“My girl’s got my back, Duke. Watch it.” He pressed a kiss to the back of Addy’s hand. “My incredible girlfriend has decided to train for search and rescue. When Gabby reduces her office hours, Addy’s going to go on SAR missions with me.”
“We’ll go on them together,” she corrected him.
“I’m not trying to get the upper hand,” Jake explained. But one look in her beautiful eyes, and he relented. This had been her decision, and he’d actually tried to get her to change her mind at first, explaining that he worked in all kinds of weather, in the middle of the night, and often in deleterious environments. But true to her stubborn nature, she’d wanted no parts of his excuses. And she was right. She wasn’t merely tagging along. She insisted on being formally trained and certified, and he was proud as hell of her. “We’ll go on them together.”
“Addy? Is that true?” Ned set his fork down beside his plate, giving her his full attention.
“Yes,” she said with pride in her eyes. “When I was on Pirate’s Peak alone and scared, two things became very clear to me.” That pride warmed to adoration, and she gazed into Jake’s eyes. “The first was that I was madly in love with my big, brooding, possessive boyfriend.”
She returned her attention to his father. “You raised such an incredible man, I was hoping you and Jake could both help me learn how to do search and rescue. Gabriella and I help others on a legal front, and I love the work we do.” She smiled at Gabriella. “But so much changed while I was on the mountain. I fell in love with the wilderness. Everything felt bigger, more real, and natural. Like I could breathe better, and believe it or not, after I got past the pain of using muscles I didn’t know I had, I missed the pain. It had meant I was pushing myself. And I really miss doing that.” She smiled at Jake, and he nodded, encouraging her to reveal the other thing that had haunted her since her trip.
“There was this moment in the woods that made me want to do more with my life. I had kicked off my boot and found it lying in the woods outside of my campsite. All I could think about was how desolate that image was and what you and Jake must face with search and rescue. Being frightened and alone on Pirate’s Peak put me in that boot and made me realize how terrified a person who is lost must feel. I want to help. I don’t think I can know Jake’s going out to help find someone and not want to be right there helping, too.”
“You know, sweetheart,” Ned said, “we don’t always work in the best of conditions or during normal working hours.”
“Boy, the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Addy said. “Jake already tried to talk me out of it.”
“Waste of time, Dad,” Jake said.
“Well, I for one am proud of you,” Cash said. “It takes a strong person to be willing to drop everything to help others.”
“Addy’s the strongest woman I know.” Gabriella smiled at Addy. “And I’m happy for you, Ad, but no SAR missions when I’m having my baby, okay? I need you there telling me to shut the hell up and push, because Duke would push for me if he could.”
Addy’s eyes glassed over. “You know I won’t miss it. Andrea, I was also hoping you would consider teaching me how to cook. Jake’s tried, but I think I need to learn from someone less bossy.”
He knew she was only half teasing. Every time he tried to teach her to cook they ended up naked. Hell, when they were at home, they spent a lot of time naked, and he loved every minute of it. She and his mother had become as close as a mother and daughter. Addy needed that connection, and as he listened to his mother say she’d love to help, he had a feeling his mother needed it, too. Without realizing it, Addy had taught Jake that there was no such thing as being loved too much, although there was a fine line between love and possession. He was learning about that, too. As much as she was his, she’d always be her own person first, and he admired that about her.
“Thank you,” Addy said to his mother. “I hear you make delicious cream puffs. Would it be okay if we started with dessert?”
When she shifted a wickedly naughty gaze in Jake’s direction, his stomach dipped and heat flooded his veins. He’d once wondered if that crazy fluttering in his stomach would ever change, and now he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that with his stubborn, sexy girl, it never would.