Free Sentinel: A Light Mage Wars Novella (The Light Mage Wars) by Nancy Northcott

was a bit watery. "Thank you for coming."
    " Wouldn't have missed it." That was absolute truth, only partly due to his ultimate goal.
    " Just remember," he said, capturing her hand, "all you're here to prove is that you're capable. Being fast isn't necessary."
    " Right." Caro laced her fingers through his. "I've got a nickname for you. Dudley. As in Do-Right."
    " Who?"
    " It's an old cartoon my dad loves. Dudley Do-Right is a Mountie who's always doing the noble thing. Your feelings about injustice would fit him."
    " I could be a Mountie," he agreed, strangely touched, "except I've never been on a horse."
    The click, click of stiletto heels in the hallway heralded Belinda's approach. She walked around the corner, her level, brown glance assessing.
    When her gaze met his, she gave him an approving nod.
    " Okay, Sunshine?" he asked.
    She took a very deep, very slow breath and blew it out. "I have to be. So yeah. Thanks. Belinda, let's get this done."
    Rick kissed her quickly. "I'll be there."
    For the first time, Caro smiled. "I'm counting on it."
    #
    "That's two inches of the six on the design, using all four colors."
    Rick watched Caroline straighten in her chair. Her voice rang firmly in the gallery, the tone calm, but her chin had a defiant angle. "Would someone care to check this? Mr. McCree?"
    She lifted the loom for inspection.
    McCree rose from his front row seat. "I was wrong," he said, "and I'm happy to have been. My column this week will say so. Please accept my apology."
    A smile broke across Caro 's face, then widened. As McCree led the room in applause, Rick and Jason exchanged a satisfied glance. Rick was so proud of her that his chest hurt. She'd dug down, gotten past her fear, and shown everyone what she could do. In the end, she and her little loom had kicked ass.
    He hung back while the guests congratulated Caroline. He couldn't wait to show her how happy he was for her.
    Smiling, Mindy Page broke away from Caro 's side and walked to Rick. "I'm heading out," she said, offering her hand. "I hope I see you again."
    " I hope so, too," he said as they shook.
    Will Davis still stood by Caro like a guard dog. Rick joined them and waited for her to notice his magical vibe. She was chatting with Belinda and a thin, gray-haired woman who was gushing about Caro's talent.
    Damned straight, she was talented.
    "So how did you and Caro meet?" Davis asked. Despite his friendly tone, his alert, balanced posture implied Rick was still on his threat index.
    " I came to her opening." Going for disarming, Rick smiled. "I'm doing a freelance piece for Georgia Arts Monthly . I didn't expect to be blown away."
    Davis raised one eyebrow. "You're a reporter, then."
    " Novelist, actually, but still building my reader base. I do some freelance and odd jobs to supplement my income." After a childhood of constantly tight money, he liked always having a fallback.
    " She's brilliant," Davis commented, glancing at the hangings on the nearest wall. "We're all glad to see her letting the world in on that."
    " I feel lucky to have discovered her," Rick replied. He didn't mean only the work.
    Davis 's eyes narrowed. He must've caught the implication. "Just be sure you appreciate all that she is."
    The or else subtext wasn't even thinly veiled.
    " She hasn't expressed any complaints," Rick responded, staring directly back at him.
    The look held for a long moment before Davis nodded. The gray-haired woman hugged Caroline and walked away.
    " I'll be in my office, Caro," Belinda said. "Stop by before you leave."
    " I will. Thanks, Belinda."
    The gallery owner grinned. "No need to thank me. I stand to make a boatload of money off of you."
    As Belinda walked away, Davis touched Caro's arm. "I have to go, Shrimp. Duty calls. But I'm proud of you."
    " Thanks." She reached for him, and he swept her into a warm, tight hug.
    Rick 's gut screamed for him to rip them apart even though there was clearly nothing sexual in the embrace. The guy had called her