Chapter 11 Atlee #2
Another round of drinks appears, and the conversation flows easily.
Jesse talks about the progress on the barn renovation, Aubree shares stories from her office, and Carson keeps making comments that make Lennon either laugh or roll her eyes, sometimes both.
It’s nice being surrounded by people who care about each other, who care about me.
When a slow song starts playing, Devlin stands, holding out his hand to me. “Dance with me?”
I take his hand, letting him lead me to the dance floor. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me close against his chest as we begin to sway to the music. I rest my head against his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of him, soap and leather and spice that make up Devlin.
“Thank you for coming to get me that day,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. Maybe it’s the alcohol, or maybe it’s just being here, surrounded by life and laughter after coming so close to losing everything.
He pulls back slightly, looking down at me with those intense eyes of his. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Atlee. Ever.”
“I know,” I say. “But I wanted to anyway. I don’t know what would have happened if—”
“Don’t,” he cuts me off gently. “Don’t go there. You’re here, you’re safe, and that’s all that matters.”
I nod and swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m just…I’m happy, Devlin. Really happy.”
Something flashes across his face, too quick for me to interpret. But then he’s bending down, his lips finding mine in a kiss that makes my toes curl. It’s not our most heated kiss, but there’s something in it, a tenderness and a promise that leaves me breathless.
“I need to use the restroom,” I murmur against his lips when we finally break apart. “I’ll be right back.”
He nods, reluctantly letting me go. I weave through the crowd toward the back of the bar, where the restrooms are located. The music is slightly muffled here, the lighting dimmer. I push open the door to the women’s restroom, grateful to find it empty.
After taking care of business, I wash my hands and check my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed, and my eyes are bright—from the alcohol, from the dancing, from Devlin. I look happy. I am happy.
I’m still smiling as I exit the restroom, but the smile falters when I find Deputy Noah Sanchez leaning against the wall directly across from the door.
“Miss Walsh,” he says, straightening up. “Just the person I was hoping to run into.”
My stomach clenches. I’ve seen Noah watching Devlin, seen the tension between them, but we’ve never actually spoken. “Deputy,” I acknowledge, trying to step around him.
He moves to block my path. “I’d like a word, if you don’t mind.”
I do mind, but I can tell from the set of his jaw that he’s not going to let this go. “What can I help you with, Deputy?”
“It’s more about what I can help you with,” he says, his voice low and serious. “Do you know what you’re dealing with? With Devlin Nelson?”
The question catches me off guard. “Excuse me?”
“I’m concerned for your safety,” Noah continues. “The Nelson brothers are dangerous men, Miss Walsh. They’re involved in things you don’t want to be associated with.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, my heart beginning to race.
Noah’s eyes narrow. He takes a step closer, lowering his voice further. “Listen, I’m not trying to scare you, but you seem like a good person who’s already been through enough trouble. You should know who you’re getting involved with.”
“And who is that, exactly?” I challenge, anger beginning to replace my initial fear.
“Criminals,” Noah says bluntly. “I can’t say more than that right now, but trust me, you don’t want to be caught in the middle when everything comes to light.”
Before I can respond, a familiar voice cuts through the tension. “Problem here, Deputy?”
Devlin appears beside me, his body radiating barely controlled anger. His hand comes to rest at the small of my back, a gesture that’s both protective and possessive.
Noah straightens, his gaze hardening as it shifts to Devlin. “Just having a friendly conversation with Miss Walsh here.”
“Didn’t look friendly to me,” Devlin says, his voice dangerously calm. “Looked like you were cornering my girlfriend in a dark hallway. Not very professional.”
His girlfriend? That’s the first time he’s ever called me that.
“Just doing my job,” Noah replies. “Making sure the citizens of Grizzly River are safe.”
“Is that right?” Devlin steps forward, putting himself between Noah and me.
“Let me make something clear, Sanchez. You can try whatever you want with me, but you leave Atlee out of it. You want to intimidate someone? Try me. But you don’t approach her, you don’t talk to her, you don’t even look at her sideways. Got it?”
Noah doesn’t back down. “Are you threatening an officer of the law, Nelson?”
“I’m making a promise,” Devlin says, his voice dropping even lower. “You want a war? You’ve got it. But keep it between us.”
The two men stand toe-to-toe, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. For a moment, I think it might actually come to blows. Then Noah takes a deliberate step back.
“This isn’t over,” he says, his eyes flicking between Devlin and me. “Not by a long shot.” With that, he turns and walks away, disappearing into the crowd.
Devlin turns to me immediately, his hands coming up to cup my face. “Are you okay? What did he say to you?”
I take a deep breath, trying to process what just happened. “He…he was warning me about you. Said you were dangerous, that you’re involved in something illegal.”
A muscle tics in Devlin’s jaw. “It’s complicated,” he says after a moment. “But I swear to you, Atlee, I would never let anything happen to you. You know that, right?”
I nod, because I do know it. Whatever Devlin is involved in, whatever secrets he’s keeping, I trust that his feelings for me are real. That his protection is real.
“Do you want to go home?” he asks softly.
I glance toward our table, where Lennon is laughing at something Carson said, where Jesse and Aubree are wrapped up in each other. Despite what just happened, I don’t want to leave. I don’t want Noah Sanchez to have that power.
“No,” I decide. “I want to stay. I want to finish my night out with my sister and our friends.”
A smile tugs at the corner of Devlin’s mouth. “That’s my girl,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “But we’re going to talk about this later.”
“Yes,” I agree, taking his hand. “We are.”
As we walk back to the table, I can’t help but wonder what I’ve gotten myself into. Whatever is going on between Devlin and Noah goes deeper than simple dislike. There’s history there, secrets that I’m only just beginning to glimpse the edges of.
But as Devlin’s hand tightens around mine, as he pulls out my chair for me and slides in beside me, his thigh once again pressed against mine, I know one thing for certain. I’m not walking away. Whatever storm is coming, we’ll weather it together.
For better or worse, Devlin has become my home, and I’ll fight like hell to protect what we’re building, just as fiercely as he’s fighting to protect me.