He thought about Elliott worrying about him as he drove to Mack’s residence. He thought about what it’d cost her to stay in the Cove, to stay with him. What it’d mean to have her home waiting for him each night, concerned over whether he’d come home or not.
He parked in front of the Browning home and climbed out. He’d always been safe, but there was a chance that one time, he wouldn’t be. And if Elliott wasn’t willing to risk her future in a new place while dating a cop she barely knew… Well, hell.
Could he blame her?
When Brady left Cup of Jo’s, his jaw had been welded steel. He’d spoken in code into his walkie, and Elliott had watched his posture change. His spine had gone ramrod straight. One fist had balled at his side. He’d looked ready to rumble, despite his easy response of “I’m a professional.”
She considered what he faced day in and day out. He could snap from laidback Brady to superhero in a blink. That made her feel two things simultaneously—impressed and worried.
She’d never worried about him before. Back when they’d been fun and light and temporary. That seemed to have altered without her permission.
She’d blurted out a dinner invitation, figuring she’d see him in person after the call he took and could rest knowing that he was safe. But she’d spent the rest of her shift fighting off one unreasonable thought after another. What if he’d run into trouble? What if he’d been hurt? Or worse.
At home, she busied herself preparing Dijon-herb-crusted salmon and roasted red potatoes. The meal came together quickly and finished in the oven, which gave her time away from the stove.
She pulled on a striped sundress and slipped her feet into a pair of hemp sandals. The wedge heels gave her some height, and the dress made her feel pretty. She even took the time to barrel roll her hair into large, wavy curls. She kept her makeup simple: mascara and a touch of blush. She brushed her teeth and swiped on lip gloss, and now there was only one thing left to do.
Decide how to tell Brady the news.
The knock at her front door came as she was sliding a large serving fork beneath the skin-on piece of salmon on a white platter. The potatoes were steaming away in a bowl between their two place settings—plates, silverware, and a pair of pilsner glasses.
When she opened the door to find Brady standing there safe and whole, she was overwhelmed with relief. It would make what she had to say harder, but she was strong. Her mind was made up. She could do this.
“Hi.” The word came out a little breathless. Couldn’t be helped. He wore trousers and a short-sleeved polo shirt that hugged his impressive physique. He seemed to get better looking every day she stayed, and that, too, was problematic.
“Hi.” His green gaze moved over her body like a touch. “You look incredible.”
She wasn’t sure if he stepped forward first or if she did. Next, he was kissing her, his palms heating her waist, and his tongue sliding into her mouth. She shut her eyes and savored the moment—and him. The smell of his piney aftershave, the feel of his strong arms around her.
“I made salmon,” she said when he pulled away. “I lit a few candles in the hopes the house wouldn’t smell like I made salmon.”
“It smells like dinner, and I’m not going to complain after the day I had.” He linked their fingers. “Can I pour the drinks?”
“Sure.”
Once they were seated across from each other at the dining room table, each of them having sampled the food and agreeing it was delicious, she asked him about his day. “How’d it go?”
“With?” He appeared genuinely confused as he forked a potato cube into his mouth.
She remembered the moment when he answered the call in the coffee shop vividly. Were emergencies that commonplace? “The call that came in when I gave you your coffee this morning seemed intense.”
“Oh, that.” His posture eased some, and she assumed it hadn’t gone as badly as she’d imagined. And, boy, had she imagined some scary scenarios. “I can’t say too much about it, but remember how I found Lila?”
“Tied to the porch in the rain. A guy who abused his wife.”
“Yeah,” he said softly, his eyes lingering on her. “His wife pressed charges this time. I was able to arrest and hold him for a while.”
“And she’s safe?”
“She’s safe.” His smile was proud.
“That’s good news.”
“There’s not always a happy ending,” he said, sounding tired. “But sometimes there’s a happy for right now, and that’s almost as good.”
Happy for right now. Fleeting, but precious. She picked at her salmon and announced to her plate, “I have a job interview.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She glanced up. “In Chicago. It’s next Thursday, but I thought I’d go ahead and pack up now. Head back to my parents’ house since they live close to the city.”
His nod was slow. “Convenient since you’ll be searching for an apartment nearby.”
“Exactly.” She offered a shaky smile.
“Need help with anything?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have to pack much, other than my clothes and whatever groceries are in the cabinets. Everything else stays here.”
Everything including him, she thought with a stabbing sense of dread.
“Congratulations,” he said, again with a slow nod.
“I didn’t think I’d have an interview already. Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s a tough job market, and that I should be prepared to wait.”
“They must’ve seen what I see,” he murmured, his eyes warm on hers. “A strong, capable woman who would make a damn good… What position did you apply for?”
She laughed and then told him more about the position and the company. How she was worried she’d get it and worried she wouldn’t. He listened as they finished their dinner, and then they loaded the dishwasher.
When she took his hand to lead him upstairs, he followed. He stripped her down slowly, and she undressed him just as slowly, each savoring the moment. He kissed her body, and she kissed his.
They made love slowly, too, as if neither of them wanted the night to end. Neither of them admitted this was the last night they’d be together, but both of them knew.
