Page 148 of Deep Tide

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” she told Siena over the phone. “Take the whole day if you need it.”

Leyla grabbed her purse and took one last look around the kitchen. Then she switched off the light.

“I only need the morning,” Siena said. “I should be done by ten.”

Leyla lifted the cardboard box off the counter and balanced it on her hip as she snagged her keys. “Really, it’s fine.”

Someone knocked on the door, and Leyla shot an annoyed look across the dining room. It was after nine, and they were clearly closed.

“I’ll call you when I leave the dentist,” Siena said.

Another knock, and Leyla froze in her tracks.

Sean stood on the other side of the glass, shielding his eyes from the glare of the floodlight as he peered through the window.

She walked over and hesitated a moment before flipping the bolt and opening the door.

“Leyla?”

“Yeah. Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She hung up and dropped the phone into her purse.

Sean wore a navy suit and a white dress shirt with the collar open at the neck. He didn’t move to come inside, and the intense look in his eyes put a knot in her stomach.

“What are you doing here?” she asked him.

“I got your text.”

The knot in her stomach tightened.

“Need a hand?” He nodded at the box in her arms, and she handed it over without thinking.

She started out the door, then remembered the alarm. She stepped back inside to set the code, then stepped out again and locked the door.

Sean watched her, holding the box in his arms. She couldn’t believe he was here. Here. After nearly four long weeks.

Leyla’s SUV was in its usual place under the tree, but it was the only car in the lot. Had Sean gotten a ride here?

She glanced at him as they walked toward her car. She popped the back hatch open and watched as he loaded in the box. It contained cups and lids for the other store—which she was going to have to find time to deliver herself because now Siena needed the morning off.

“Thank you,” Leyla said, glancing up. Sean was watching her with a look of silent desperation, and her heart jumped into her throat.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she said.

“I can’t believe you’re breaking up with me.”

She looked away and bit her lip.

“What’s going on, Leyla?”

Her chest squeezed and she shook her head.

“Look at me.”

She turned to face him. Her heart was thudding now as she looked up into those eyes that she hadn’t seen up close in nearly a month.

“This is much harder than I thought it would be,” she said.

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