Page 5

My eyes pop open on a memory, the flicker of Sage's smile burning through the haze of sleep. The first dim light of Saturday barely creeps through my window, but I’m already swinging out of bed, ready to face the day. The room's chilly, air humming with the low rumble of a late spring storm moving in, but the real buzz comes from my racing mind.

I haven't moved this fast before six a.m. since the time I was on-call and Beckett forgot to take his phone to the gym. I snag my phone off the nightstand and scroll for River’s number. By the second ring, I've already got his name halfway growled. "I need a favor."

His voice is a grumble on the other end. "Do you own a goddamn clock? It's too early for favors."

I'm practically bouncing on my feet, though they’re freezing against the hardwood floor. "Yeah, about that. This couldn't wait."

"What can’t wait?" His tone flips from irritation to curiosity, but I can tell he's still got his eyes closed.

"I met a girl," I drop my little bombshell, pacing the room and trying to stay warm.

River’s finally awake. "No fucking way. Who is she?"

"Sage Higgins."

He goes quiet for a second, and I picture his wheels turning. "I don’t know much about her," he groans, “but I know she’s way too goddamn young for you. She’s around Echo’s age.”

I let out a sharp laugh, shivering as I head to the thermostat to turn down the air conditioner. "She isn’t that much younger than me." Echo, his little sister, is only six or seven years younger than us.

"Whatever you say." He yawns, the sound dragging out over the line. "I’ll ask my sister what she knows once the sun comes up."

"Fine, fine. Just call me back once you find out what she knows."

River’s halfway snoring as he promises to do just that, and I click off, tossing the phone onto the bed. I rub my hands together and look around the room, too keyed up to just stand around.

I walk over to the window, dragging open the dusty blinds. Early morning gray clouds are muscling in over Riverbend Ridge, the quiet just a placeholder for the usual spring weather chaos. But I don't mind.

The phone buzzes, jerking me back to the present, and I nearly knock over the lamp trying to answer. "That was fast."

"Echo says she’s twenty-three, new grad out of UT Austin, first-year teacher," River reels off. I can hear him gloating all the way from his house. "Lives with her best friend and there’s no man anywhere in the picture."

I punch the air and start doing mental jumping jacks. "Wow. What else?"

"Dad’s a retired postal worker. Mom’s got that flower shop downtown, Petals and Pearls."

I’m grinning like an idiot, finger drumming on the countertop. "Did you get her shoe size, too?"

"Size eight,” he teases. At least, I hope he’s teasing. “She’s way too sweet and beautiful for your ugly old ass." River's trying to get under my skin, but he's got nothing on me today.

"Real cute. Thanks for the intel. I owe you."

"Damn right you do," he chuckles, and I hang up, flicking the phone back on the bed. It's not even seven a.m. and I've got more energy than the day I made lieutenant.

A shower. That's what I need. And a plan.

I’m dressed and ready to hit the grocery store like a man with an actual plan when Beckett’s name pops up on my phone. He's got all the subtlety of a five-alarm fire. I answer, and his voice is booming in my ear. "You busy tonight?" I’m halfway to saying yes when he jumps back in, no hesitation. “‘Cause I need you to watch Pork and Beans."

His dachshund and pot-bellied pig are practically nephews, but I’m in too good a mood to let him off easy. "Hate to disappoint you, but I’ve got plans."

Beckett snorts like I just told him the tooth fairy still owes me a buck. "You never have plans."

I let him stew, my grin growing so wide it could cover half the state. "Things change," I tease. "Guess you’ll have to cancel your plans."

"I scored tickets to the Stars’ playoff game tonight. C'mon, you gotta help me out." I hear the urgency coursing through his voice. Those tickets are like gold dust.

“Ask Atlas or Dawson.” I lean back lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed, relishing the rare opportunity to give my oldest brother a hard time.

“They’re busy.” He lets out a dramatic sigh. “I’m not above begging.”