She frowned and her eyes ran the length of him. “Um, Gage…what are you wearing?”

He glanced down the front of himself. “Scrubs.”

“Uh-huh.” She looked him over again.

“What? You’re not into the doctor look?”

A small smile broke her lips. “You look like a GI Joe dressed up to play doctor, right after you jump out of a helicopter and meet the A-Team for a rendezvous at headquarters.”

Well, that was better than her telling him he looked like a jackass. Because he felt like one.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I would have dressed up. I really am so sorry, and I just needed to get here. I would have been here sooner, but I—”

“Have a job. People to save. I know. I get it. And I’m not mad about it.”

“Actually, I was going to say I had to make this…” He slid the dish toward her again, and she opened it.

“Crab cakes?” she asked.

“A few days ago Natalie said you were struggling, so she gave me the recipe. I don’t know if they’re exactly like your mom’s, but maybe they’re close?”

Chloe stared into the dish and covered her mouth with her palm. “They look exactly the same. Thank you.” That look in her eye softened. “They’re raw.”

“Well yeah, I put them together, but you are going to cook them.”

“I can’t,” she said.

“Yes, you can.”

“Gage, don’t. I can’t do this with you right now. I have people here and—”

“How much time do you have?”

She shrugged. “Twenty minutes maybe.”

“That’s plenty to cook these. You don’t have to forgive me yet, but these need to be made. Let’s go.”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. There was pain in her voice, and Gage wanted to make it better. The scary thing was, he didn’t know if this would work either. Didn’t know if she’d actually forgive him when this was all done. Didn’t know where they stood or if they had any kind of future at all.

All he knew how to do was to stick to the mission. But now the mission was more than going out into the field. It was about more than saving strangers. When it came to him and Chloe, it was about saving them.

He heated up the skillet in the restaurant’s industrial kitchen. For the moment, they were alone. The faint sounds of the bustling people wafted past them.

“Slow burn,” he said, putting the oil in the pan. “You just have to maintain the steady heat.”

She looked at him, and he saw something sad in her expression. Was this the look she’d described seeing in her mother’s eyes? It was soul shattering. And he’d put that look on her face. He had to fix it. Had to try.

“It’s ready,” he said, gesturing to the pan.

She tentatively reached for one of the crab cakes. He put his hand on top of hers, stilling her for a moment.

“Remember, Chloe. Don’t force it. Just love it.”

She looked at him, and for a moment he thought she was going to cry, but then she gently set the crab cake in the oil. Her eyes widened as she watched the appetizer slowly brown.

“Flip it,” he instructed.

She did.

The golden color was perfect and in a few moments, it was done.

She scooped it out and placed it on a serve tray.

“It looks perfect,” she said. She made the next, then the next, while Gage watched her. She was doing it. On her own. The question was, would Chloe want to be on her own in everything from here on out?

Before he could voice that one question, that one fear, Natalie stepped in and said it was time for Chloe’s speech.

With the last crab cake finished, Gage couldn’t give her a reason to delay going out there.

She sighed. “I have to go.”

“This time I’ll wait for you,” he said. “Just please tell me you’re coming back.”

She paused, then said, “I have to go.”

And then she walked out of the kitchen and toward the podium in the main room.

The event was going great. The grand reopening for the twentieth anniversary had brought in tons of people, and the refinished balcony was a hit. The band was playing smooth jazz on the small stage they’d set up in the corner, and everyone seemed to be having fun.

Except for her.

She’d been ready to live the rest of her days missing him. And then he was here, the last thing she’d expected, and all those feelings came back to the surface. The elation at seeing him and the fear that this would mean losing him all over again.

Her mother’s spirit was definitely around, but so was the pain of loss. And when it came to Gage, she only had herself to blame for pushing him away. But she wouldn’t repeat that mistake. Not now. Not ever.

She loved him.

He’d come through for her. Helped her accomplish what she wanted to do. Gave her space to be her own person. She had to do the same back for him.

Natalie nudged her shoulder toward the stage. “Good luck.” Her friend looked beautiful in her dress. While the event was casual, a lot of people had busted out button-ups and cocktail dresses for the occasion. The twinkly lights were strung high and lit up the whole place with soft yellows and creams.

“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted.

“Thank everyone for coming and say whatever feels right.”

Great, that shouldn’t be too tough. Yeah, right.

With a heavy chest, she walked to the small stage. The band slowed the music and eventually stopped when she smiled at them and stepped in front of the mic.

People gathered around, all eyes fused on her.

“Thank you everyone for coming,” she said. Her anxiety kicked up a notch as she looked around the room of smiling faces. “My mother would be so happy. She loved this town. Loved all of you.”

The words stuck in her throat. She took a deep breath, then continued. “Funny thing about love…it’s amazing. And scary as hell.”

Everyone laughed, and she felt the urge to tell them how serious she was. She glanced at the French doors near the back and saw him. Gage.

He stepped from the shadows and smiled at her. Looking at her, seeing her, simply being there for her.

Her breath caught, and her heart stalled.

“Love is really scary,” she said softer into the mic, keeping her eyes on Gage. “Because love is a risk. You put everything you have into something, like my mother did with this place.” She glanced around quickly. “She put her heart and soul into this place because she believed in it. Because she wanted roots and a home. It was a risk, but she took it. She knew if it didn’t work that it’d break her heart, but she loved it too much not to take the chance.”

She swallowed hard and locked her gaze back on Gage. He slowly moved through the crowd, and those dark eyes of his never left her face.

“This whole time I’ve been scared,” she said. “I was so focused on the fear of the risk, but nothing good in life is easy, especially love. It’s what drives us. And I’m going to let go of the wheel and hope I stay on the road. But if I get lost…” She folded her lips, and the sting in her heart rose as she spoke to the one man she’d ever loved. “I have faith I won’t be lost for long. Because there’s someone who will come find me.”

Gage’s dark gaze fused to hers. He nodded with that soft, sexy smile.

Everyone clapped, and Chloe blinked. There were tons of people in the room, but all she saw was Gage.

“Thank you all.” The band started up again, and everyone began chatting and dancing. Chloe hustled down the stage and made a beeline for the man she’d hoped would come find her.

She didn’t stop until she flung herself into his arms.

Chloe clutched him close. “You shocked me.”

“I know. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“But you came back.”

“I told you I would.” He cupped her face and kissed her.

“But I pushed you away, too. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“You’re going to have to push a lot harder, sweetheart.” He ran his nose against hers. “I’m sorry, too. It wasn’t fair to make you worry and ask you to wait for me. If you put yourself in danger, I’d tie you down and refuse to let you go.”