Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
She sighed. “Then how about you call your mom and tell her we’re eating in town. I’ve got a craving for Christa’s chicken and dumplings.”
Having dinner with her—just the three of them—would be a good start.
Even if he ended the night dropping her off at the big house and going home alone, it was enough.
It was hope.
“I think it sounds perfect.” His voice was thick with emotion. “Now let’s get everything that dog of yours is going to need.”
Her smile was enough to warm him. Maybe for the rest of his life.
Chapter Seventeen
Grim looked across the booth at Josh. His best friend was more relaxed than he’d been in weeks, and it didn’t have anything to do with the steak and fries he’d eaten. He’d also downed a salad when Nicole had pointed out vegetables were a necessary part of life. Josh had an indulgent smile on his face as Nicole told Christa all about her new friend.
Spending time with their girl had Josh looking like himself again.
“He’s so cute. We think he’s probably got some terrier in him,” Nicole was saying.
“And chihuahua, given how he shakes,” Josh joked.
Nicole wrinkled her nose his way. “He’s scared. And maybe cold.”
Buddy was sleeping in his crate in Christa’s office. He had some excellent doggie anxiety meds which he might need for a while because that pup had seen some things.
“He looks adorable,” Christa said. “I can’t wait to meet Buddy when he’s awake.”
Christa started talking about her Labrador. The café was hopping tonight, and they’d been lucky to get a table. There was a PTA committee meeting going on in the back room and some kind of church group eating together at a bunch of tables they’d shoved together. He kept an eye on Alyssa, though. She was sitting with her mother across the way, staring over at them from time to time.
She might be a problem.
But the real problem was sitting in a booth in the back.
Ezekiel Smith.
He’d chosen the last booth and Grim couldn’t see who he was with, but it was likely his brother and two stepbrothers. They never took their mom anywhere except to church and to buy groceries. He was actually surprised they would spend money on something like a meal out.
There was another man there, a taller man, though, who couldn’t be one of his brothers.
Despite the peace and joy of spending the evening with Nicole, a sense of dread trickled in.
Christa stepped away to grab their desserts, and Nicole took a long drag off her iced tea.
“I talked to Kim today and she said the case is going well, though she might need to come out and interview me again,” Nicole said quietly. “Jack wants to hire a PI in the area to revisit the criminal case, but I’m worried reopening it could shake some stuff up.”
And she was scared. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
“Harlow can’t stay here forever,” Nicole mused. “What are we going to do when she needs to go home?”
“Harlow is fine right where she is for the time being.” Josh leaned over and reached for her hand. “And we should watch what we say in public. They’re always listening.”
She flushed. Grim couldn’t imagine how hard it was on her to have to measure her every emotion, to always try to fade into the background, though there had been times her good nature hadn’t allowed it. He was grateful for those times because Kimberly Kent had turned out to be a godsend. He wasn’t going to let Nicole know it, but he’d kind of listened in on the meeting she’d had with the PI. Jack and Harlow had been there, and everyone seemed confident Kim could untangle the problem.
Nicole was going to be free.
It was up to them to ensure she didn’t go anywhere.
Which was why his gut tightened as he watched his father put some money on the table and stand up.
“They’re watching me now,” Nicole said with a sigh.
“They’re watching me, darlin’.” Josh gave her a wink. “No one can take their eyes off my handsome face.”
Sometimes the influence of Pops showed up in his best friend. Dad’s influence was always there, but when Josh smiled and winked he was all Sam. He hadn’t seen that sunniness in Josh in weeks.
Nicole’s nose wrinkled. “You think entirely too highly of yourself. I think they’re watching Grim because of his broody good looks.”
He was worried they were watching him because of something his asshole stepfather was putting out.
Josh glanced around the café. “Nope. It’s definitely…” His best friend’s face went blank. “Is that who I think it is?”
Grim sighed. “Yeah. He’s been here the whole time. I’m pretty sure he’s got at least two of my brothers with him, but I can’t tell who he’s talking to.”
Nicole twisted her torso, trying to figure out who they were talking about.