Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

L ock’s gaze traced Callie’s closed eyes as she slept. The slight rise in the corners of her lips. He studied every inch of her, casting it all to memory.

Two weeks had passed since the kidnapping…since Antwan.

It was still fucking hard to think about. To remember what Antwan had done. But every day it got a little easier to accept. What helped was reminding himself of what he had. His brothers. The other guys on his team, who he would always consider family. And Callie and their baby.

He touched a hand to her stomach, and she let out the cutest moan he’d ever heard.

They’d gone to the hospital within twenty-four hours of the kidnapping. Everything was fine.

His family. Callie and this baby were his family, and fuck, he was lucky to have them. Something he was reminded of every day.

His gaze shifted to the crack of light sneaking in between the curtains. He should get up. Jesse was coming over soon to say goodbye before he went back to Amber Ridge. He’d insisted on remaining in town until the investigation was tied up, but he’d stayed with Aspen these last couple weeks to give him and Callie some space. Together, they’d told the other guys on the team about Antwan, and they’d been just as blindsided.

Lock was just about to get up when the fluttering of Callie’s eyes had him pausing. One more second passed, then they flicked open, her beautiful green gaze staring up at him.

Damn, she was gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous he could get lost in and stare at all day. “Good morning, beautiful.”

Those full lips curved into a smile. “Morning, handsome. Have you been awake long?”

“Long enough to memorize every inch of you.” He lowered his head and kissed her bare shoulder, rewarded by a small moan from her lips.

He reached behind him and grabbed some dry crackers from the bedside table, handing them to her. “How do you feel today?”

The morning sickness had come full force this last week, but Callie had barely complained. She sat up, pulling the sheet with her to cover her chest, and nibbled on a cracker. “I feel perfect. How could I not with you taking care of me?”

“I will always take care of you.”

Her smile softened, and she set the crackers aside before climbing into his lap.

The air in his lungs burned when the sheet dropped, and her naked body pressed against his bare chest.

“You know,” she said, breath brushing his neck, “I think there are other ways you could take care of me.”

His dick twitched, blood roaring between his ears. Before she could blink, he spun them around and pressed her to the mattress. “How the hell did I get so lucky to have you?”

The fun left her eyes, replaced by something a hell of a lot more serious. “I’m the lucky one, Lock.”

His mouth crashed to hers while his hand slipped up her side—just as the ringing of the doorbell sounded.

Goddammit . Jesse.

“I’m not getting that,” Lock growled between kisses. “I can say goodbye to the asshole on the phone.”

“Lock…he’s already here.” She pushed at his chest. “We have a lifetime for each other. Go say goodbye to your friend.”

Another ring of the doorbell, this time followed by the ringing of Callie’s cell.

Jesus Christ, was the world conspiring against them?

Callie giggled. “That will be my dad for his daily check-in.” She leaned up and kissed him one more time before sliding out from under him. He hung his head, needing a full minute to calm the hell down.

With a groan, he eventually climbed out of bed and threw on jeans and a T-shirt. Callie was already in a robe, talking to her dad when he left her to step into the hallway.

It wasn’t just Jesse at the door when he got there; Aspen stood by his side.

She grinned at him. “Hey. Callie home?”

“She’s just talking to her dad.”

“Great, I’ll make coffee.” She walked past him and straight into the kitchen like she owned the damn place.

Jesse grinned as he stepped in after her. “Hey.”

“You couldn’t have taken the hint when I didn’t answer and just called from the airport?”

He was half joking, and his friend’s smile told him he knew that. “I thought about it, but then Aspen pressed the doorbell a second time. Don’t think she would have gone anywhere.”

No, she probably wouldn’t have.

“Thanks for staying in town,” Lock said once they lowered to the couch.

Jesse leaned back. “It was important that I stay. Although, I’m looking forward to getting home to my family. And did I tell you that Holden’s thinking of coming to Amber Ridge?”

