She sucks her teeth, rolling her eyes heavenward. “Fine. I’ll calm myself down and prepare to be stuck looking at these walls a bit longer.”
I glance out the window and find that she’s right; Nick’s car is in the driveway. It’s a sight I haven’t seen since returning from Florida. He’s been stuck in Falls Haven, working closely with the local detective and FBI.
Now that there’s a double homicide in the small town, both too similar to ignore, they’ve brought in the feds.
I quickly shoot him a text, suggesting lunch at Milly’s Diner.
Nick
Good morning, beautiful.
A smile spreads across my face as I lift my arms into the air, stretching out the kinks.
“What did he say?” she asks, clapping her hands, looking far too giddy.
I wave her off with my hand, watching the bubbles on the screen that tell he’s typing.
Nick
You’re speaking my language. Milly’s it is.
What time?
Me
Eleven?
He agrees to eleven, saying he’ll meet me there because he has to head back to Falls Haven afterward. It’s just as well, because I need to stop into Marmalade and Rye to check on Mrs. Hampson. The last time I ran into her, she alluded to needing my specific set of skills for a private matter, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about that.
“Wanna join Nick and I at Milly’s?” I ask, thinking it can’t hurt to have her tag along for a public date.
She bobs her head animatedly. “Heck yeah. Let’s go.”
At exactly eleven on the dot, I step into Milly’s, greeted by the familiar chime of the bell announcing my arrival. Scanning the room, I spot Nick seated in a booth at the back. He acknowledgesme with a lifted chin and a grin, causing a flutter in my chest. It’s surreal to think that he’s here just for me.
“Aww look at that. He’s got it bad,” Isla says, with no amount of bitterness evident. “He looks good. Happy,” she says, a smile in her voice.
She isn’t wrong. He does look good.
Nick is my dream. His salt-and-pepper hair adds a touch of sophistication to his rugged allure. With a strong jawline, straight nose, and impeccably sculpted features, he’s effortlessly captivating.
He exudes an undeniable confidence that leaves me speechless every time I’m in his presence. But it’s his dimples—oh, those dimples—that could melt even the coldest of hearts. They make my knees weak and my belly flop like a teenager’s.
He possesses a presence that commands attention, yet there’s a softness in his gaze that belies his tough exterior, making him all the more irresistible. It’s as if he stepped right off the pages of a magazine, bringing my ideal man to life.
“Hi, Alyssa,” Christine calls from her computer. “You can sit anywhere.”
“She’s with me.” Nick’s husky voice rings through the small space, drawing the attention of every local in Milly’s.
They all share curious glances, and I know without a doubt the rumor mill will be going strong later today.
“Uh-oh…you just went Knox Harbor official. That’s about to be front page,” Isla teases.
Christine, ever the romantic, flashes me a wide grin before playfully winking and giving a thumbs-up. Suppressing a laugh, I return her smile and stride over to join Nick.
“Have you been here long?” I ask, removing my coat and taking a seat across from him.
He shakes his head. “Nah. Just got here.”
