Page 84 of Matthew
He gave a clipped, “Copy that,” followed by a few more quiet responses she couldn’t make out. Then, “On my way.”
He hung up and turned to fully face her, already slipping back into his other role, the one that made her heart ache a little, even as she respected the hell out of him for it.
“DEA’s officially stepping in. Mac wants me at headquarters.” He ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath. “They want a full debrief before they decide their next move.”
Callie reached out to touch his arm, needing something to do with her hands. “Does that mean this thing is bigger than we thought?”
“It means, they’ve been watching this network, but the trail went cold.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “This might reopen it.” He stepped closer, brushing his fingers over her hip as if grounding them both. “I wanted to wait until we had proof before looping in the feds, but…that time’s up.”
She studied his face. He looked tired but focused. Steady. Everything she hadn’t known she needed until him.
“I could come with you,” she offered. “Maybe they’d want to ask me something?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. Better if you keep things normal at the nursery. Stay under the radar.”
She nodded, even though every part of her wanted to follow him out the door. “Be careful.”
“I will.” Matthew cupped her cheek, thumb stroking gently. “We’re almost there. Hang on a bit longer.”
Callie leaned into the touch, letting the moment stretch. Then she nodded. “Go,” she told him. “I’ll be fine.”
After all, she still had a business to run.
He kissed her once, firm, lingering, and warm, then grabbed his keys and the duffle he’d retrieved from his vehicle last night, and headed out the door.
As it closed behind him, Callie looked down at Sammy, who was now licking the bottom of his bowl with laser focus.
She forced a smile. “Guess it’s just you and me today, bud.”
But even as she said it, a strange unease unfurled in her chest, quiet and persistent.
Something about today already felt off.
The short walk across the field should’ve been calming. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, warm but not punishing yet, and Sammy trotted ahead, a four-legged early warning system. The gate was already open, her team was in place, and even a couple of early customers were browsing the rows of plants.
But the quiet in Callie’s chest didn’t settle.
Not even close.
She stepped into the front area of the store and breathed in the usual blend of lavender and earth, sharp citrus still clinging to the counter. It smelled the same as every morning—normal, welcoming, home.
But nothing about today felt normal.
Nate looked up from behind the counter, where he was stacking fertilizer tags into a crate. “Well, look who’s walking in all alone for once.” He grinned. “Matthew not glued to your side today?”
“Apparently, even he takes days off,” Callie said lightly, brushing a hand over the back of her neck as she stepped around the counter.
Nate chuckled. “Place feels weird without his quiet presence lurking near the compost.”
“Don’t get used to it,” she replied with a grin. “He’ll be back.”
Rosie stood near the register, sorting through yesterday’s receipts. She looked up—long enough to register Callie’s arrival—then quickly ducked her head and went back to work without a word.
Okay, then.
Not suspicious, exactly. But…odd.
“Everything okay here?” she asked Nate.
