Page 37 of Island Homecoming

The inability to share all of this with her parents was more than a little unnerving. Dating Nash and dodging the normal questions from both of their families had been a helpful distraction. Not to mention loads of fun. Her time with Nash felt more significant than a simple, fun distraction but she wasn’t ready to cope with that change either.

She looked over the meeting times once more. No way she was taking this meeting in her closet. Dialing Nash’s cell, she hoped he’d hear the call over whatever equipment he was working with today.

Lucky for her, he picked up immediately.

“Hey, beautiful. What’s up?”

Her heart fluttered in her chest, though his endearment couldn’t possibly be taken seriously.

“Hey. I need a favor. My lawyers want to set up a meeting with me for tomorrow.”

He chuckled. “And you don’t want to take it in your closet?”

“That’s right. Could I borrow your office at the nursery?” She named two of the times that suited her best. “Would either of those times be okay? I don’t want to interfere with your schedule.”

“I don’t consider you an interference. Ever.”

His quietly serious tone sent a shiver of awareness through her system. One she wasn’t ready to examine too closely. She wasn’t sure how to respond.

“You really should come out of your closet,” he said before the silence turned awkward. “Especially with your lawyers.”

She caught herself smiling. He’d never let her live that down. “Nash, come on.”

“Either time works for me,” he said. “Once you decide, send me a text and I’ll make sure you won’t be disturbed.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“Anything to aid and abet my favorite criminal,” he joked.

“You’re the worst.”

“Uh-huh. I know you like it.” He made a big smooching kissy sound and then ended the call.

Using the form provided in the message, she selected the earliest option for tomorrow morning. At least she wouldn’t be coming right off a shift. It was a safe bet that Gamble and Swann knew her schedule. Which made her wonder why they didn’t just meet with her today.

Well, they were a big firm. Had to be a lot to juggle the legal side with the private security side of their business interests.

Her phone chimed, confirming the time. Now all she had to do was find something else to focus on until tomorrow.

She puttered around town, stopping in to chat with Nina while she prepped flower arrangements headed for the Hargrave House. Walking through the marina, just listening to the boats and people helped melt away the last nerves about the upcoming meeting. When Chief Caldwell called, asking her to come by the station for a quick schedule adjustment, she headed that way, stopping first at the Bread Basket bakery to get him a slice of lemon pie.

He was thrilled with the pie and the conversation was as quick as he promised. He wanted her to know that things were heating up and an all-hands meeting was coming soon. He didn’t say it, but she guessed that the upper echelon of the state law enforcement agencies were mulling over plans to wrap up this operation. Probably because Caldwell was pressing them to get the drugs off his island.

That evening, she had dinner with her parents and afterward, slipped out to Nash’s place to watch a movie. The ease of the day was lovely and the conversations enough to keep her mind off the potential pitfalls of her appointment in the morning.

Of course, she didn’t sleep too well, but when it was time, she pulled her hair back in a ponytail, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt and headed over to the Billings nursery with her laptop.

Just as he promised, Nash was the only person there. He helped her get settled, connected to the internet, and checked her camera. Then he poured her a cup of coffee, kissed her cheek, and walked out.

If she hadn’t already been crushing on him again, this morning would’ve done the trick. The man ran a significant business venture. Yet he behaved as if anything she needed trumped all his responsibilities. He could also dance, make her laugh, and listen when she needed him.

Would they have stayed together if she hadn’t panicked? Would it have worked out or had the years apart and individual growth made them stronger?

Strong enough for something permanent?

She jerked her mind away from that dangerous thought and took a sip of her coffee. Right on time, her lawyers opened the video conference. Taking a deep breath, she clicked the button to join in.

On screen, both men were smiling, so she figured the news couldn’t be bad. The knot of dread between her shoulder blades relaxed.

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