Page 27 of Tides of Change
Ethan’s lips pressed into a tight, colorless line, his shoulder brushing against the door as if steadying himself.
“But I found a witness. Barbara Hendershot, three doors down.” My hope had soared for a moment, to be dashed. “She saw a person walking along the sidewalk wearing a baggy hoodie, ball cap, and oversized sweatpants. About five-ten. Carrying a black device in their hand. Said she thought it was a man because she didn’t see any hair sticking out from under the cap and hood.”
Ethan’s gaze grew distant for a moment, his eyes clouded with thought. Then, with a small nod, he murmured, “A man. Sounds about right.” His focus sharpened, and his eyes locked onto mine. “Anything else?”
I shook my head. “Sorry, that was it. They probably came in from the beach path. No suspicious vehicles in the area.”
“Okay,” he said softly, the weight of the news clear in his voice.
He stepped over to the side table, picked up a glossy tri-fold brochure, and held it out to me like it explained everything.
I frowned. “A home security system? You already have one.”
“I’m upgrading to a wired camera,” he said, voice low but steady. “No more jamming.”
I met his eyes and gave a short nod. It was a smart move—but the fact that he had to make it twisted my gut. “Good idea.” I hooked my thumb toward the door. “I’ll head out. Let me know if you need anything.”
He didn’t say a word, just offered a tight smile as I stepped onto the porch. I waited until I heard the deadbolt slide home before turning back toward my SUV, every instinct in me on edge. Because someone had made him feel unsafe. And I wasn’t going to let that stand.
An hour later, I sent him a text.
What would you like to do on Saturday? Any errands you need to run?
Could you take me to the farmers’ market? I need some organic foods.
I started typingIt’s a dateand immediately erased it, shaking my head. What the hell was I doing? We were just friends—I didn’t date men.
But…did I want to?
The thought landed like a slap—sharp, unexpected, impossible to ignore.
Since my high school crush on Leo had been buried under the weight of locker room expectations and silence, I’d only been with women. Dated them, even had a child with one. I’d never questioned it. Not really.
Not until Ethan.
He shook the foundation of everything I thought I knew about myself. It wasn’t just his looks, though I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t attractive. It was the way he made me feel—like we meshed. It was the pull toward him that defied logic.
Maybe I shouldn’t take so much for granted. Maybe Ethan had slipped past my defenses before I’d even realized it.
Come over at 10.
See you then.
I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat and sighed. I needed to clear my head, but one thing was certain: Ethan wasn’t just another case.
I couldn’t wait for Saturday.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ethan
I retrieved my shopping cart from the back of Garrett’s Escape, the metal frame cool and solid in my hands. The parking lot buzzed with the hum of car engines, the chatter of families, and the occasional bark of a dog. The gray sky stretched overhead. A chill brushed against my face, and I tugged on my sweatshirt, the soft fabric offering a welcome layer of warmth.
The cloud cover might have rolled in off the ocean like an unwelcome guest, but it couldn’t touch the anticipation swirling inside me. Spending a few hours with Garrett—just the two of us—was enough to brighten the day. It was ridiculous how much I looked forward to these moments, how the thought of his presence could lift my spirits.
I unfolded the cart, its joints squeaking, as Garrett closed the hatch of the SUV with a soft thud. He locked the vehicle with a quick press of the fob, and a short honk cut through the surrounding noise.
“You came prepared,” he teased as he gestured to the cart.
