Page 93 of Redeeming Melodies

"We face it together. No noble sacrifices, no running away. Whatever comes, we handle it as a team."

His kiss tasted like promise and possibility. Like future mornings in this kitchen, like shared battles and quiet victories. Like love, maybe, though neither of us was ready to name it yet.

"Team, huh?" His fingers traced my badge, thoughtful. "Think Oakwood Grove's ready for that kind of show?"

"Fuck yeah." Let my certainty show in my voice. "Town's already chosen sides. Should see what Nina does to reporters who talk shit about you."

That startled a real laugh from him. "God, I love this place. These people."

"They love you too." The truth came easy. "You and Tommy both. Already part of the family here."

He went quiet, processing that. Could practically see his brilliant mind working through angles, weighing options. "Call the PR team with me? Rather face this together from the start."

"Whatever you need." Meant it with everything in me. "I'm here. All in."

The laptop screen flickered to life, a beautiful woman’s face appeared in high definition - bags under her eyes and that look I recognized from dealing with crisis situations. She had that same intensity I'd seen in hostage negotiators, like she was ready for war but keeping it all under wraps.

"So, this is the sheriff." Her eyes scanned me through the screen, professional assessment mixing with genuine curiosity. "Got to say, Elliot, you've got interesting taste in scandal partners."

Elliot's hand found mine under the table, squeezing tight. "Sarah, behave. Jake's not just some scandal."

"Clearly." Her smile softened slightly. "Given that you're willing to risk everything to keep him around."

Fuck. My chest went tight hearing it laid out like that. Because yeah, Elliot was risking it all - his privacy, his custody case, everything he'd built. For me. For us.

"We need options." Elliot's voice stayed steady but his grip on my hand told a different story. "Vanessa's threatening to leak photos, make this ugly. I won't let her use Jake against me."

Sarah's fingers flew across her keyboard, probably already mapping strategy. "Timeline?"

"Could be anytime. She's got someone watching the house, documenting everything." The rage in Elliot's voice matched the fire in my gut. Someone turning our private moments into weapons.

"Fuck." Sarah's professional mask cracked slightly. "Okay, we play offense. Get ahead of it. Control the narrative before she can poison it."

My police instincts kicked in. "What kind of control are we talking about?"

"Your town's got a newspaper, right?" She leaned closer to the camera. "Local journalist you trust?"

"Riley." Elliot answered for him. "Riley Stanton. Used to be circuit press but came home. He's solid now."

"Perfect." Her eyes lit up with that predator gleam PR folks get when they smell strategy. "We give him the exclusive. Your story, your way. Beat Vanessa to the punch."

Elliot shifted beside me, thoughtful. "Riley would do it right.”

"But the custody case" The words slipped out before I could stop them. Couldn't bear the thought of him losing Tommy over this.

"That's why we need to talk to Cassidy first." Sarah's voice went gentle, like she got what was eating at me. "Make sure our moves don't fuck up the legal strategy. But Elliot?"

"Yeah?"

"This could work in our favor. As it shows that you’re not hiding anything.” Sarah said.

The logic made sense, but fuck if it didn't terrify me. My whole life had been about keeping private shit private. Now we were talking about putting it all out there.

"Jake?" Elliot turned those green eyes on me. "You okay with this? It's your life too we're exposing."

"I'm okay with anything that keeps you and Tommy here." The truth came easy. "Just want to do it right."

Sarah's smile turned approving. "Good answer, Sheriff. Now, Elliot, you need to get to New York. Today if possible. Need to coordinate with Cassidy, get everything lined up legally before we move."

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