Page 11 of Tactically Tied

Jami forced a smile, her brain scrambling to come up with a believable excuse. “Oh, hey, Noah. Didn’t think you’d be here.”

"I live here." Noah raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying her casual tone. “I'm working a job later this afternoon."

Noah was an electrician, and a skilled one at that. Since coming to town, his services had been highly in demand.

"Where are you heading so early?”

Jami opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Her mind was a blank slate. The carefully constructed lie she’d planned should she be caught slipped through her fingers like sand. She blinked, trying to stall. Noah tapped the bottom of his coffee cup, waiting.

Finally, he seemed to take pity on her, offering a crooked smile. “Look, if you need a ride somewhere, I’m free. Just let me know.”

Jami held on to the breath she'd been holding lest in come out in a whoosh and further condemn her. “No, no. I’m good. I’m just... heading into town. Gonna meet up with an old friend.”

Noah nodded slowly, though his eyes still held a hint of curiosity. “All right, then. You have a good day, Jami.”

“You too,” she replied quickly, inching toward the door.

As soon as he disappeared back into the kitchen, she slipped outside, shutting the door softly behind her. If she'd woken up Jacqui, she would've gotten far more of an interrogation. And Noah called himself a soldier.

Outside, the cool morning air hit her like a splash of water. Jami let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through her. That was too close.

Her heels clicked against the sidewalk as she made her way down the street. The walk into town should cool her jangling nerves. She knew she should’ve told her sisters about her plan, but that would’ve meant dealing with a million questions and a lot of disapproving looks. And right now, she needed to focus. This wasn’t about love or romance—it was business.

Ryan needed this as much as she did. Sure, the guy had always been unlucky—bad bets, bad timing, bad decisions—but this was going to help both of them. With the money from her inheritance, she could finally finish her cookbook, finally travel to all the places she’d only dreamed about.

And Ryan? Well, he’d get a fresh start. Clear his debt and finally get his head above water. He'd said Vegas had taught him a lesson, and she was glad she could help put all that behind him. And then they would go their separate ways. This was all going to work out for the both of them.

The courthouse was quiet, almost too quiet, as she entered. It was the kind of quiet that made her heart pound just a little faster. The kind of quiet that was holding its breath because it knew something big was about to happen and the quiet didn't want to miss a second of it.

Jami scanned the room, looking for Ryan. He was supposed to meet her here, supposed to be waiting. But as her eyes darted around, there was no sign of him.

Her stomach dropped.

Where was he?

Had he changed his mind?

She doubted it. When she'd told him she would have the money to put him in the black, he'd looked so relieved. Like she would be saving his life.

Jami had seen that look on her ex's face before. The desperate look, not the relieved one. Though she had seen the relief a few times at the end of their dates when he'd seemed to hold his breath as the waiter took his credit card.

She remembered how he'd often be late or completely miss dates back when they were a couple. Responsibility wasn't an adjective used to describe Ryan Daniels. She didn't need him to be responsible now. She just needed him to say two words, and she'd take care of the rest.

Just as she was about to pull out her phone and call him, a figure stepped into view from the side hallway.

Jed.

He stood there, tall and devastatingly handsome, in his military dress uniform, the fabric crisp and immaculate, adorned with gleaming medals that caught the light like tiny stars. The rows of ribbons on his chest told stories she hadn’t heard yet, stories of bravery, of sacrifice, of a man who carried more than just his own dreams on his broad shoulders. The gold buttons marched down his chest in perfect symmetry, and the polished insignia on his shoulder glinted with authority and pride.

Jed’s posture was straight, almost regal, and the uniform accentuated every inch of his powerful frame—from the breadth of his chest to the taper of his waist. The sharp creases of his trousers led down to his perfectly shined black shoes, reflecting the light like mirrors. His hat, tucked neatly under one arm, revealed his dark hair, combed and styled in a way that made her fingers itch to run through it.

He didn’t belong here—he belonged in a magazine, or on the cover of a romance book, or... anywhere but here. The sight of him stole the air from the room. The quiet breathed a sigh, like this was what it had been waiting for.

Jed's eyes met hers, and there was a flicker of something dark, something knowing, in his gaze. He didn’t smile. He just stood there, looking every bit like the devil in disguise.

“Jami,” Jed said, his voice low, smooth, and way too calm.

Jami's pulse skittered wildly, her mind racing. “What... what are you doing here?” she finally managed to ask, her voice shaky despite her best efforts. Was he here to get married too? Why did that thought make her fingers curl into a fist? "Never mind. I don't care."

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