Boone smiled, relief hitting him.
“Atlas!” Gemma beamed at the dog.
They both patted him, and his tail wagged madly. Gemma crouched and hugged the dog’s neck.
“This guy right here was one of my heroes today.”
Boone rubbed Atlas between the ears. “Good work, boy.”
“He’s earned a year’s worth of dog treats,” Gemma said.
“What about me?” Boone complained.
She shot him a sexy smile. “Oh, you’ll get a special thank you. Don’t worry.”
He felt a throb of desire that he fought for control. “You really falling in love with me?”
Her lips pressed together, and she nodded.
“How do you feel about living in Vermont?” He knew that both he and Atlas could never make a home in LA, but he’d do whatever he needed to do to make Gemma happy.
“I like it a lot,” she said. “As long as I have you, I don’t care where we are.” She smiled. “Oh, and I need a kitchen so I can bake.”
“It just so happens that I have the kitchen.”
“I know.”
“And I’m really ready to fall the rest of the way in love with you.”
He saw warmth fill her eyes. He kissed her again, pulling in the sweet taste of her.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Vander’s voice was faintly amused. “I think you’d better head down and let your father know that you’re all right.”
Gemma nodded and took Boone’s hand.
Right, time to meet a billionaire. One whose daughter he was sleeping with.
Boone suddenly felt more uneasy than when he’d faced down the mercenaries. But nothing and no one would keep him from Gemma.
As they stepped into Shep’s clearing, Gemma glanced around.
Oh, God. Her fingers clenched on Boone’s hand. The cabin closest to them was riddled with bullet holes. Another one was a wreck and still on fire.
“Shep, I’m so sorry. I’ll cover the cost of all of this.”
Boone’s friend shook his head. “It’s nothing I can’t fix.”
She saw several mercenaries sitting on the ground with their hands and feet zip-tied. A handsome black man, and a lean man with pitch-black hair were watching them. More of Declan’s team. There were also several bodies laid out under white sheets.
She averted her gaze. She was damn glad that Carruthers would pay for all of this.
Then she saw the sleek, gray SUV parked in front of Shep’s cabin—a Lamborghini Urus. Her father stood beside it with two of his security team. Her dad looked worried.
When he spotted her, his face changed. “Gemma.”
“Go,” Boone urged her.
She ran to her dad, and was engulfed in his arms.
“Jesus, we were so worried.” He hugged her hard.
“I’m all right, Dad. I promise.”
He pulled back, his gaze searching her face. “You’re sure?”
She smiled. “I’m sure. It got pretty…” Her voice cracked.
He hugged her again. “We need to call your mom. Let her know that you’re safe. She’s been worried sick. She wanted to come, but I made her stay in LA.”
Tears welled in Gemma’s eyes. For all their faults, and hers, her parents loved her. They were family. She had to stop expecting them to match some fantasy version of parents, and just accept them as they were.
“I wouldn’t have made it alone, Dad.”
“I know.” His gaze lifted and moved over her shoulder.
She turned and saw Boone standing there.
“Dad, this is Boone Hendrix. Boone, my father, Paul Newhouse.”
“Thank you, Boone.” Her dad held out a hand and the men shook. “I owe you more than I can ever tell you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Newhouse,” Boone said.
“Call me Paul. I’ll be giving you a sizable reward.”
She saw Boone stiffen. “I don’t want a reward.”
“You’ve earned it.”
“No.” Boone’s tone was sharp.
Gemma hid her smile. She reached out her hand and Boone took it, their fingers tangling.
Her father’s gaze dropped to their linked hands, and his brow creased. Then he got a blank look that she knew well—his business face.
“Ah.” Her father nodded. “I see you want an even bigger reward.”
“Yes, I do,” Boone said.
Gemma frowned. “Dad—”
“Fine.” Her father held up a hand, his gaze locked on Boone. “I’ll cut you a check. One million dollars.”
Gemma gasped. For one horrible second, she was a teenager again, discovering that the boy she cared about was only interested in her because of her dad’s money.
“Take the money, Hendrix, and leave my daughter alone.”
Boone shook his head. “When I said a bigger reward, I didn’t mean money, Newhouse. I meant Gemma.”
She jolted.
Boone turned to her. “Gemma, I’ve been closed off from life for a long time. I didn’t want to feel or care. I didn’t want to risk losing another person I loved.”
Her insides melted.
“But from the moment I pulled you from my river, you’ve given me no choice.” He cupped her cheeks. “You charmed me, made me smile, baked me delicious things.”
She laughed.
“Most of all, you made me feel. You made me want. You dragged me back to life. Every day, you amaze me with your strength and kindness. I could be offered a hundred million dollars, hell, a billion dollars, and you’re still worth more to me. I’m not sure I’m good enough for you—”
She gripped his wrists. “You are. You absolutely are.”
“All I can promise is to love you. To keep you safe. And every day, work my damned hardest to make you happy.”
“Oh, Boone.”
“Hell of a speech.”
Gemma didn’t look away from Boone, but she recognized Shep’s voice.
“Sure was,” Vander agreed.
She ignored them, and dragged Boone’s head down for a kiss. She didn’t hold back, pouring everything she felt into it.
When they finally broke apart, she licked her lips, and they shared a smile.
Then anger hit her. She turned to face her father…
Only to find him smiling at them.
He held out a hand to Boone. “Welcome to the family.”
Gemma frowned. “That was a test?”
“You’ve been hurt before by men who weren’t worthy of you. Not letting it happen again.”
She sighed. “Dad…”
He touched her cheek. “I love you, Gem. And I think you’ve finally found a man who’ll love you like you deserve.”
Shep watched as the FBI agents rounded up the mercenaries. Gemma’s father had worked some sort of magic with law enforcement, claiming Boone and Shep were part of her security team.
Hell of a day. He eyed the still-smoldering ruin of the cabin. This definitely wasn’t what he’d expected when he’d woken up today.
He realized how much he’d missed the work. He’d been a damn good soldier, and it had suited him. Today, working side-by-side with Boone again had felt good.
He glanced over at his friend. Boone had his woman wrapped up tightly in his arms. He looked happy. He’d earned some good. Shep knew better than anyone that Boone had watched their friends die, been through hell, and come out the other side.
Yeah, Boone Hendrix had finally found a woman who deserved him.
Not that Shep wanted a woman. Fuck, no.