Page 150 of Deep Tide

“I had meetings all morning. I got the first flight I could.”

Leyla’s stomach clenched. He’d gotten a flight because of her? Because of the text she’d sent him at six o’clock this morning?

This isn’t working. I think we need a break.

She’d sent it just before she’d opened, so she wouldn’t have a chance to stare at her phone all morning and obsess over his reaction.

Of course, she’d obsessed over it anyway. And when he hadn’t responded by noon, she’d convinced herself that she’d made the right decision.

They reached a firm stretch of sand close to the shore, and Sean stopped to look at the surf. Then he turned to face her.

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you,” he said.

“You’re right. I don’t.”

He rested his free hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier this week. I couldn’t.”

She looked away.

“I wanted to. I was dying to call you. And to come see you. But I couldn’t.” He paused. “Leyla?”

She looked at him.

“You know I can’t tell you about my work. But please believe me when I say it wasn’t possible.”

She nodded. “I believe you. That’s not really the problem, though. I just—”

“Listen. Will you just hear me out for a minute?”

She waited.

He took a deep breath. “The thing I was working on before—that operation—it’s resulted in a lot more work here. Me and my team, we’ve been really busy and we’re about to get busier.” He took a deep breath. “They offered me a position leading a team here.”

“Where?”

“Here. The Brownsville field office.”

She stared up at him. “Who offered you this?”

“My boss in Washington.”

The Brownsville field office. Brownsville was only an hour away from Lost Beach. Leyla held her breath as she tried to read his expression.

“Are you going to take it?”

“I was.” He squeezed her hand. “Until this morning.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“I’m trying to right now.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Just—hear me out.” He took off his jacket and dropped it on the sand. “Sit down and let’s talk.”

She sat, no longer worried about getting his nice clothes dirty. Her mind was spinning as he lowered himself onto the ground beside her.

She looked at him, noting the dark stubble along his jaw. And his eyes looked red and tired. Clearly, he’d been working a lot and probably not getting much rest.

“So, what do you think?” he asked her.

“I don’t know.” Her pulse was thrumming now. “I had no idea you were thinking of moving down here. I thought you liked working in D.C.”

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