Page 22 of Ruled By Fate

“You’re going to have a wonderful day, officer. Surprise yourself. Do something fun.”

Officer Mitchell smiled broadly. “I think I’ll take my girlfriend to that fancy restaurant.”

Cameron inclined his head. “She’ll love that. Now, take your hands off the car.”

They disappeared, and the conversation came to an abrupt pause. After a few seconds of waiting, Brie chimed in with a hesitant, “Can I go?”

“Of course.” The man lifted his hand in an amicable wave. “Take care now.” He was still waving when they eased back onto the road, driving comically under the speed limit.

It was a few minutes before Brie was able to catch her breath.

It was a few miles after that before she managed to speak.

“What the ever-loving hell was that?”

Cameron glanced out the window, having already forgotten the exchange. “Those are longleaf pine.”

She sucked in a breath. “I meant with the cop, Cameron.”

He shot her a quick glance, his eyes twinkling with delight. “I believe that’s what they call, getting off on the right foot.”

She stared a moment, then turned back to the road.

“Brianna, do you get it? It’s one of your little idioms.”

“That’s not what that…” She raised her eyes heavenward for a moment before refocusing on the road. “You know what, Cam? You’re right. I’m going to start keeping basil root in the car.”

Chapter Five: Playing House

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Thirty minutes later, Brie’s phone beeped to indicate they’d arrived at their destination, and they rolled to a stop in front of her new house. It was a modest little one-bedroom, one-bath cottage just off Lakeside Drive… and it was postcard-picture perfect. Tangles of wisteria dripping with fragrant purple blossoms wound their way around the entrance. The weathered white brick arches implied reliable craftsmanship and a well-aged charm. There was a swinging bench on the porch.

It’s lovely.

When Sherry had used words like “quaint” and “vintage” to describe the place, Brie had worried it was a cover-up. She was ecstatic to discover that she completely agreed.

Cameron leaped from the car and circled around to open her door. He even offered his hand as she stepped out, which she regarded with suspicion before deciding to ignore him. She grabbed her backpack and wandered to the front door by herself.

It swung open with a loud creak, and she let out a happy sigh. It was everything she could have imagined. Old, without being ancient. Comfortable and unpretentious, and best of all, the entire place was filled with light.

And yet, it’s cozy. It’s the perfect place to start fresh.

She stepped over the threshold, breathing in the fragrant air.

No baggage. No complications—

“Where would you like these?”

She turned around, then yelped as she saw Cameron carrying an impossibly high stack of moving boxes, heavy enough that even the proudest of men would have used a dolly.

He peeked around the edge. “Are you alright?”

“Are you alright?” she countered quickly, rushing forward to help. “You don’t have to carry all those, much less at the same time. You’re going to break your—”

“Brianna,” he interrupted gently. “Where would you like these?”

She stared a second, then gestured vaguely behind her. He walked into the living room and set the boxes down as she watched him in secret, pulling out her phone and dialing.

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