“Just a couple of release forms for you to sign, Mr. Nix,” the woman said.
Julian almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of her assumption but caught himself. Her label for him wasn’t too far from the truth. Mena was by far the breadwinner in the relationship, supporting them with her stipend from the fellowship. Julian contributed where he could by dipping into his savings, but it wasn’t exactly fifty-fifty.
“I’ll be back for the forms in a few minutes,” the woman added, then disappeared around the corner. Scanning the documents, Julian lifted the pen. After signing by the x on each page, he glanced up to see where the woman had disappeared.
A flush of adrenaline raced through his body.
Chapter Three
Squinting, Julian couldn’t stop staring at the woman less than fifteen feet away from him.
Tall and statuesque, her ebony flawless face was crowned by a curly mane of shoulder-length jet black hair. She leaned over and studied a carved settee placed in the corner adjacent to the nook.
Their eyes met, and Julian was catapulted back to the darkest time in his life. The pain and guilt over Broman’s condition had gutted him, leaving him broken and alone until she’d shown up on his yacht. She’d been through her own hell, having survived a maniac only to struggle with how to reintegrate back into her life. They’d found solace in each other until she’d sneaked off in the middle of the night. He’d known he wouldn’t see her again. The next morning, he’d set sail for St. Basil with two boxes of Saltines and a bottle of vodka on board.
Julian swallowed, his heart skipping a beat as he walked toward her.
Sunny Tate. She hadn’t changed one bit in all of these years.
“Hey.”
Sunny looked away for a split second. “Hey.”
“This is … awkward,” Julian admitted.
“Wasn’t it always between us,” Sunny said.
Julian raised an eyebrow, unsettled by her assessment of their past. “No, but maybe it should have been?”
Sunny gave a reluctant smile. “That would have kept us out of trouble.”
“And what fun would that have been?” Julian asked.
“None. No regrets, right?”
“No regrets,” Julian agreed.
Going through basic training with Broman and Sunny by his side had been his entire world. Those carefree early days in the Navy when they were too young and self-absorbed to be concerned with anything other than becoming sailors felt like a lifetime ago. The competitiveness and drive to be the best fueled them as they pushed each other to be faster, stronger, and smarter. They’d each achieved the success they’d wanted: he and Broman had become SEALs, and Sunny realized her dream of being one of the few female pilots assigned to special operations.
“What are you doing in Nairobi?” Julian asked.
“Can you believe I live here?” Sunny asked.
“No.” Tension wafted between them as Julian shook his head. “Why the hell would you move here? After everything that happened.”
Sunny held up a hand. “I’ve made peace with all of that. Some pain you can’t keep carrying around with you. The irony of coming back to this place, and finding happiness was liberating. Now, I live in a beautiful city with amazing people. I have a thriving business in private security, and I still pilot chartered flights for the execs in between. I have a good life here.”
He should have been convinced by her optimism, the positivity in her new outlook on life, but he wasn’t. The Sunny Tate he knew was more than capable of overcoming any obstacle. But he found it strange that she decided to make Africa her home.
Crossing her arms, she seemed to be wilting under his intense gaze. Julian softened a bit, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable after all these years. She had a right to deal with her demons how she saw fit, and she’d obviously moved past them all. Just as he had moved past his … with Mena’s help.
“I’m happy for you,” Julian said, breaking the silence between them.
“Whatever Montgomery. I know you think I’m bonkers, but I can promise you I’m not,” Sunny said, punching him in the arm and daring him to deny it. The Sunny he remembered, in all her full glory, resurrected in that one action.
He wouldn’t insult her. She knew him too well.
“Enough about me. What brings you to Kenya?” Sunny asked, a suspicious look in her gaze.
