Page 88 of Dark Obsession
Epilogue
Jenna
One Week Later
"Hey, kiddo. What do you know?" Sam glanced up from something he was working on and smiled. "I got a call from your father, and he said you would be out for a couple of weeks. No?"
"Nope. My dad doesn't run my life. I'm a grown woman." I walked around the counter and put my purse up before wrapping my arms around Sam. "Thanks for letting me work here. I know you know who my family is and stuff."
He chuckled. "Jenna, we love you here. You know that. You're like family to me and Cynthia."
"I know, but sometimes dealing with people like me and my family-"
"Like your family." He picked up a small cookie and handed it to me. "Stop loving on me. You're making me blush."
I laughed and took the cookie, popping it into my mouth. Nate and I had moved in together a few days back, which was fast, but then again, when you knew you were going to spend the rest of your life with someone, what was the sense in waiting to start living?
My family accepted him right in, which was good and yet a little odd. Something told me that my father was a little iffy over it, but he wanted more time around me, and somehow that meant keeping his opinions to himself. Him and Nate got along almost too well though. It was funny. The criminal and the DA.
They closed down my brother’s case a week after everything went down, and changed the files to reflect the murder. Denise’s remains were found, and her dental records identified her as being Ashley Talmant. After digging through everything, my father connected the dots and sealed the case. It was heartbreaking, but it was over. The full range of evidence showed only one person involved in Darek’s death… his pretty young wife. Relief was mine.
Cynthia’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as she stood from kneeling and gave me a warm smile. "Your friend Grace stopped by earlier today."
"Oh yeah? She knows my schedule. What did she want?"
"Something about a big event coming up in November at the library? I don't know, but they wanted to order some cookie trays and stuff."
"Oh yeah. Holiday time is always nutty for them. Poor thing. She hates social events." I picked up my apron and tied it around my waist as I walked around the counter to check on the tables. "You guys been busy?"
"No, not much." Sam leaned forward as I turned to face him. "Your guy friend hasn't been back. I think my theory holds true."
"What's that? That he's coming for something other than the coffee?" I couldn't help but wonder if Sam hadn't seen me and Nate kiss on more than one occasion before everything went crazy.
"Exactly." He stood up and smiled.
"Maybe. Who knows?" I shrugged and turned as Nate walked into the shop with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
Sam laughed loudly behind me. "I told you so."
"Here," Nate handed me the flowers and studied my face in a way that always left me hot and bothered, "smell these and I'll take them out back to the dumpster."
I snatched them from him and laughed. "Asshole. I only did that because we were heading to the park."
"Mmmm... that the day we tried to get your dress fitted for you?" He licked at the side of his lips.
"Stop it." I pressed my hand to his chest and moved closer to him. "What are you doing in here? I'm coming home to you in five hours."
"Far too long of a wait." He kissed the tip of my nose and moved around me. "Hey, Sam."
"Hey, buddy. I kept your secret pretty well."
I turned and put my hand on my hip as Nate ordered a cup of coffee. "What secret?"
Nate glanced over his shoulder. "I've been coming here since I was a kid. Sam's always taken good care of me. He told me about you when you started working here. Worked out pretty well, hmm?"
"What? Sam, you told me that he didn't like coffee." I moved beside Nate and glanced up at him. I was close to being consumed by the passion between us, and it wasn't dying down, but getting hotter and hotter.
"It was all part of the gig." Nate reached over and tapped my nose. "God, you're beautiful. Did I tell you today how gorgeous you are?"
