wouldn’t be able to function properly until she did.
Bree pulled Marilyn in for a hug. “I’m fine. Go be with your kids. I totally understand. I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.”
Bree probably meant it. She’d been alone for a long time before she met Tanner. She wouldn’t mind spending the evening alone. But still, Marilyn felt like a terrible friend, especially after everything Bree had done for her. But they all left, being sure to shoo the groom out so he didn’t stay.
Damn Jared for messing up one more thing in her life. For making her afraid and causing her to dance to his tune again.
She and Noah were both quiet as he walked her back to New Journeys.
Everything was fine. Ronnie Kitchens, even off duty, was walking circles around the outside of the property to make sure nothing was out of place. He shook Noah and Marilyn’s hands as they arrived, then Marilyn reached over and hugged him.
The older man seemed a little uncomfortable by the gesture, but Marilyn couldn’t help it. He was here, helping, even when he didn’t have to be. “Thank you, Deputy Kitchens.”
He nodded at her as she stepped back. “We want you and your children to be safe here. That’s my job. And Risk Peak is your home. We’ll all do what we can to keep ours safe.”
She wanted to hug him again.
Once she and Noah were inside the building, they checked on the kids and found them asleep, Tromsø spread out across Sam’s bed. Noah did a thorough search of the building before coming back to her.
“Everything looks solid. Are you doing okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Cassandra is going to stay here on the couch in her office, just to be an extra person around. I may not get much sleep, but I’ll be okay.”
“Do you want me to stay?”
Did she want him to stay?
Yes, she very much did. Not just because of the threat of Jared, but because she wanted him here with her. Wanted to feel his arms around her. Wanted much more.
But tonight wasn’t the night for that.
“No,” she said softly. “I know you have plans. I’ll be fine.”
Just like Marilyn was supposed to be spending Bree’s last single night with her, Noah was supposed to be out with Tanner.
He cocked his head to the side, studying her. “I’d like to take my brother out for his last drink as a single man, but he and I both would agree that you feeling secure is more important.”
She reached up and grabbed his biceps—so very firm and strong under her fingers. “I do feel secure. Everything you’ve done over the last few months has gotten me to this place where I don’t have to panic over every little thing. Go, have that drink with your brother. Jared will still be around to harass us when you’re done, trust me.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever known, you know that?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You should probably get out more often, then.”
“I don’t think I ever need to get out more often ever again. I know what I know.”
She couldn’t stop her smile. “Let’s get your brother married tomorrow then we’ll talk.”
He winked at her and her heart turned to goo. “Don’t think I’m not going to take you up on that, gorgeous. We’ve got stuff to get through—I know it and you know it—but we’ll be doing that together.”
She didn’t doubt it for a second.
24
Noah walked into Micky’s, one of the two bars in Risk Peak. He’d bought his brother his first drink here when Tanner had turned twenty-one and was glad to buy him his last drink here as a single man.
But damn it, it had been hard to leave Marilyn, even knowing she was fine.
“Marilyn and the kids okay?” Tanner asked as Noah sat across from him in the booth. “Can’t blame Marilyn for being nervous after everything that’s happened in the last week.”
“Yep. Kids were sound asleep.” Noah took a sip of the beer Tanner pushed towards him.
“The way Marilyn looked when that alarm went off about Ellis’s monitor…” Tanner shook his head. “I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d taken the kids and fled the country.”
“I’m trying to give her whatever she needs to work through this at her own pace.” Noah spun his beer between his fingers. “But believe me, it’s only out of respect for you that this situation hasn’t already been completely handled.”