“Good morning.” He sat up. “I’ll make breakfast.”
Winona made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth and comb the tangles from her hair. She slipped into her bathrobe and went to the kitchen, where Jason was busy at the stove.
“I could get used to this—you making me breakfast every morning in your underwear.”
Hedidhave the finest ass in the entire world.
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
Over cheese omelets, breakfast potatoes, and coffee, they talked about the day.
“We should have dinner at Knockers tonight.”
“What’s with you and Knockers?” She would rather stay home with him.
They’d spent the past two days holed up in her house, Winona doing her best to savor the time she had left with him. Already, a week had gone by, the days slipping like sand through her fingers. It was Sunday, and he would be leaving early on Thursday to make it back in time for the hearing on Friday.
Four days. Four days was all Winona had left with him. After that…
“Hey, I like the beer—and I thought I’d give the climbing wall a try.”
“Really?” The thought of him rock climbing—well, it didn’t turn her off. “Okay then. You’re on.”
They talked about other things he might want to do before he left town. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Get a tour of Team HQ, affectionately referred to as The Cave. Visit Naomi’s shop, Tanagila’s, to see the jewelry she made.
Winona held her coffee mug. “Are you afraid?”
“About the hearing?” He leaned back in his chair, picked up his mug, sipped. “Nah. I broke the rules. I killed a man on the wrong side of the border, and I endangered myself. If they terminate me, I will have earned it.”
She had to ask. “Is there any chance you’ll go to prison?”
Jason shook his head. “No. This isn’t a criminal proceeding. The man I killed was caught red-handed smuggling drugs into the country and had just shot a federal agent. I only fired after he pointed his rifle at me.”
“Thank God.” She let out a breath, relieved. “I’d hate to have to figure out how to bake you a cake with a file in it. I’m not very good with cakes.”
Jason’s head fell back, and he laughed.
* * *
Jason parkedin a spot Rain had reserved for Winona and helped Winona climb down from his truck.
“They saved me a parking space?”
“I knew it would be harder for you to walk a long distance, so I called ahead.”
“That’s so sweet.”
Yeah, angel? Just wait.
They walked to the front door, which Jason held open for her, conversation, laughter, and music spilling into the cool October air.
Rain saw them first. “Make a path, please. Let Winona through.”
People saw Winona on her crutches and stepped aside.
Rain hugged her. “I’m so glad you came through this. Are you going to the Team table, or do you want a table close by?”
“We’ll sit at the Team table.” Winona smiled. “Jason is going to try climbing tonight.”