Page 33 of When Morning Comes Around

“You’re right; she is, and it isn’t.”

Jake laughed. “Received, loud and clear. I’ll see you when we get there.”

“You will. I’ll pass you as soon as I get the chance.”

When he pulled up in front of Harvey’s house, he checked the rearview mirror and was relieved to see Jake already climbing out of the minivan behind him. There was no need to feel nervous – it wasn’t as though he’d come over here specifically tosee Sadie. He was only here as a favor to his nephew. He bit the inside of his cheek. He couldn’t even manage to convince himself of that blatant lie – he doubted that he’d be able to fool anyone else.

Jake came to his door, and he put the window down.

“Are you coming with?”

He thought about it for a split second. Of course he had to go. It would look odd if he sat out here instead. He climbed out and looked up at the house. He could maybe pass it off that he was here to check on Harvey. He curled his hand into a fist at his side as they walked up the path to the porch. Why was he being so stupid? Why wouldn’t he be here?

When the front door opened, and he saw Sadie standing there smiling at them, he knew damn well why he was here.

“Hey!” She greeted them with a wave. “Thanks so much for bringing it back like this.” She tilted her head to the side as she examined her minivan. “Oh, my goodness! You gave it a bath?”

Jake laughed beside him. “I did and I detailed the inside, too.”

“Wow! And it’s still in one piece? I thought that at this point, dirt and ingrained grime were all that were holding it together.” She looked at the minivan again. “I feel guilty, now; she scrubs up well. Anyway, sorry, do you want to come in?”

“If that’s okay?” said Jake. “I can just give you the keys back if you’re busy.”

Sadie laughed and finally looked at Dominic. He felt as though the tension in his chest eased a little when she smiled at him. “I think we should at least get you both a drink before you turn around and go straight back.”

He held her gaze and smiled. He had that feeling again – the feeling as though they were in something together. He thought he knew what she was doing – she was trying to get Jake and Savannah around each other again – but to him, the feeling was about more than that. It was about a connection; a connection that they shared that no one else knew about.

He swallowed and followed Jake as he trotted up the porch steps.

“Come on in,” Sadie told Jake. “I know Savannah will be pleased to see you, and you’ll get to meet my dad, too.” She stayed in the doorway as Jake passed her.

When Dominic reached her, she smiled up at him, and a rush of warmth filled his chest.

He smiled back and rested a hand on her shoulder as he looked down into her eyes. “Hi,” he murmured.

The warmth in his chest seemed to overflow and flood his whole body when she covered his hand with her own and said, “Hi.”

They both jumped and exchanged a guilty smile when Harvey called, “Is Dom here, too?”

“He is,” Sadie called back.

“Be right there,” said Dominic.

“He’s in the living room.”

“Is this okay – me being here?” he asked in a low voice as he followed her to the living room. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m making a nuisance of myself.”

She stopped and smiled over her shoulder at him. “Honestly?”

“Always.”

“It’s not just okay, it’s great. I’m glad you’re here.”

He grinned, deciding that if she could be that honest, so could he. “Me too.”

~ ~ ~

Sadie hurried to the living room, where her dad was grinning as he watched Savannah and Jake, who were smiling at each other.

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