Holden was another member of their Ghost Ops team, and he’d always been the closest to Jesse, so that wasn’t a surprise. “It will be good for you two to spend time together, after everything.”

“It will. You should visit if you get a chance.”

“I definitely will.”

Jesse paused. “Are you still doing okay?”

“Better than I should be, thanks to Callie and my brothers. You?”

“Yeah. I’m still angry. And the hurt…shit, it’s hard to take. But I’m not gonna let his betrayal change me.”

“Good. None of us should.”

“I was thinking about the mission where we eliminated Malone. It was Antwan who took the kill shot when Malone reached for his weapon.”

Lock had been thinking about that too. “So he couldn’t talk.”

There’d been clues, but no one had seen them.

Aspen stepped back into the room and handed out coffees. “Here you go.”

Something glinted in Jesse’s eyes when he took the mug from her.

What was going on between those two?

The bedroom door opened, and Lock turned his head to watch Callie step out.

She smiled and said hi to Jesse before heading into the kitchen, where Aspen had returned. The women immediately hugged and started talking.

A phone on the coffee table lit up. The cover was pink and fluffy, definitely not Callie’s cell. Aspen must have set it down on her way to the kitchen.

Jesse leaned forward and read whatever was on the screen. Anger immediately darkened his features.

“Everything okay?” Lock asked.

Jesse’s gaze shifted to Aspen in the kitchen, then back. He lowered his voice. “It’s her ex. He’s…a problem.”

“What kind of a problem?”

Jesse’s jaw clicked. “The kind I want her far away from.”

“Is your dad still freaked out?”

Callie cringed at Aspen’s question as she wrapped her fingers around the hot mug of coffee. “Freaked out is an understatement. He calls every day, and when he’s not calling, he’s coming over in person. And if he can’t reach me, he starts calling other people.”

“Because he loves you and you were in danger.”

“I know. But I’m okay. Better than okay. I’m pregnant with a healthy baby. I’m in love. And I’ve just reopened my studio after weeks of no classes. I’m doing really well.”

Aspen lifted a shoulder. “So remind him of that every time you talk to him.”

“I will. A part of me kind of likes that he’s calling so often. I get to check in on him at the same time.”

“How’s he doing?”

“Really well. He’s so strong. He never lets anything get to him.” And she’d decided that from here on out she was going to be more optimistic about his diagnosis. Her father was a fighter. He’d do everything he could to stay healthy, and she’d do everything she could to help him. She was determined to enjoy every last year she had with him.

“That’s where you get it from.”

Callie scoffed. “I’m not strong. I cried the other night because I was craving a cola slushie and every place that sold them was closed.”

Aspen threw her head back and laughed. “I bet Lock found that tough. He hates it when he can’t be your knight in shining armor.”

“I got a slushie every day for the next week.”

“Man, you guys are cute. And I’m glad you’ve been able to open your studio again. I know how much that place means to you.”

Callie nibbled her lip. “Hamish came in yesterday.”

Aspen paused, mug halfway to her mouth. “Really? Did you talk?”

“I basically cried again. Said I was sorry he was pulled into my mess and almost died because of me. Lock also went around to his place to apologize. It doesn’t feel like enough.”

“I’m sure he realizes it wasn’t your fault.”

“He was so sweet. That’s why I think I’m going to set him up with Vanessa.”

Aspen’s brows lifted. “Who’s Vanessa?”

“A girl who does my Tuesday morning class. Hamish has a lot of love to give, and I think the two of them would really hit it off.”

Aspen’s smile softened. “You realize what an awesome person you are, right? Going through all that you’ve been through and still thinking of others.”

“After all the Antwan stuff, this town needs a little happy.” She nibbled her bottom lip before adding, “Including you.”

Her friend frowned. She looked down at her mug, and when she looked up again, there was resolve in her eyes. And maybe a bit of something else. Regret? She set her mug down. “I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you about something. It’s kind of big.”

