Brock leaned in. “Your cabins would be a great time-saver and give us a base close to the training area. I talked to my C.O., and Petrowski said to get info from you about renting a couple units. He said to tell you he’d be happy to send more recruits out to expedite the renovation process, if that would help.”
Tears burned behind Bri’s eyes. Relief, yes, but she hated embarrassing thoughts that two entire towns, Refuge and Eagle Point, plus an entire elite force of special ops airmen were conducting a conspiracy of kindness to help save her lodge. Because people in close-knit communities were like that.
Bri knew of the PJs. She’d had no idea Brock was one, but the way he carried himself—now she could see it. The PJs were famous in these parts and abroad. Esteemed and well respected. Honest. Superhero strong. Brave. Benevolent. A noble breed of valiant, honorable men who’d stand by their word or die. Men of integrity. Like Mitch, and—despite his brooding—Ian.
If she agreed to this, that meant three cabins had renters. Hers, and the two Brock inquired about. Yet, she wasn’t paying. She needed to figure out how to generate more income. Kate had hinted about renting one of her cabins, but hadn’t mentioned it since.
She must’ve been silent too long. Brock stood. “Think about it, ma’am. Get back to me, or Ian, whenever you’ve had a chance to come up with numbers. Money’s not an issue for us, so charge what’s comfortable for you.”
She nodded, realizing with cautiously optimistic hope that, if things panned out right, renting the two cabins could both appease the bank and generate income to renovate the rest. Her money was quickly running out. She walked with Ian to accompany Brock to his truck despite Ian’s hard face and formidable air.
Bri waved to Brock as he left. “Hope my silence didn’t run him off.”
“No, he told me earlier he had to get ready for HALOs tonight.” Face still cast in a brooding light, Ian walked back to her deck and grabbed their glasses. He was so subdued she was compelled to help him thaw. Talk to him.
“HALOs?” She opened the kitchen door and they stepped in.
He met her attempts at conversation with a dark, pensive stare. It created such an atmosphere of danger, she took a step back. That snapped him out of it and seemed to alert him that he’d emanated a threatening impression.
He set the glasses in her sink and washed them. “High altitude, low opening. It’s a special nighttime parachute jump from so high up, they have to have oxygen.”
“Oxygen?” Her neck craned. “Nighttime?”
Ian grinned. “Yeah. Total blast.”
“Maybe for you.” She laughed cautiously, contemplating the thrill of free-falling. “I’d like to skydive someday. The normal way,” she quickly tacked on. “When oxygen isn’t required.”
He brushed a finger along her arm. “After this heals, I’ll take you. We could tandem jump until you feel safe to solo.”
Right now, solo was the only thing that felt safe.
“At your own risk. I’m liable to blow out your eardrums.”
Ian laughed. “Brock’s team leader, Joel’s wife, almost did the first time he took her.” His grin faded, face pinched. “Not...that you’re my wife—just—Caleb told me how adventurous you are.”
“Told? Or warned?” She quirked an eyebrow at him, dried the glasses that had been Mom’s and put them away, yet not memories of them standing at the lodge sink chattering over them. Lord, I miss her so much. Poor Tia. She had to miss hers, too. Chest tight, Bri drew a shaky breath.
Ian paused. Eyes went into assessment mode. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Christmas was Mom’s favorite holiday is all.”
“Hard.” He brushed his thumb and forearm on her shoulder. While it was meant to be a touch of comfort, it left her skin feeling tingly.
“Speaking of Christmas, I wanted to take you shopping today. I figured we could pick up some decorations and gifts. Grab a quick lunch here first and eat dinner while we’re out?”
The thought of having holiday decorations ignited joy. The thought of having dinner with Ian made Bri cautious. Yet a sliver of excitement she didn’t want to acknowledge grew within her. “I’d love that. Thank you, Ian.”
He scratched his jaw and shifted from foot to foot. “Also, I was wondering if you’d like to join a few of us at Lem’s for a Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow. Kate, Mitch and Lauren will be there, too. Plus Lem and Tia. We’d love to have you join us.”
She sighed. Despite feeling like a pity case, Bri’s former dread of spending Christmas alone and without Mom fled. “I heard Lem’s Southern cooking is superb. If you’re sure it’s all right and that I won’t be intruding, I’d love to go.”
His face flashed with some undetectable emotion when she’d agreed to go. Was Ian happy she’d be going, or disappointed? She still found it difficult to read men’s thoughts, because of her ex-boyfriend’s changeable personality.
“Good. I’ll pick you up at four since you can’t drive yet.” He walked over to the neatly stacked books. Then eyed the not-so-neat stack. “These for Lem’s library fund and run?”
“Read-n-run.” She giggled. “Yes.
“Need me to help you get them to Lem’s place?”
“No, I—”
“Can’t drive for six weeks. Let me rephrase—you hold open the door. I’ll load these books into those plastic bins and we’ll drop them off at the library on the way to the toy store.”
She ground her teeth together. Resisted the temptation to inform him he was bossier than Kate. “Okay.” While he loaded, she made pita sandwiches, which they ate before driving to town.
Partway through their excursion at Tinker’s Toy Store in downtown Eagle Point, Bri indicated a fairy costume Ian held up with a raised brow. “Yes. Tia will love that.”
“I hope so.” Ian set the boxed dress-up ensemble in the cart and sighed dauntingly at the rows of other toys. “Did she happen to mention to you anything she’d like for Christmas?” He stuffed hands in his pockets. “I asked her, but she said the only thing she wants for Christmas is her mom.” Ian’s voice pinched.
Bri put a camouflage monkey in the cart. “For Kate.”
Ian met Bri’s gaze, and grinned like a slow dawn. “I never would have guessed. She’s obsessed with those things.”
Bri cleared her throat and kept stride with Ian as he pushed the screechy cart. “Tia did mention a couple of things she wanted.”
The squeaking wheels silenced as Ian paused the cart.
“She mentioned wanting a pet. Specifically a yellow dog, but if she can’t have that, she’d settle for a fish named Jonah.”
Ian’s hands tightened around the cart. She tensed. “I’m frustrated she told you and not me.”
“So, you’d consider a dog?”
“No. We don’t have time to give it proper care and attention. The fish, however, is doable. If I can find a place to get one. I’ve been too busy to scout the town.”
“That’s partly my fault. And there’s a pet store down the road.” Bri pursed her lips. “I’ll show you after we leave here.”
Ian faced her. “Didn’t mean to make you feel like a burden. Sometimes I don’t think before I speak.”
Sometimes? Bri bit her tongue from saying it. She needed to cool her jets