Page 70 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

There he was, climbing off his bike. His dark hair had the infamous helmet thing going, but there was a smile on his face. I stood on the porch and waited for him to see me.

“Nice bike,” I said.

He looked up and grinned. “I fixed her up,” he said, patting the handlebars. “Took her for a ride, and, well, here I am.”

I grinned, leaning against the doorframe. “I’m making dinner. There’s enough for two.”

He followed me inside, the smell of the peppers and onions filling the space. “Smells good. What are you making?”

“Chicken fajitas. Quick and easy.”

“Sounds perfect.”

I opened the pack of tortillas and started to heat them up.

“So,” I began, keeping my tone casual. “I have to go to Miami. Day after tomorrow. Just for three days. My boss is covering the travel costs, and he even said I could bring someone with me.”

He leaned against the counter, watching me closely. “Are you asking me to go with you?”

“Yes,” I said, turning to meet his gaze. “But if you’d rather stay here and oversee the work, I understand. It’s just⁠—”

“I’m in,” he said, cutting me off.

I blinked. “Really?”

“Really,” he said, his lips quirking into a small smile. Relief washed over me, and I returned his smile. “A free trip to Florida is not something I’m about to turn down.”

I nodded. “Great. I’m excited to show you around.”

“Sounds good.”

“You’re going to love Lucia and Dominique. They’re—well, they’re always at each other’s throats, but they’d literally die for each other.”

He chuckled, crossing his arms. “Sounds like entertainment.”

“Oh, it is,” I said, laughing. “They’re going to love you. But don’t let them gang up on you. They’re a force.”

“I think I can handle it,” he said, his grin widening.

I couldn’t wait to see him in Miami, a piece of this new chapter blending with the old.

29

KANNON

Airports sucked. Lines, crowds, overpriced everything—it was like they were designed to piss people off. I gritted my teeth as Merritt and I joined the herd heading into the security line, trying to ignore the way people kept bumping into me like they didn’t see a six-foot-something guy standing right there.

I supposed that was one way to humble a man. I was insignificant. Just another cog in the wheel. I did my best to keep my temper in check.

Merritt, on the other hand, was a ray of sunshine. She stood beside me, smiling like she was about to walk into Disney World instead of some overcrowded, chaotic nightmare.

“You’re awfully chipper,” I muttered, shifting my duffel bag to my other shoulder.

“I love flying,” she said, like that explained it. “It’s exciting! And my favorite part is after you land, when you get to baggage claim, and people are reunited with their loved ones. How can that not make you smile? I always hope I’ll get to see a big reunion. Maybe like a military dad coming home to his family or a long-lost child meeting his biological parents for the first time.”

“You have an active imagination.”

“I do, but I always keep waiting for the chance to see one of my little fantasies play out. And it makes me excited. Why can’t you smile?”