Defending Harlow (Mountain Mercenaries #4)(34)

“Do you think the gas station was set on fire deliberately?”

Black looked the older woman in the eyes and nodded. “It’s not a coincidence.”

Loretta sighed and sat down on the edge of a beat-up old sofa behind her.

“Are you okay?” Black asked, concerned at the look on her face.

“No. I’m tired. And I feel like a sitting duck.”

“You aren’t alone in this,” Black told her. “The Mountain Mercenaries are committed to making sure you and your ladies are safe. We won’t let anything happen to you. You’re too important to us. You’ve helped us out over the years, and it’s our turn to help you.”

She smiled up at him weakly. “I appreciate it.”

It seemed she was going to say something else, but they were interrupted by Harlow’s soft voice. “You look like you need a cup of tea.”

Black looked up and saw her standing near them with a steaming cup and a small smile. She looked just as tired as Loretta. She’d texted him early that morning, letting him know she was leaving her apartment, and she’d been working nonstop ever since. Black had left for a few hours to get some work done at the gun range, but when he’d gotten back to the shelter, she’d seemed just as energetic and peppy as she’d been at five in the morning.

But it was obvious that she needed a break.

He watched as she leaned over and handed Loretta the cup, then sat down next to her and patted her leg. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, child.”

“Is Edward coming over for dinner?”

“Yes. He would’ve been here already, but he was up in Denver visiting his grandbabies.”

“Zoe should be here any minute. She’ll take good care of everyone,” Harlow told her boss.

“Thank you,” Loretta said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done. The children love you, and it’s obvious that you care about them right back.”

“I do. They’re amazing.”

Just then, Zoe opened the front door and breezed in. She was followed by Ball, who was taking a turn at keeping watch over the shelter for the next few hours. “Whew! Looks like I missed a lot while I was gone, huh?” she asked.

Black lifted his chin in greeting to Ball.

“Is someone going to fill me in?” Zoe asked.

Harlow opened her mouth, but Black stepped forward and pulled her to her feet instead. She let out a slight umph as she stumbled, her hands landing on his chest to steady herself.

Black saw her inhale deeply before she took a step back. He inwardly smiled, but didn’t dare let one ounce of his pleasure or amusement show.

“I’m sure the second you go into the kitchen, the kids’ll tell you all about it,” Loretta told Zoe dryly. “But there will be a shelter meeting tonight when the kids go to bed, and we’ll discuss everything that’s been going on. Ball, I’m hoping you can help me answer questions.”

“Of course,” Ball told her with a nod of his head.

“Everything’s prepped for tonight’s meal,” Harlow told Zoe.

“Thanks for taking an extra shift,” Zoe said.

Harlow waved off her words. “It’s no problem. I probably would’ve stayed anyway after what happened last night.”

“You go home and relax,” Zoe told her. “I’ll put the chicken for tomorrow night in the fridge to thaw so you’ll be good to go when you get here to start dinner. I do still owe you a shift, though.”

“Thanks. We’ll figure it out. Lowell, let me grab my purse, then I’ll be ready to go.” Zoe followed her to the kitchen.

When it was just him, Loretta, and Ball, Black turned to the older woman and said, “You need anything, don’t hesitate to call Rex. Got it? He’ll get in touch with us, and someone will be here as soon as humanly possible.”

She smiled into her cup and nodded after she took a sip. “I know how you guys work,” she said. “I’ll call.”

“Good.”

Then Harlow was back. She’d taken off her apron, and Black decided there wasn’t anything sexier than the jeans and tank top she was wearing. She shrugged on a long-sleeve shirt, and he was almost disappointed. Harlow might think she was overweight, but she was wrong. She was perfect. His fingers itched to tug down one of the straps of her tank top so he could lick her skin. He already knew she smelled like vanilla, but he wanted to see if she tasted like it as well.

Telling himself to chill, he still couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and putting his hand on the small of her back as she passed. He needed to touch her. When she didn’t pull away, his lips twitched. He loved knowing Harlow liked his hands on her.

They walked out the door and toward the parking lot, the blackened shell of the gas station across the street a reminder of what had happened the night before. For the hundredth time, Black was glad the damn thing hadn’t exploded—especially when they were leaving. They’d been lucky.

“It feels like we’ve done this before,” Harlow said when she reached her car.

He grinned at her. “So we have.”

“Are you really picking me up at four tomorrow morning?”

“Yes.”

“What should I wear?”

He looked her up and down and said, “What you have on now is perfect.”