Page 3 of Every Heartbeat After

“What if I have plans?” I ask, indignant.

“Do you?” they all ask simultaneously, with at least three eyebrows raised in my direction. Maybe more from my boss.

I press my lips together, which is the closest thing they’ll be getting to a response.

Tomas grunts. “Knew it.” He turns to Gary. “Just text me the details and I’ll get them over to the rookie.”

“The rookie has been working for you for two years now,” I grumble.

“I have his number,” Gary says, speaking over me. He unlocks his phone and starts typing.

“I haven’t said I’ll go.” My phone chirps in my pocket before the words have died on my lips. I retrieve it, scanning the text Gary just sent. Tess Monroe. Delta Airlines. Three thirty in the afternoon at Denver International. “Since when do you even have a niece?”

“Since about a month ago.” His chest puffs out, and a big smile overtakes his face. No further explanation is offered. “I appreciate you doing this for me, Kit. I’d go, but, you know.” He gestures to his imprisoned foot. “A bit incapacitated at the moment.”

Guess that settles it then. I pocket my phone and meet Zoey’s gaze. “Can you get me the bill?”

“It’s on me,” Gary offers. “To show my appreciation.”

“As if you pay,” Zoey chides. Nomad’s was Gary’s before it was hers, and though I suspect him not paying is something she insisted on more than anything, as a thank-you for selling the place to her, she does a convincing job of pinning him for it.

Tomas chuckles. Gary ignores her and presses on. “She’s staying at the motel up the street. I told her I’d meet her here for dinner after she’s settled. She’s a delight. You’ll like her.”

“Didn’t you say you’ve only known her a month?” I ask, interest officially piqued.

He wipes a hand down his beard, gaze faraway as he says, “I can just tell. She’s something special.”

“Noted. I’ll pull up at the gate and keep an eye out forsomething special.”

“Oh, right.” Gary plucks his phone from where he’d set it on the counter and taps through a few screens, then turns it my way.

Tessissomething special. It’s a selfie, with poor lighting and an even poorer angle, but there’s something about her that dries up my throat the minute I see her. Shoulder-length blonde hair curls away from her pixie-like face in loose ringlets. Bright green eyes meet my gaze, feeling as alive and animated as if she were right in front of me. Her smile is infectious. Before I know it, I’m wearing one, too.

The phone drops, and Tess’s face is replaced by Gary’s decidedly less attractive one.

“Don’t even think about it,” he warns.

“Don’t worry.” Tomas claps my shoulder and winks. “Llewellyn will be on his best behavior.”

Zoey hoists the tray of drinks onto her shoulder with a grunt. When she speaks, her voice is strained. “Not sure that’s the vote of confidence you think it is, Sheriff.”

She walks away, leaving the attention of both men fully on me.

“I will be,” I finally manage to choke out, wondering why the air in here is suddenly so much thicker. “I mean, erm, I’ll be there. No problem, Gary.”

“There better not be a problem,” he says, brow raised. Too bad he’s as threatening as a mall Santa with his cherub cheeks and twinkling gray eyes. “Don’t you scare off my niece before I’ve even had the chance to meet her.”

“Hell, Gary, if she looks anything like you, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Tomas teases. “Come on, can’t keep the wife waiting much longer.”

“I’m watching you,” Gary says, but his clipped tone quickly dissolves into laughter. “All right, I’m starved. Let’s go.”

Together, Tomas and I help him from his seat and back onto his scooter. The two of them begin their slow hobble toward the exit. Meanwhile I’m racking my brain, trying to figure out when was the last time a woman stole my breath like that.

Not even a woman. Apictureof a woman. And a long fucking time ago, that’s when.

“Uh-oh,” Zoey teases, plopping her now empty tray next to me as she scans my face. “Someone’s in trouble.”

Trouble, indeed.

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