Page 35 of Rowe

“Convince her not to,” smirked Grip. “Let me tell you something, Rowe. When Nine brought Erin back to Virginia after they rescued her, I saw a whole new man. You’re young, I’m sure you didn’t know about Nine.”

“Oh, no,” said Rowe shaking his head, raising his hands. “Believe me. Everyone in Special Forces knows those names. Including yours, Grip.” Grip just nodded with a smirk.

“Nine, brother, Nine was on another fucking level. The man you see now? Think about him at thirty. Huge, muscular, strong, angry, and fucking terrifying. He was better with a gun than anyone I know. Second to only Trak with a knife. And smart. He knew what to do and when to do it. He knew who to make his enemy and who to make his friend.

“But Erin. Erin made him see things differently. Not everything was about violence and guns and bad guys, although they were definitely in the picture. She was even smarter than he was. She was softer but not weak. She didn’t give in to him. She was the woman he wanted to take home to mom if she’d been alive.”

“I can see that,” smirked Rowe. “She’s been so kind to all of us since we got here. I guess I’m struggling with trying to figure out what true love looks like.” Grip actually laughed at him.

“Dude, open your fucking eyes and look around. True love is everywhere at Belle Fleur. Every man and woman here is truly in love. It’s hard work, Rowe. It’s fucking harder than anything you’ve ever done. Paying attention to the one you love every damn day. I didn’t do that with Doug, and I make sure I pay attention to Jonathon.

“Be kind, be truthful, be gentle, be understanding and for fuck’s sake, listen. If I could count the times I’ve had to smack these boys upside their heads so they would hear what their women were saying. Listen. Hear. Listen again. Ask questions. Mara is scared. She’s scared of being alone. She’s scared of Rossi finding her. She’s scared that if he does find her, he’ll find you.”

The last sentence hit Rowe like a ton of bricks. She was scared for him. She didn’t know that it was Rossi who should be afraid. Very, very afraid.

Grip stood up and smiled as he tested his knees, bending and standing, bending and standing. He grinned at Rowe.

“See. No popping or cracking.” Rowe just chuckled.

“Thanks for the talk, Grip. Do you charge by the hour?” he smirked.

“Boy, you couldn’t afford me. Get some sleep. Your girl is gonna need you tomorrow.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Rowe slept like a baby after Grip left. In fact, he hadn’t slept so soundly in years. When he opened his eyes, he could hear someone in the kitchen. Looking beside him, he realized it must be Mara.

The smell of coffee and something with cinnamon assaulted his senses and he walked down the hallway toward her.

“Good morning,” he said in a deep, rumbling voice. She startled a bit and then turned and smiled at him.

“Good morning. I didn’t want to wake you but wanted to make coffee and some cinnamon streusel muffins.”

“You can wake me like this any time you like,” he smirked. She smiled, handing him the cup of coffee and he motioned for her to sit on the sofa. “You don’t have to wait on me, Mara. You just need to heal.”

“I had a strange dream last night. An older man was talking to me. He was big, wide, and strong with a deep voice. But it wasn’t menacing, it was kind. I can’t remember everything he said but I woke up feeling the need to ask you about your family.”

Rowe smiled, nodding at her. Grip. He’d planted things in her head and was now forcing Rowe to talk. And listen. Don’t forget to listen.

“Not much to tell. My folks put our house up for sale the day I graduated from high school. They were taking every penny they had and going on a world cruise.”

“Well, I guess that’s good,” she said hesitantly.

“You would think so, but my folks hadn’t really been active in my life at all. It’s hard to make people understand that they gave me food and shelter, bought my clothes, paid for things that I needed for school, but they weren’t there for me. Not the way the parents around here are there for their children.

“But when it came to me after I turned eighteen, they weren’t interested. I had college offers but, in the end, knew the expenses would kill me. Instead, I decided to go into the military and chose the Marines.”

“They must have been very proud of you,” she said with a sad smile.

“Honestly? I don’t know. When they left, they sent a few postcards now and then but no real communication. They called me once to wish me happy birthday.”

“That’s nice,” she said reaching for his hand. He chuffed.

“It wasn’t my birthday, Mara. My birthday is in May, they called in September. I didn’t bother to correct them. I told them I was doing fine and they just responded with ‘uh-huh’ and ‘oh how nice,’ nothing else.”

“I’m so sorry, Rowe,” she said taking his hand full in her own now. “Is that why you struggle with your feelings?”

He looked up at her, frowning at first, unsure of how she would know that. Why did she know that?