Wind Storm (The Gathering Storm Book 3)

by Marlow Kelly

  “Do you think Nadie, Milo, and Ava will be okay?” She started walking again, picking her way along the thin woodland trail.

  “I thought Ava would be the problem, but she loves the idea of spending an extended vacation in Vancouver.” He wasn’t out of breath or fatigued in any way.

  “What about her boyfriend, Caleb? Did she make a fuss about leaving him?”

  “She knows the reason they were captured is because she called him. I think that knowledge has helped her grow up and put things in perspective.”

  “Do you think Vancouver is the best choice?”

  “I do. Everyone knows everyone in a small town, and a multi-race couple won’t stand out in a big metropolis.”

  She had never considered Milo and Nadie a diverse couple. Just as she never thought about Michael as being Native American. She loved him because of who he was. All the other stuff didn’t matter.

  The forest gave way to a clearing, and her she-shed came into view. She’d chosen a flat piece of land next to a small stream. The cabin was built on a ten-foot-high platform to keep wildlife out. It was accessed by a ladder, which was hoisted up when she was in the house and was left lying on the ground when she was away.

  “Wow, you thought of everything.” Michael stared at the structure. “Is that a glass front door?”

  “Yeah, David bitched about getting it up here, but it was worth it.” She was always filled with a sense of pride whenever she visited. In every way that mattered, this was home. She’d designed it, built it, and decorated it. Her brother had helped her, but Michael was the only person she wanted to share it with.

  She pointed to a cache that was about two hundred yards away. It was just a small hut and, like the living quarters, it was on stilts. “That’s for food storage, and it’s also my cooking area.

  He nodded, smiling. “This place is awesome. What do you want to do, rest and then make dinner, or eat first?”

  “I think we should eat first. Once I lie down, I might just stay there.”

  She started a campfire in the designated cooking area, opened a can of soup, and set it to heat over the grate. Michael explored the place, stored the food, stowed their gear in their quarters, and plugged in Marie’s portable solar panel so they’d have power.

  They ate their meal in silence around the fire. She had no idea what he was thinking, but she was a mess. So much had happened in such a short time. They’d gone from being friends to lovers. Although, if she was honest with herself, she’d never thought of him as being just a friend. It seemed as though she’d been in love with him forever and was only now coming to terms with that truth.

  Once they were done washing their dishes, they retired to the she-shed. She collapsed onto the double bed.

  He stretched beside her, yawned, and then said. “I like that you have a composting toilet and a sink.”

  “Me, too. I’m girly enough that indoor plumbing is important.”

  He rolled on his side to face her. “Listen, we have to talk.”

  “Oh, God.” She tensed, and her heart stilled. Those words were always followed by bad news.

  He lay on his back, not looking at her, as he gazed through the window at the setting sun. “I called your boss at Child Seekers.”

  “You did what?” she screeched.

  “I told her who I was, my history and qualifications, and that I would like to be your new partner when you go back to work.”

  “You called my boss?” Her mind was numb. She didn’t know whether to be happy because he wanted to work with her or mad because they hadn’t discussed it.

  “I also said I’d like to be assigned to the Native American community to track down the missing women.”

  His announcement stunned the anger out of her. He’d been running from his heritage for years, and now he was finally being responsible. “You’re taking Grandma Pelle’s advice.”

  “Yes, it’s time I grew up and used my experience to help my people. But if you don’t want this, if you’d rather have a different partner and be employed abroad, just say. I’m not trying to ambush you. I just didn’t want them to hire someone else and have you end up with another partner like Jake. That bastard told the Syndicate where and when to attack you and then staged the break in at your office to divert suspicion away from himself.”

  If there had been any trace of irritation left, it disappeared. He wasn’t trying to take over her life; he just wanted to keep her safe. After everything that had happened, knowing someone she could trust was covering her back was a relief. As much as she hated to admit it, the ease with which Jake had drugged her had left her feeling vulnerable. For the first time, she hadn’t looked forward to doing her job, but with Michael caring for her, she knew she’d be safe. “I like the sound of that, but I’m a linguist. If Child seekers needs me to work abroad, then I’ll go.” She was grateful he wanted to protect her, but she couldn’t allow him to dictate her career. “And for future reference, life-changing decisions are things we should discuss together.”

  He smiled, revealing his dimple. “You mean like a real couple? Maybe we should discuss our relationship.”

  She sat, making the bed bounce. She’d really walked into that one. She stared down at him, expecting to see him gloat, but his mouth was pressed into a thin line and he wouldn’t meet her gaze.

  He punched his pillow a couple of times and then lay back down, finally making eye contact. “This…us…it can never be casual for me. I love you. I’m not going to pretend I don’t, and I won’t lie about it. I know I have issues. I block people out. I need to work on that. And I probably don’t deserve another shot, but that’s what I’m asking for.”

  He was putting his heart on the line, taking a risk, which was something she had been too cowardly to do. Burying her emotions, even from herself, was ridiculous because it didn’t change how she felt. It just made her a fool. When she’d been kidnapped, she’d thought she’d never see him again, and now she’d been given a second chance. She couldn’t throw it away. He was willing to try and make this—them—work, and that was all she could ask of him.

  “I love you, too.” A weight lifted off her chest. Declaring her feelings aloud was a liberating experience.

  He frowned. “What about all that ‘I don’t do relationships’ stuff?”

  She smiled, straddled him, and buried her fingers in his short, thick hair. “I can make an exception just this once. Besides, we aren’t in a relationship.”

  “We’re not?”

  “We’re in love.”

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