Tracey nodded, and Red embraced her, whispering, “I’m so glad you’re okay, sweetheart.”

“Thank you. I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for Diesel.” As they headed into the living room, she looked out the front window and saw him talking with the two guys who had been out there earlier. He looked over his shoulder, and she swore he was looking right at her, an inescapable current running between them.

As everyone sat down, Josie opened the bag she’d brought and began handing out gingerbread cookies that had Feel Better Soon written on them in pink icing.

“You made me cookies?” Tracey took one, her heart filling up.

“I was so worried about you, I couldn’t sleep, so I baked.” Josie ran her gingerbread shop out of the renovated garage at her house.

“I’m glad it’s not just me,” Finlay said. “I was up half the night baking a cake for you. But when I got up this morning, Bullet had already eaten half of it with his coffee. That man has the appetite of a buffalo.”

They all laughed and ate their cookies.

“Bullet said Diesel stayed with you last night,” Finlay said. “I can’t imagine he was much comfort, but at least you were safe.”

“He is pretty stoic. I was afraid of him when we first met.” Roni tucked her dark hair behind her ear. “But after the way he helped Quincy and Simone, I have nothing but respect for him.” Roni’s fiancé, Quincy Gritt, was a recovering drug addict, and he ran Narcotics Anonymous meetings, which Simone Davidson, who was also in recovery, had attended. When Simone’s ex, a drug dealer, made it too dangerous for her to stay in the area, Diesel arranged for her to stay at Redemption Ranch to continue working through her recovery. He’d escorted her there last December to be sure she arrived safely.

“I’m really thankful Diesel was there.” Tracey sat in an armchair and tucked her feet beside her, thinking about when she’d fallen apart in the shower. She hadn’t even been nervous when she’d heard him come into the bathroom. She’d been relieved that he’d somehow known she shouldn’t be alone. “I’ve never seen anyone fight like him. He didn’t hesitate. Not even when he saw the guy with the knife. He went at both of them with everything he had.”

“Of course he did,” Dixie said. “What he lacks in comforting skills, he makes up for in beast mode.”

“Actually, I kind of lost it after I got home,” Tracey admitted. “He knew exactly what I needed, and he stayed by my side all night. He was pretty amazing, you guys. He even made me breakfast this morning.”

“Diesel cooks?” Finlay asked.

“Yeah, really well, too,” Tracey said.