Something in Aspen’s voice had her setting down her own mug and inching closer. “What is it?”

“I’m moving to Amber Ridge.”

Callie’s jaw dropped. Whatever she’d been expecting her friend to say, it wasn’t that. “Amber Ridge? Montana? As in, where Jesse lives?”

“We were talking the other night, and I mentioned how hard it’s been to see Dylan all the time…because I do. I see him all the time . It’s like he finds me even if I’m at the damn grocery store. And there’s also my mom. She’s been on a whole new level of crazy lately. She showed up at my house at one in the morning the other night, screaming that I took money from her purse. Jesse saw everything. It was so embarrassing.” Aspen shook her head. “He knows I can work from anywhere, so…he offered me the spare room in his house. I said no, because that’s crazy, right? I just met the guy, and Misty Peak is my home, and you’re pregnant so I need to be here for you, but—”

“Do it.”

Aspen stopped. “Really?”

Callie closed the remaining distance between them and took Aspen’s hand. “Whatever happened between you and Dylan…it’s bad. A man doesn’t call and text and follow you everywhere for weeks over a simple breakup. We’ve always shared everything, Aspen, so I don’t know why you don’t think you can tell me what happened. I’m just choosing to believe that you’ll let me in when you’re ready. But I do know you haven’t been happy.”

It wasn’t just that her friend hadn’t been happy. Aspen hadn’t been herself.

Callie tilted her head. “You deserve to be happy. The wild, delirious, can’t-help-it kind of happy. And if Misty Peak can’t offer you that with Dylan and your mom here, you owe it to yourself to go find it somewhere else.”

“I feel bad leaving you.”

“Don’t. I’ll miss you, but I’ll be okay. And that’s what phones are for, right? And every other modern technology used to keep in touch.” Callie smiled. “Trust me, distance is not going to get in the way of our friendship.”

Aspen pulled her into a tight hug. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Aspen. Just promise me one thing.”

Aspen pulled back. “Anything.”

“Protect your heart.”

Aspen laughed, but there was no humor behind it. “I won’t be risking my heart, so no protection needed. Dating is off the table for a very long time. Dylan has scared me into a life of celibacy.”

“Does Jesse know that?”

“Of course. We’ve become good friends, but nothing more.”

Callie nodded, her gaze slipping behind Aspen to Jesse—to see him looking straight at Aspen. And the look on his face…it wasn’t how a friend looked at another friend.

But that was something for the two of them to figure out.

She turned back to Aspen. “Can I visit?”

“I expect you to visit. And bring a cute baby after it’s born.”

“Done. When are you leaving?”

“I’ve booked a flight for next Friday.”

Man, that was soon. But she didn’t let her smile slip. “Guess we’ll need to make the most of the next week together.”

Aspen and Jesse stayed for another hour before it was time for Jesse to get to the airport. After they all hugged and said their goodbyes, Jesse ushered Aspen outside, his hand lingering on the small of her back as he helped her into the car.

Yeah, there was definitely more going on there. But Aspen seemed so against dating. Callie could only hope them living together wouldn’t be a recipe for disaster.

Lock’s arms slipped around her waist from behind as the car pulled away. “What are you thinking about?”

“Aspen’s moving to Amber Ridge.”

There was a small pause “Really? Are she and Jesse—”

“No.” Not yet, anyway .

“What’s she hoping to find there?”

“I think the question is more what’s she running from.” She turned in his arms, immediately getting lost in his blue eyes. “But I’m kind of hoping she finds what we found.”

He slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. “And what’s that?”

“A life that, a year ago, we could only dream about.”

He growled and lifted her up against his chest. “Damn, I love you, Callie Ward.”

She set her palm on his cheek, letting his warmth slip inside her. “I love you, Lock Walker. I’ve always loved you. And I have a feeling I always will.”

Follow Jesse and Aspen to Amber Ridge, and order book one, UNAFRAID , now!