It seemed happy right now didn’t last long at all.
Chapter 20
Brady was exhausted.
He’d fully intended on stopping by to see Elli off the day after their final steamy night between the sheets, but he never had the chance.
An early morning call across town turned into an all-day stakeout. He ended up sitting in a patrol car with Darrin for hours on end and sending Elli a goodbye text.
Not ideal.
He supposed the official goodbye was the last time he made love to her, but he still would’ve liked to tell her goodbye in person. Life had other plans.
The day of Elliott’s interview was his day off. He texted her good luck, but he didn’t hear back. He wasn’t sure if she was cutting ties with him completely or just busy.
Restless, he paid Ant a visit, figuring he could make good on his outstanding debt and purchase a piece of furniture. That, too, was a link to Elliott, he thought as he parked his truck outside of Ant’s studio.
Brady followed the sound of a chainsaw to the side yard. Ant was buzzing away at a tree trunk, safety glasses on. Ant saw him and shut off the blubbering engine.
“Afternoon,” Brady greeted.
“You look like shit,” his friend told him.
“Thanks a lot.” Brady ran a hand through his hair. He hadn’t slept well last night. Or any night since Elli left. He was trying really hard not to be irrational. Not to call her parents or show up in Chicago unannounced. She’d become a big part of his life while she was here, but it was over. She’d made that clear.
God, that sucked.
“Came to peruse your furniture store,” Brady said, changing the subject.
“Uh-huh.” Ant set the chainsaw aside and pulled off his sawdust-cove
red fedora, then his safety glasses. He tossed his gloves and glasses on top of a stump before setting the hat back on his head.
“What are you making?” Brady studied the textured dents in the wood, impressed with the detail even though it didn’t resemble anything yet.
“Money.” Ant squinted up at the sculpture. “It’s a wolf howling at the moon. Or it will be. Special order.”
“Nice.”
“You want a beer?”
“Why not?”
They headed into the garage-slash-studio, and Ant handed over a bottle of beer but opened a water bottle for himself, explaining that chainsaws and alcohol didn’t mix.
Brady drank down half the beer in one swallow. Tasted good on a hot day.
“You are misery personified, man.” Ant shook his head. “What happened? She leave?”
“Who?”
“Beemer. Chick with the flat. What do you mean who?”
“She left the Cove last week. Job interview. Her life is in Chicago.”
“And you let her?” Ant looked almost pissed off.
“You expect me to tie her up or something?”
“She didn’t go back to him, did she? The guy who was a dick?”
“You know plenty.”
Ant shrugged, not offering up how he’d learned about Elliott’s past. Brady assumed Lou had something to do with it.
“No. Nothing like that. He’s out of her life.” And she’s out of mine.
Somber, Ant nodded. “Sorry, man. You two were good together.”
Just what Brady didn’t need to hear. He set the beer aside. Good as it tasted, he didn’t want it. “She was only here six weeks.”
“Love hits you when you least expect it.” Ant strode along the rows of furniture. “I have a new rocking chair. A butcher’s block on wheels. Been making cutting boards, too.”
Alarmed by what Ant had said, Brady froze in place. Brady hadn’t said anything about love. “What are you talking about?”
“Cutting boards?” Ant asked, holding one up.
“No, you asshole. The other thing. I never said I was in love with her.”
Ant had the audacity to laugh. “You didn’t have to, man. It’s all over your sad face.” He stepped forward, slapped Brady’s cheek in a challenge, and put up his fists.
“You’ll pay for that.” Brady lifted his own fists, and they danced around each other.
Brady rushed his friend and was able to pin him. But when Ant swiveled and shot his knee out, Brady lost his hold. Before he knew what happened, Ant had reversed their positions.
“Her being gone,” Ant grunted, his arm over Brady’s throat, “has made you rusty. What are you going to do about that?”
“She’s trying to move on.” Brady gritted from between his teeth as he twisted his buddy’s arm. Ant scrambled to keep his hold, but Brady won out, pinning Ant again. “I’m letting her.”
“That’s dumb,” Ant said as his hat fell off his head.
Brady released his friend and swiped the sweat from his upper lip. He hadn’t come here to autopsy his relationship with Elliot. He’d come to tie up the final loose end so he could stop fucking thinking about her.
“I’ll take that one.” Brady pointed at the rocker. “Do you gift wrap?”
Ant, lying on his back on the shop floor, laughed.
“I love you, kid, but you’re a dumbass,” Gramps said as Brady hauled in the custom-made rocker.
Brady had endured a similar you-look-like-shit conversation when he’d arrived here after leaving Ant’s shop.
“I bring you a custom-made rocking chair, and this is how you thank me?” Brady grunted as he carried the heavy chair through the living room. Lila danced around his feet, having no idea how difficult it was for him not to step on her paws.
Once the rocker was in the corner, Brady swiped his sweaty forehead with the bottom of his T-shirt. “You’re welcome.”
He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was a little after six. Elli’s interview had been at four o’clock.
“Good-looking chair.”
“Enjoy it.” Brady grabbed Lila’s leash, and her tail whapped him in the leg.
