Page 74 of Silver Linings
“We had an entire, very in-depth brief about it. He seems happy you’re making friends. And Sloane is great. We definitely lucked out with her as our neighbor. But you have to know, Gunner is nothing if not overly protective of those he loves.”
Except he doesn’t love me and our marriage is an act.
“So,” Stone raised his eyebrow as he reached across the table and took Lily’s wrist into his hand. She watched as his eyes assessed her face, and she knew he was carefully taking her pulse, just like he had at the park. “Are you okay?”
“I just overheated. Didn’t realize how brutal the Texas sun could be around midday. Learned my lesson with a pretty embarrassing bout of dizziness.”
Stone looked concerned. “No swelling right now, right?”
“None.”
“And your head?”
“Nothing. I feel fine now that I’ve had some cold water.”
“Okay. Better start carrying a water bottle with you when you leave the house. The heat here can be surprisingly brutal, even when you’re acclimated to it.”
“I definitely learned my lesson.”
“How are you doing after everything that happened last night?”
Lily bit her bottom lip. “Honestly? Not great. But I refuse to let some pervert stop me from living my life. Besides, he’s in custody now, and the deputy last night said the paperwork would be going in for a restraining order.”
“That’s really brave, Lily.”
“Gunner would just tell you I’m stubborn.”
Stone laughed. “Yeah, well, Gunner is stubborn, too. I was worried at first, but I can see that you really are the perfect match for him.”
Her entire chest ached. “Sage and I are lucky to have him.”
“And me and the guys are lucky Gunner has you. There’s a whole different side to him we get to see now. It’s nice seeing him be so gentle and sweet to you and Sage. I hate to say it, but he was getting to be unbearable before he left Texas. Coming back with you…he’s like a whole different person.”
Sage wiggled around beneath her nursing cover until Lily brought her out from under it and started patting her back. The enormous burp she let out had both Lily and Stone laughing.
“For such a little thing, she sure can burp,” Lily sighed.
“She gets that from her daddy, for sure.” Stone’s comment swelled in her heart. “Are you ladies ready to head out? I’m more than happy to walk you to Sloane’s.”
“That would be so nice. Thank you.”
Lily set Sage down in the bassinet and released the brakes on the stroller. She smiled and waved at Dolly before walking through the door Stone was holding open for her.
“So this little check-in can stay between us?” she asked.
“It can just be between us, for now. Although Gunner was there when Dolly called me and was wondering why I left. I’m hoping you’ll say something to him before he corners me for the details, because honestly Lily, we don’t keep things from each other.”
Lily cringed, then nodded. “I’ll try to talk to him tonight.”
Twenty-Four
“Look, we know that Antonio Santoro is trying to set this up in your backyard as a big fuck you to all the agencies involved in taking down his nephew.”
FBI Special Agent Max Wilson paced back and forth in front of the conference table at Montgomery Defense. Gage had gotten him to agree to drive from Dallas to Silver Springs for a meeting with the team that afternoon.
“He can try to do whatever he wants, but there is no way we’re sitting back while they try to traffic women and children through here. Not to mention coming after my wife twice now.”
“I contacted Sheriff Porter as soon as Gage filled me in on what happened. There is no known association between Cole Trudall and the Santoro family.”