK SERIES (series complete)
Calculated Risk
Security Risk
Constant Risk
Risk Everything
OMEGA SECTOR SERIES (series complete)
Stealth
Covert
Conceal
Secret
OMEGA SECTOR: CRITICAL RESPONSE (series complete)
Special Forces Savior
Fully Committed
Armored Attraction
Man of Action
Overwhelming Force
Battle Tested
OMEGA SECTOR: UNDER SIEGE (series complete)
Daddy Defender
Protector’s Instinct
Cease Fire
Major Crimes
Armed Response
In the Lawman’s Protection
About the Author
"Passion that leaps right off the page." - Romantic Times Book Reviews
USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.
Janie has lived in Germany (due to her husband's job as support for the U.S. Military) for the past five years, with her hubby and four teenagers. When she's not listening to the voices in her head—and even when she is—she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.
Her favorite quote: "Life is a daring adventure or nothing." ~ Helen Keller.