Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Erin handed him her bundle and Sam settled his niece in his arms. “Did you miss your uncle Sam?” he asked, kissing her soft cheek.
He was rewarded with a baby gurgle and blowing bubbles.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He shifted Angel in his arms. “So where’s your other half?” he asked his sister.
She frowned. “Cole’s away for the weekend. An important job,” she said. “He tries to assign the out-of-town security installations, but sometimes they request him.”
He caught the hint of wistfulness in her tone. “Can I take you for dinner?” he asked. “Help pass the time?”
She squeezed his arm. “You’re a good brother. But Sunday will be here soon enough. I don’t want to put a crimp into your social life.”
He rolled his eyes. “I always have time for you. And if I didn’t, I’d make time.”
Erin smiled. “I’m fine. Go find Nicole.”
“How do you know that’s who I’m here for?”
Erin merely stared at him, holding out her arms. “Who else would bring you to an art show?”
With his cheeks burning at being so obvious, Sam placed his niece back in her mother’s arms. “Have you seen her?” he asked.
Erin nodded. “Her booth is at the far end of the street.” She pointed farther down than he’d gotten so far.
“Thanks. I’ll see you later.”
He turned and started to work his way through the crowds once more when a hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around.
“Hey!” Instinct had Sam reaching for his holster as he came face-to-face with Tyler Stanton. “Jesus Christ. Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on a cop?”
“We need to talk,” Tyler said.
Sam was not in the mood to deal with the other man. “Not now.”
“It’s about Nicole.”
Sam stiffened. “When is it not, Stanton?” It was time he got rid of this asshole once and for all.
“This time is different.” Stanton stood way too close, his posture straight, his attitude determined. “Look, I’m not here to win her back. I know better. She’s interested in you, not me. But I need her to come back home for her own good.”
Sam shook his head, knowing he’d never understand this guy without a detailed road map. “Explain.”
“Nicole’s in danger.”
With those words, he caught Sam’s attention. Sam eyed the other man warily. “Talk to me.”
Tyler drew a deep breath. “Before I came here, I found out my father has been taking money from the Russian mob and running it through our investment business,” he said, his voice low. “He thinks Nicole overheard him talking to his accountant and knows enough to put him in jail and give the feds a good lead on his so-called investors.”
Sam closed his eyes and swore. He’d never imagined her secrets were this big.
“And I just saw the owner of the biggest art gallery in LA and one of his associates standing near Nicole’s booth. He’s one of my father’s Russian investors, and I can guarantee you he’s not here to find the newest artist in your small town.”
Sam stared at the man standing in front of him, disbelief and rage filling him as he put together everything Stanton wasn’t saying. “Your fucking father sent him after Nicole?”
“I don’t know for sure. But by the time I extricated myself from Macy so I could find out, he was gone. And so was Nicole.”
Extricated himself. This son of a bitch with his expensive clothes and fancy words was going to be the death of him, Sam thought, shoving Stanton away.
“You’d better hope I find her, and when I do? She’d better be in one piece.”
* * *
Main Street in town had been shut down to traffic, and along the route, artists had set up stands and easels showcasing their work. Trisha from Cuppa Café shared the long booth at the end of the street with Nicole and Aunt Lulu, where she sold iced coffee, sodas, and bottled water. The day was hot, and they almost always had a line for the drinks as well as the pastries by Nicole and mini cakes by Aunt Lulu.
Nicole had made sure to have a wide variety for people to sample in order to entice many palates. And she’d kept her audience in mind, including parents who’d brought their kids for a day outdoors. As a result, some of her more popular items included the fried apple fritters and chocolate caramel doughnut holes. Of course, the churros and cream puffs were big hits too.
The morning passed quickly, and Nicole was riding a high from the response to her baked goods. When she added the general welcome she’d received from just about everyone who stopped by her booth, she felt not only like she belonged in Serendipity but also optimistic about the success of their soon-to-be-opened bake shop.
The only thing that could make the day better would be seeing Sam. He’d promised to stop by but had texted her to say he’d been delayed by a call from the station and said he’d find her later.