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)
Sam pushed himself off the desk and paced the floor. “She gets to me.”
“So let it happen. What’s the worst result?”
“I get my heart ripped to shreds. Again. I’m humiliated. Again. I’ve already been the laughingstock of this town once. Everyone looked at me with pity for years after Jenna left me at the altar. Do you think I’m looking to revisit those days?”
Shit. He’d never admitted that out loud. He barely admitted it to himself. But the humiliation of that time had stuck with him.
“Ah, so it’s not just about you not being able to trust your judgment. It’s about time you admitted as much,” Mike said, using his I’m the older brother and I know best tone.
“I came here to talk about the wire. Nicole wants this thing over with, and I tend to agree. The sooner she’s safe, the sooner everyone can move on with their lives.”
Mike stared at him for a long moment, letting Sam know he wasn’t happy with the subject change. Sam just waited him out. He had nothing more to say.
“Fine. I’ll see what I can find out about why they want to wait and try to move up the timetable. Will it be Stanton or Nicole wearing the wire?”
Sam thought back to the scene earlier. “Still up for debate, but I’m thinking—hell, I’m going to insist on Stanton.”
“Yeah, I’d do the same—if it were the woman I loved.”
“Mike,” Sam said on a low, warning rumble.
“Coming to dinner this week?” Mike asked, wisely changing the subject. “Cara and I are going to tell Mom and Dad the big news.”
With the conversation back on Mike, Sam relaxed. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Are you bringing Nicole?”
Sam nodded. “Except for work, I’m not letting her out of my sight until those bastards are behind bars.”
“I’ll keep your schedule light. No reason we can’t cover you.”
“Thanks,” Sam said, deciding not to argue. The more time he could look after Nicole himself, the better. “Get back to me as soon as you hear from the feds.”
“Will do.”
Sam turned to leave.
“Hey, Sam.”
He paused at the door and turned to look at his brother. “Don’t screw up with Nicole. It’s harder to get trust back than to win it in the first place,” Mike said.
Sam strode out of the station with his brother’s words ringing in his ears.
* * *
Nicole stood across the street from the bakery, staring at the sign above her store. Her store. At the thought, a delightful shiver of excitement ran through her.
The new awning and sign had been delivered and installed. Lulu and Nic’s. Plain and simple. In a small town, everyone would know what products they sold, and all of Serendipity already knew Aunt Lulu from The Family Restaurant. Nicole had no problem giving her top billing.
“Looks amazing,” Sam said, walking up to her.
“Well, this is a surprise!” she said.
They hadn’t seen much of each other during the day this past week, as she and Lulu had decided to try a soft opening before next Monday’s big grand opening. They figured they could test pastries and desserts, see what people preferred, and where the glitches were in service and preparation before the advertised open date.
She arrived at the bakery by four o’clock to start baking for the day and often didn’t come home until late at night. There was much more to do than she’d anticipated, but she was operating on adrenaline and excitement and wasn’t the least bit tired. Sam insisted on being with her at night, and she wasn’t complaining, even if part of his reasoning was that he wanted to ensure she remained safe.
They fell into a routine whereby they alternated whose place they slept at. He drove her to work in the morning and picked her up when she called him at night. They’d grab dinner in town or one of them would make something light, depending on whose house they ended up in, make love, and fall asleep curled in each other’s arms. So whether or not he wanted to admit his feelings for her, she was forging a place in his life. If he wanted her out when the situation with Tyler’s father and the Russians was resolved, he was going to have to say so.
In the meantime, she enjoyed every day for what it was, hoping she was showing him what could be. “Are you ready to head over to my parents’?” he asked.
She nodded. “But it seems like such an intimate family moment.” Not that she’d know of such a thing. “Maybe you should all be alone when Cara and Mike tell your folks she’s pregnant.”
He immediately shook his head. “Nobody will mind. It’s good news. And I want you there.”
“Are you sure you don’t just want to have an eye on me?” she asked, only half teasing.
He met her gaze. “Don’t overthink. Just go with the flow.”