“I can help you with that,” Seth promised. “But first you have to decide what you’re going to do about Nell.”
“I’m going to tell her.”
A brow rose over Seth’s eyes. “When? I think it needs to be soon. It was an easy secret to keep when it was only you and me who knew. As soon as I can get out of this bed, I’m going to take Logan and Georgia to New York. I have some things I need to do there. I want you to think about coming with us.”
“That would only put a target on you. And I think you’re right about not doing anything out of the ordinary. My Nell getting on a private jet would be out of the ordinary.” She didn’t like big cities. She was a country girl at heart. Though maybe if he took her somewhere like New York, she would be forced to cling to him.
He hated this. He hated the way his skin felt too tight, like that bastard John Bishop was trying to get out, wanted another taste of what he’d had the day before. Like his old life was a shark that had merely dove deep and now was resurfacing to feed again.
“I want you to stay out of this, Seth.” He already had too many people to worry about. He’d sat with Nate Wright and Cameron Briggs the night before and told them everything he knew about the possible danger that could come to Bliss.
“Like I said, I’m already in it, and it’s hard for me to stop once I’ve started.”
“You have a family now, too.” He couldn’t risk any more people than he already had.
“Yes, he does, and this family sticks together,” a deep voice said.
God, he was out of practice if he hadn’t even heard the door open. He turned and Logan and Georgia had apparently cut their lunch short. Henry stood and faced Seth’s new family. “You should, and I think New York is a good place for you right now. I don’t want you to have to go through anything like this again.”
Logan merely smiled.
Georgia strode in and took her place at Seth’s side. “Well, I thought it was exciting. And I was good. I’m thinking seriously about a job with the CIA.”
Seth groaned. “You would bedazzle the whole place.”
Georgia’s shoulder shrugged. “Shiny objects distract people. I suspect they work on spies too. After all, my boobs distracted that jerk long enough for Logan to save the day.”
Logan’s jaw tightened. “He’s lucky he’s dead because I would very much like to kill that fucker again. Henry, I didn’t get a chance to say thank you.”
Henry shook his head. “No need. You wouldn’t have been in danger without me.”
“That wasn’t what I meant,” Logan corrected. “I meant thank you for taking care of Seth all these years. You’ve been more a father to him than his own.”
“Because my own is an asshole,” Seth offered.
“You kept up with him even when I didn’t, and I appreciate it. Seth brought us all together, and you had a part in that,” Logan continued. “I understand that you feel guilty, but I also understand why you did what you did. You fell in love with Nell and you had to get out in order to be with her. You changed your whole life for her. I get it. I admire you for it. But it’s time to tell her.”
“I don’t think that’s going to go well.” Georgia almost always said what other people were thinking.
“She will understand.” Logan moved close to Georgia. “If there’s one thing I know it’s that Nell loves you. She’ll be okay.”
“I think Henry should count himself lucky that Nell doesn’t believe in violence.” Georgia frowned as though she couldn’t quite believe the “everything’s going to be all right” bit.
He didn’t believe it either. “I’m going to talk to her, but I would like to push it off a little if I can. If we’ve got some time, I’d like to get through the wedding before I talk to her. I know I have no right to ask…”
Logan held up a hand. “We’re not going to say a thing. This is between you and your wife. And Seth here tells me you probably have time. Nate’s got to be ready, though, and that means telling some of our citizens. Cam’s got to know. So does the mayor. You have to bring in Stef at some point.”
The wedding was only a couple of weeks away. “I need to process this and figure out how fucked I am.”
“We also need to be on the lookout for new people hanging around town,” Seth pointed out. “If your old bosses figure out what the cartel did, they’ll likely send someone in.”
Henry nodded. “I’ll be on the lookout. I know there are a couple of new hires at the lodge, and I think River Lee hired some guy from Canada.”
“And the blonde,” Logan added. “Though I think she’s been here for a while. Name’s Heather and she’s from California. Nate says she’s been helpful. River’s been struggling since her husband walked out.”
He’d met the bubbly Heather a couple of times, but she showed no real interest in him. She talked to Nell at length about granola and the best storage techniques. He hadn’t met River’s other hire at all.
“I need some time. That’s all. After the wedding, I’ll sit her down and tell her. Until then, I’m going to figure out how to protect her. I worry if she knows and I don’t have a plan, she’ll come up
