Page 67 of Love and Other Trials
“We do our job.”
His mission was her. It had to be. The rest of this was going to grind him down. “That’s what I was thinking.”
She rubbed Sherlock’s head when he butted it between the two of them to watch a pelican fly past. “Speaking for myself, I’m going to hope that this wedding is the happy occasion Tiffany and Rob want and that they will be happy together.”
Dax heaved out a sigh as he leaned back against the steps. “Do you believe they will be?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I gave up thinking about anyone’s shelf life when I started going to weddings. The odds aren’t so hot, and it’s damn depressing.”
He choked out a laugh. “God, I don’t know if that’s funny or tragic.”
“Both.” She put her arm around him, moving Sherlock to his former place, and took a sip of her coffee. “Want to start the day with wig-pong? We didn’t get to it last night. I thought today should be a fun and games day. We both need to wash this out of our mouths.”
“Isn’t the saying, ‘wash it out of our hair’?”
“I have no idea.” She tipped her face toward the rising sun. “All I know is that I want to feel good today. What’s done is done. The wedding will go on, and while it may be hard to believe, the details are in good shape. I don’t want it to take up all of my time anymore. Let’s finish some of our errands and then turn off our phones for a bit. Go to the beach or have a spot of lunch by the water. Something that would make us both happy again.”
He pulled her to his side. Yeah, he didn’t want to feel like shit for the rest of his time here. He could avoid Rob if needed, but he didn’t need to dwell on something he couldn’t change. Ariel was here, and she was right. They could have fun together.
“Sounds like a plan.”
When she slid her glance his way, a warm smile touching her lips, he felt his heart swell in his chest. God, she was so beautiful. She made this trip worthwhile.
Because even though he felt like he was moving further apart from the best friend he’d ever had, he was getting closer to Ariel—a woman who meant more to him than any woman ever had.
FIFTEEN
She was goingto take him fishing.
She kept her plan secret until they arrived at her grandma’s good friend’s place on the water—and it was worth it for the look on Dax’s face when he spotted Davey loading up his fishing boat for them at the end of the dock.
Dax pulled the Bronco to a stop, his mouth moving with emotion. “God! You knew how to get me, didn’t you?”
She hoped she hadn’t misread him. Putting a hand on his knee, she searched his gaze. Sherlock gave a quiet ruff of concern. “Was I wrong to bring you?”
“Hell no.” He blew out a breath. “For a sec, your friend there could have been my gramps bending over with his bad back, readying the boat. Grabbed me by the throat hard.”
Grief. Memories. Life. Yeah, she was missing her grandma and how things used to be. They’d had some fun times on the water together, catching their dinner and then making a lowcountry perloo together.
“Come on. Let’s go have some fun.”
Ariel was out of the car before Dax could come around for her, and she waved at Davey as he closed the lid to the cooler and straightened.
“Hi, y’all!” Davey drawled, hooking his thumbs in his overalls. “Fine day for a good bit of fishing. Ariel, get over here and let me meet your friend.”
When she’d decided to take Dax fishing, she’d known exactly who to call. She and Grandma had always used Davey’s boat and his fishing gear. The two had been friendly for years. When he’d answered gruffly and said he couldn’t think of anything that would make him happier, she’d grabbed some sunblock and bottled water and directed Dax to the spot.
As they walked to the dock, Ariel could feel her own sadness well up, but she knew Grandma would be happy she’d called Davey about going fishing. When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around the tall, thin man and squeezed him as tightly as he squeezed her. Last time she’d seen him had been at Grandma’s funeral, and he’d had silent tears falling down his face as they’d lowered her into the ground.
“Well, now, you’re a nice sight for these here old eyes.” He tapped her on the nose, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. “I like the hair. It’s spunky. Suits ya. Now introduce me to your fella.”
“Davey, this here is Dax Cross, and he’s what Grandma would call a good catch.”
They shook hands. “Nice to meet you, sir,” Dax said politely.
“Any friend of this one is prime stock with me.” He tugged playfully on the ends of her hair. “Best sense of all the Deverell women, her granny used to say. Dare I ask how the wedding planning is going?”
She winced playfully. “Not if you want to keep this smile on my face.”
