Hero (Alpha Mountain 1)

“I don’t know,” I admitted finally. “We, um, are just getting reacquainted. We’d been avoiding each other since Buck’s death.”

The impishness left Megan’s expression. “Yeah. Well, you’ve both been through a lot with that. It makes sense you’d avoid each other.”

I doubted she knew Ford had been with Buck when he’d died, but everyone knew the rest. Everything I questioned and everything Ford and I had argued about when he’d seen my bulletin board. The board had accomplished nothing except making me more confused about my own brother and pissing Ford off. “Yeah.”

“It also makes sense you might come together. A shared bond, you know?”

“Oh no,” I said quickly, feeling my face grow warm. I knew how small-town gossip went. I didn’t want Megan assuming Ford and I were together-together. Mrs. L certainly picked up on that. God, my bra had been sitting at her house for days! “I wouldn’t go that far. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention it to anyone else. You know how the gossip wheel works around here. Pretty soon the whole town will be asking for a wedding date.”

Megan winced, and a stone sank to my gut.

“What?”

“Dan might have already told a half dozen people after we left your place yesterday.”

“Oh God.” I slapped my forehead. “He didn’t.” Great, just what I needed—for Ford to find out I assumed I was his girlfriend or something. Like I needed to be rejected by him again. Ugh.

It wasn’t just Ford who I didn’t want to hear about this. There were my parents. And Brandon, who I’d been telling I was too devastated by Buck’s death to consider dating anyone right now.

“Sorry. He came in carrying your underwear, Indi.” She paused and gave me a pointed look. Because… yeah. Shit. “I doubt the guy would be delivering anyone else’s to your house. Besides, you know there’s not much else to entertain us around here.” She sent me an apologetic smile.

I sighed. The perils of living in a small town.

“Well, I’m going to run to the Feed n’ Seed to get coffees for the entire Navy SEALs team that descended on my house this morning to install security.” I rolled my eyes.

Megan’s back straightened. “Navy SEAL team? As in not just Ford? So more than one brawny, fit guy who might carry around my bra and panties? At your house right now?”

I smiled because yeah. Sparks was a small town which meant the dating pool for women our age was exceedingly small. I couldn’t blame Megan for wanting to pull in a few more options. And none of the men were hard on the eyes. Or ovaries. “Would you care to help? I really could use another hand.” I winked.

Megan was out of her chair and moving toward the door before I’d blinked. “I’ll drive,” she sang out. “Dan, I’ll be back in a little bit. I’m going to get coffee at the Seed n’ Feed. I’ll have my radio on.”

“We have coffee here,” he called back.

“How many times do I have to tell you? Instant doesn’t count!”

I laughed as I followed her out the door and into the sheriff’s cruiser.

“I’d heard that Ford had some buddies up there,” she said, putting her seat belt on. “How long are they here?” She started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

“They’re living up there.”

“They are?” She sounded as surprised as I’d been to find half of a SEAL team had taken up residence in Sparks without us knowing it.

“Yes. Ford has started a private security firm. Alpha Mountain Security.”

Yeah, I’d looked it up.

“Hmm, that name is good. Ford’s a total alpha male. And with that beard, mountain man.”

I couldn’t argue with her on that. “I don’t think he considers himself either of those two things. He and Buck were on Alpha Team in the SEALs, and well, you get the mountain part.”

Megan offered a grunt in reply but probably liked her thinking better.

“He told me last night that there are people who pay a lot of good money for a team with their expertise.”

She was quiet for a minute. I wasn’t sure what part of hot SEALs living in Sparks and working security was the hottest. “Wow. Are we talking bodyguard stuff? I wouldn’t think there’d be much need for that in Montana.”

“I believe the work is international,” I said although I wasn’t exactly sure. “But yes, bodyguarding, and I think more intense operations, as well. Ford told me he and a couple of the guys are leaving town next week on some job in South America.”

“So, speaking of last night…” Megan paused dramatically, inviting me to dish.

I didn’t bite as I stared out the side window. “Yes?” I asked with mock innocence.

“Sounds like you and Ford had a lot to talk about.”

“Mmm, it wasn’t all talking.” I flashed a satisfied smile at Megan, and her face broke into a matching grin.