Page 71 of Captivating Anika

“Will you shoot me a message? Let me know how it went?”

“Sure. How is your day looking?”

It’s a pretty domestic scene for two people who weren’t even a couple not that long ago. But the mundane chatter forces some normalcy in an otherwise unpredictable few weeks.

“Depends,” she responds. “If Monique’s find works out, I may be able to unload some clients. If not, it’ll be a crazy day like yesterday.”

She slides off her stool, grabs her bowl and my plate, and loads them in the dishwasher.

“Bring a travel mug,” she suggests. “I’ll make you a proper coffee at the salon.”

I’m not particularly picky about my coffee, I tend to grab whatever is available, but I have to admit, she makes a damn good cup with that machine of hers. So, when I slip behind the wheel of my Suburban a few minutes later, I have an empty to-go mug with me.

What I may do, after I drop Anika off, is drive down to hit up Franco for some of those vegetable seeds before I head to my appointment. I should be able to get those planted tomorrow morning while she is at work.

Then maybe tomorrow, since Anika closes the salon earlier on a Saturday, I can see if she wants to check out the new pups at the shelter. Sumo’s wife, Annie, works there. When I was at the firehouse on Wednesday, he mentioned someone had dropped off a box with two pups outside of the shelter that morning. I’d mentioned to the guys once or twice I wouldn’t mind having a dog one day. I guess he figures since I was moving, this would be a good time to get one.

I don’t disagree with him, but I feel it might be a good idea to make sure Anika likes dogs. A dog may make for a good distraction from the bad news I know is going to hit sooner rather than later.

“Oh, Monique’s already here,” Anika points out as I pull around the back of the building. “Maybe go around front.”

The white CRV is parked in the single spot behind the salon. I back up and drive around the block, finding room along the curb in the same block.

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry,” Monique exclaims when we walk in. “I meant to move my car before you got here and forgot.”

She waves at a couple of boxes in the back hallway.

“UPS notified they had our Olaplex shipment so I went, picked it up, and parked out back to unload. I’ll move it now.”

“Don’t bother,” I tell her. “I’ll be out of here in a few minutes anyway.”

“Okay,” she acknowledges before turning to Anika. “I stopped by the post office too. Left the mail on your desk.”

“Thanks.”

Anika plucks the mug from my hands and walks to the back.

“She looks a bit better today,” Monique comments in a soft voice as she grabs on to my arm.

“Yeah, but the day is young.”

“Good thing she has you to look after her, driving her back and forth. Hope she knows how lucky she is.”

Lucky? I wouldn’t exactly call her lucky, considering everything that has happened. So, when I respond, it’s possible I’m a little short.

“It’s me who’s lucky.”

She immediately drops her hand, leaving me free to head to the back in search of Anika.

Ten minutes later, after a sweet kiss and with a mug full of great coffee, I walk out the door. I barely get behind the wheel when my phone rings. It’s Evans again. I didn’t expect his call this soon.

“Hey.”

“Have you mentioned anything to her yet?” he asks right off the bat.

“Not yet. Why?”

“The ME confirmed it’s her, but the feds want to keep it under wraps.”

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