Storm (Linear Tactical #10) - Janie Crouch Page 0,2

Cheese before Marilyn could argue otherwise.

But just as important as Bree Cheese was her puppy, Star, a mixed breed just a few months old. The kids loved being around the pup. Marilyn knew how badly they wanted a dog of their own, but with their circumstances, it hadn’t even been a possibility.

Now though…

They got out of the car and walked over to Bree and Annie, the kids immediately dropping down to play with Star.

Marilyn hugged the two other women, failing to hide a wince as a twist caused pain in her ribs.

Annie, doctor that she was, noticed immediately. “Doing okay?”

“Yeah. Same old, same old.”

Annie nodded. “Ribs can be a monster to heal. They give you no problem for weeks, then a random turn in the wrong direction and you feel like someone’s poking you with a hot iron. I’ve treated enough of Zac and his Linear Tactical buddies’ wounds after some of their missions to know.”

“Most of the time they don’t bother me.” Her ribs at least. The rest of her seemed to be a myriad of aches and pains. She felt like she was eighty years old rather than in her mid-twenties.

Annie was well-aware of Marilyn’s injuries. She’d happened to be in Denver for a medical convention and in the ER when Marilyn had been brought in four months ago. Annie hadn’t been Marilyn’s doctor, but had spent a lot of time with her once she’d come out of the coma. She’d helped convince her to move here to Risk Peak.

Having Annie here as they moved into this new building made a sweet day even sweeter.

Bree studied her with concern. “We’ve got lots of help today, so no lifting for you, got it? The guys want to prove how macho they are.”

Marilyn’s eyes fell over to where they were still talking and laughing with each other at the truck. “Um, you know all those men, right?”

She hated to ask. Hated that her voice got low and breathy and scared. Hated that she couldn’t help but expect the worst from the entire male gender, even though she knew to think that way was not only harmful to herself but completely unfair.

She hated that, even knowing it, she still couldn’t stop it.

Bree squeezed her arm. “I don’t know all of them very well personally, but Tanner does.”

“Okay, that’s good.” Bree’s fiancé, Tanner, one of the town’s sheriff deputies, was around all the time and was a good man. Marilyn liked him, and so did the kids.

“The super-gorgeous one is my Zac.” Annie winked and pointed to her fiancé. Marilyn had never met him, but she had seen pictures and heard lots of good stories.

“And then you know Noah, Tanner’s brother.” Bree squeezed her arm again.

Marilyn’s eyes settled on the big man. Yes, she’d met him a couple of times in the few months they’d lived here in Risk Peak. He had a horse ranch outside of town, so she didn’t see him much. And when she did, he tended to be quiet, not overtly outgoing like Tanner.

But Noah’s farm was where puppy Star had come from, so yeah, he was nearly famous with her kids.

Bree was giving names and details of the other two men—ones Noah and Annie’s fiancé Zac had served with in the military—but Marilyn’s eyes didn’t leave Noah. There was a rugged handsomeness about his face—strong chin, carved cheekbones—that bordered on harsh. His hair was still military short, a slightly lighter brown than his brother’s.

The other guys were laughing and Noah smiled, the gesture seeming a little rusty, like he couldn’t quite remember how to do it correctly. One of the guys punched his arm and he smiled a little wider.

“They’re all good men,” Annie said. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

Marilyn looked down at the ground, embarrassed that she’d even asked. “I’m sorry, I—”

“Don’t be sorry,” Bree cut her off. “That’s why we thought you were perfect for the job as New Journeys building facilitator. You think of things we might not think of. See stuff that’s important.”

Look for danger when there wasn’t any around.

Bree didn’t say that, but she had to be thinking it. It was nothing less than the truth.

Marilyn forced a smile. “Okay, well, let’s get to work.”

Bree nudged Eva with her knee. “I hear Noah even brought Star’s mom and brothers. Maybe you can talk Noah into letting you play with them.”

Eva’s eyes got big. “Really?” She looked back and forth between Bree and Marilyn, obviously desperate for her mother’s permission.

“After we