“So about you being a dumbass,” Gramps continued. “Why’d you let her leave?”
“Well, Gramps,” he said as he clipped the leash to Lila, “she’s her own woman and makes her own decisions.”
“Hell, I know that.” Gramps followed him to the door. A hand landed on Brady’s shoulder. “Son, listen to me.”
Brady turned, despite wanting to flee the scene. Gramps stood on his front porch, squinting at the setting sun.
“Life is short. You know it. I know it, too.”
“I know.” Between them, they’d shared many losses. Brady’s grandmother, aka, Gramps’s wife. Brady’s mother and father, aka, Gramps’s son and daughter-in-law.
“Did you tell her everything she needed to hear before she made her decision?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You love her. Did you tell her that?”
Had he been talking to Ant? Had everyone lost their damn minds?
“She wants to be in Chicago.”
“That was the answer she gave you the night she was here, but you didn’t tell her how you felt. She didn’t have all the information to make that decision.” Gramps tapped his ear and explained, “Turned up my hearing aid. I heard everything.”
“Stubborn, old—”
“Runs in the family. To honor Elliott is to let her know how you feel when you feel it.” Gramps tagged Brady in the chest. “If you didn’t tell her you love her, either you’ve had your head in your pants, or you’ve been protecting yourself. I thought your job was to protect others.”
“I am protecting her,” Brady growled.
His patience wasn’t what it once was. He didn’t want to give an ounce of thought to Gramps and Ant’s claim that he was in love for one very good—and, yes, self-preserving—reason. It didn’t matter how he felt if Elliott didn’t feel the same way.
“I appreciate the advice, but with all due respect—”
“Here we go.” Gramps rolled his eyes.
“You don’t know her. I do. She loves Chicago.” Not me.
“Hi, Emory!” one of his grandfather’s neighbors called out.
“Hey, Mabel!” He waved and smiled but when he turned to Brady his frown returned.
It made Brady aware of how exposed he was on the front porch. The neighborhood was alive with commotion. People were returning home from work, and Gramps’s neighbors were watering their grass and tending to their flowers now that the midday heat had died down.
“Can we not do this outside?” Brady was tired. Tired of hoping and trying for something that wasn’t going to happen.
A car door shut. Another neighbor called out that she had someone else’s mail.
“Brady,” Gramps started.
“Now’s not the time.”
His grandfather’s gaze flickered off to the side. He set his jaw stubbornly, his green-brown eyes burning a hole through Brady’s head.
“You love her. Admit it.” He thrust out his whiskered chin. The old man was in need of a shave as much as he apparently needed to have this damn conversation. Lila tugged on the leash and whined again, and Brady tightened his fist.
“Yes. I love her. I’m in love with her, and she left. Are you happy? Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Gramps’s mouth pulled into a smug smile. “Yeah. That oughta do it.”
His gaze went over Brady’s shoulder, and this time, Brady followed it. A familiar BMW was parked in the driveway. Elliott stood in front of it.
Chapter 21
Brady Hutchins was in love with her. She’d heard him say it himself.
She’d known how he felt about her leaving. Knew that he’d wanted to continue and possibly build on what they had. But she had no idea how she felt about him until it was too late.
It’d taken all of twenty-four hours after she
left the Cove to figure out she’d made a mistake. She’d arrived at her parents’ house and sat down to a dinner she didn’t touch. After, her mother had poured them each a glass of wine, and they’d moved to the terrace. That was when Elliott voiced aloud for the first time that she’d screwed up everything.
“I fell in love with him, Mom. He asked me to stay, and I bailed because he wasn’t part of the plan.”
Her mother had argued that plans change. That Elli should trust her gut. “We raised a smart, beautiful, talented woman,” she’d said. “And if the setback with Neil taught you anything, it should have taught you what you don’t want. Now you have to decide what you do want.”
It had reminded Elli so much of what Brady said to her that she’d only cried harder. She’d intended on going to the interview, stubbornly committed to the path she’d chosen for herself. But by this morning, she’d realized she didn’t want to be in Chicago another moment. She’d packed and left for Evergreen Cove.
“Hi,” she said now, twisting her fingers nervously.
“Hey.” Brady was clearly surprised to see her. Gramps had spotted her. He’d led Brady to the rocks with that admit-you-love-her bit. She could kiss the old man for that.
She’d had no idea what to expect when she returned. No way was she calling or texting—she needed to see Brady in person. She needed to look into his eyes and see if she was too late. After going to the police station and Brady’s house, she hadn’t known where else to look. She’d driven to Emory’s house hoping he could help.
Success.
“Can we talk?” she asked after giving an excited Lila a pat on the head.
“Give her here. I’ll make us some pancakes.” Gramps took the leash. “Nice to see you, Elliott.”
“You, too.” She meant it. It was nice to see him. It’d also been nice to drive by Cup of Jo’s and walk past the bench in Library Park where she and Brady had shared coffee.
It was nice to be home.
Evergreen Cove shouldn’t feel like home any more than Brady should feel like a necessary part of her existence, but it did and he was. She’d missed him so much.
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