Rising Hope by Edie James
48
“She’ll be here,”Emmie insisted. She had her back to Enzo, the dartboard in front of them absorbing her full attention.
Enzo surveyed the crowded restaurant, again. He’d told Sarah the fam was meeting up around six. No reason she’d be half an hour late. Which meant she wasn’t coming.
Not that he really expected her to.
Okay, yeah, he did. He thought they really connected yesterday. But hey, what did he know about relationships?
Emmie gave him a quick side-hug, then she squinted at the board and lined up her shot. The dart landed with a thud, piercing the concert poster a foot away from the outer edge of the board.
“Nice,” Dante murmured.
Emmie held up a finger, looking way more like a first grade teacher getting ready to scold a student than a hard-hitting attorney. “What did we say about stowing the sarcasm, D?”
Dante shook his head. “I’m serious. That’s way better than your usual. At least you didn’t cause any property damage. Yet.”
Emmie muttered something unintelligible. Or maybe Enzo was just so tuned out he couldn’t process it. Either way.
Hands on his hips, he threw yet another glance at the front doors and sniffed hard. The cozy scent of baking crust? Check. Melting cheese and bubbling marinara? Check. Yup, Giuseppe’s smelled great, as usual.
So the problem was him. He couldn’t shake the feeling Sarah wasn’t coming. Maybe she’d already left town. No reason for her not to.
Except to stop by and say goodbye.
Not that she owed him anything.
It was just… He thought he’d sensed her wavering yesterday. She didn’t seem excited to pack.
Maybe she wasn’t thrilled to head back to her LA apartment. That didn’t mean she had any intention of staying in The Cove.
Light spilled in as the doors opened. Enzo put a hand up to shield his eyes.
Sarah.
She paused in the doorway, her expression unsure. Her summery dress floated around her, reminding him of wildflowers and sunshine. The complete opposite of Peaches’ hard, glittery style.
“I told you.” Emmie slapped a handful of darts into his palm. “I got this.” She steamed across the room toward Sarah, dragging the poor woman back with her.
His brothers lined up at his side. Viv and Noah flanked him on the other.
Sarah sent him a pained smile. “Sorry I’m late. My last debriefing ran long.”
Relief sluiced through him. “No problem. Besides, I deserve it.”
Her nose wrinkled in that cute way that suggested she had no idea what he was talking about. “I kept you waiting the day we met,” he reminded her. “Karma, am I right?”
That earned him a soft laugh. “Sure.”
Emmie stepped in front of them, one hand on Sarah’s arm. She gestured at the group. “Sarah, Family. Family, Sarah.”
Viv stepped forward, hugging her hard. “Thank you for helping keep Enzo safe.”
His sister’s gesture broke the ice. Sarah was enveloped in a scrum of MacKenzie enthusiasm. Enzo waited impatiently outside the circle for his chance.
About to jump out of his skin, he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. Ignoring good manners, and the pointed looks from his family, he pulled Sarah away from the group. He had to know what she planned.
Dante cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled over the hum of the crowd. “Yo, Enzymatic, it’s your turn.”
He tightened his grip on Sarah’s hand. “You go.”
No way he was letting her out of his sight until he knew where they stood. He took her other hand, pulling her around until they faced each other toe to toe. Then he put a finger under her chin, gently tilting her head up until their eyes met.
“What’s it gonna be, Miss Walker? Should I call my friend about that rental?”
“No need.”
He clenched his jaw, working hard to keep his disappointment off his face. It was her new life to design, not his. He nodded and focused on the sea glass pendant in the V between her collarbones.
You’ve been through worse. You got this.
Only he didn’t. He hadn’t. He’d never actually been dumped. Not by someone he cared about. It stung way more than he expected.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, eyes on the sawdust-sprinkled floor. “I understand.”
“I already called,” she said softly. “I’m signing the lease tomorrow.”
“Right. Are you heading back to LA, or do you think you’ll try somewhere—” He stopped, her words finally sinking in. His mouth dropped open. “You’re staying?”
She made a funny face, halfway between surprise, and shock. “I thought that’s what you wanted. You did find me a place.”
He clapped a hand on the back of his head. “I did. Yes. I do. I mean…” He took her hands in his, trying to be careful not to squeeze too hard. “I’m jazzed you’re staying. Super jazzed.”
He was more like over the moon, but he didn’t want to scare her off. They hadn’t even gone on a real date yet.
A real date.
He was on duty the next three days, but after that…
He cleared his throat and dove in. “I was thinking, what about you and me? Friday night? Great view and good food. A sunset and absolutely no family around.”
Her lips parted.
He steeled himself for a gentle rejection, but the sparkle in her eye made him hope.
She cocked one eyebrow. “Lieutenant MacKenzie, are you asking me on a date?”
“I believe I am. What do you say, Agent Walker?”
“Former agent,” she stressed.
“I like the sound of that.”
She laughed. “Me, too.”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
She looked him full in the face now, her answer clear even before she spoke the words. “Yes. My answer is yes.”
It was only a date, but the weight of her words felt like a promise.
He wanted them to be a promise. No, a prayer. Like the whispered wishes of ancient mariners striking out for unknown horizons.
Fair winds and following seas.
If he could learn to roll with the punches, maybe Sarah could learn to trust the people in her life. To trust herself. Trust him.
Then the sky really would be the limit.