“It’s not a pretty story,” he finally said, “which was why I didn’t get into it in front of Noah. Shortly before your brother got out of the Army, three of the members of his unit were killed by an IED.”
Her stomach clenched. She read the news on the Internet, and she’d seen plenty of movies. An IED was a homemade bomb. “Was Gideon hurt?”
“No. But the guys in his squad were.”
The brandy burned as it went down, especially after the chill of learning about the bomb. The worst was possible when it came to war zones, but still, she’d always prayed Gideon was alive—and uninjured.
“I’m hoping the guy in San Luis Obispo can shed some light on where your brother went after he got out.”
She wanted to curl her fingers around Matt’s…for as many reasons as there were stars in the sky. “Thank you. You don’t have to take me down there, but I really appreciate not having to ask him these questions on my own.”
“It might not be easy. And I want to be there for you, Ari.” His words hung between them for endless moments, his expression intense. “Since I’ve been away for a few days, I’d like to spend the weekend with Noah, then take care of some critical issues for the new product release, and go down on Wednesday, if that’s all right with you. Will’s agreed to have his housekeeper, Mrs. Taylor, look after Noah, and Doreen can still drive him to school.”
Matt had already arranged everything. All the Mavericks banded together when anyone needed something. Even when she needed something. Again, she felt almost like family. “Wednesday is perfect.”
“Good.” He was still looking at her, so intently that her skin tingled—all of her tingled. “I’ve booked a couple of rooms at Walter Braedon’s Regent Hotel in San Luis.”
She didn’t know much about the Regent chain of hotels beyond the pictures she’d seen of them online. They were virtual palaces. And probably cost as much.
“That’s too fancy.” She’d noticed he was careful to say he’d booked two rooms, reminding her they wouldn’t be sleeping together. “I already owe you so much—”
“You don’t owe me anything, Ari. I’m the one who owes you for making my son so happy since you came here. Besides, I’ve gotten used to five-star accommodations.” He gave her a small smile that made her heart beat even faster. “So you’ll just have to live with it.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.” He’d done so much for her in such a short space of time. It was almost over the top.
“Stay.” His eyes held hers. “Just promise you’ll stay with us, Ari.” He cleared his throat. “Noah has gotten very attached to you. I can’t think how heartbroken he’d be if you left now.”
She didn’t want to be careful. She wanted to be fearless. But for now, she simply nodded and made herself smile. “Of course I’ll stay for as long as Noah needs me.”
And then one day, maybe, Matt would finally realize he needed her too.
Chapter Seventeen
Zach Smith’s house was in a middle-class neighborhood with white picket fences and a bus shelter on the corner that was decorated with a yellow school bus. The lawn was immaculately cut, its hedge trimmed, and the front walk was strewn with toys—a pint-size baseball mitt, a Big Wheel tricycle, a bat. From the backyard, Ari heard shrieks of laughter.
Evidently, he worked nights and his wife worked days so that someone was always with the kids. Matt had made the appointment with him and, thankfully, Zach had seemed more than willing to talk.
As soon as Ari and Matt stepped up to the front door, a stocky, heavily muscled guy with a military haircut opened it. “Glad you’re here. I’ve got the coffee on.”
The interior of the house was as neat and tidy as the outside. Except for the toys. Ari stuck out her hand. “Thanks so much for talking with us.”
Zach shook hands with them both. “Gideon and me, we were like this.” He twined his fingers. “He told me all about you, Ariana.”
Ari could barely stop tears from springing to her eyes. Zach couldn’t know how much his words meant to her. And Matt couldn’t know how grateful she was that he’d found Zach and had come with her today.
She’d held on to the belief that her brother hadn’t forgotten her. That faith kept her going through the darkest hours. Finding him would be like the light finally showing at the end of a long tunnel she’d been traveling through for so long.
“Come on in and sit, you two.” Though not tall, Zach was a big man, about her brother’s age, with expansive gestures. He waved them over to the couch, where he’d set out coffee, mugs, creamer, and sugar on the coffee table. The backyard view out the sliding glass door was of the kids, two boys and a girl, all under the age of ten.