I’M HERE. Parking.
I texted Lynx from downstairs, giving her time to prepare before seeing me. I knew better than to think she was ready for this. She was making me dinner at her place the day after her first appointment.
I didn’t expect her to go into a lot of detail about her session, but I wanted her to relax and be comfortable with me. Last night, she’d stayed home with Sammy, and I assumed they’d discussed what they needed to. Their relationship was at the core of this, and needed as much repair as Lynx and mine.
I buzzed at the front entrance, and one of them let me in. When I got to their condo, Lynx’s sister greeted me at the door.
“Hey, I’m Sammy. I know we met once, but still.”
“Mike.” I winked. We’d met when the two sisters first came back to the States. Landon was the hero then, but that wasn’t a happy occasion for anyone.
“Want to come in?”
“You bet.”
She stepped to the side and made room for me to come in. “Lynx is cooking, and I’m on tasting duty.”
“Sounds like an important job.”
She laughed. It was soft, not as full-bodied as Lynx’s laugh, but it was all Sammy.
I could tell they were sisters—their faces were remarkably similar. Must have been from their dad. But their bodies told the story of two different moms. Sammy’s frame was slight and less curvy, like her laugh.
I guess I was a full-bodied type of guy.
“Smells good in here,” I hollered, walking into the entryway. I hadn’t seen the inside yet, but it was your standard oceanfront condo.
“Hey.” Lynx stood in the kitchen wearing jeans cutoffs, a red tank, her hair on top of her head, no makeup, and barefoot.
I fell in love—all over again—in that moment. I imagined coming home every day to this. Of course, she didn’t have to cook, just be herself, pure and good.
“You hungry?”
I walked up to her, snatching her around the waist and pulling her close. “I am. Very.”
She stood on tiptoe to whisper in my ear. “For food?”
“Oh yeah, I am.” Pinching her side, I stepped back.
“I’m making tamales. Want a beer? Or something stronger?”
“Point me in the right direction and I’ll get it. Sammy eating with us?”
“Is that okay?”
“I was hoping.”
This got me another one of those big smiles. Huge, in fact.
“Where’s the drinks?”
“Right here,” Sammy said from behind me, standing next to a small wet bar. Of course, Asher spared no expense in setting up these two. They never worked for the Tunnel, but Lynx had babysat Quinn long before Asher knew he had a son. She was golden to him.
“Slide over,” I told Sammy. “What’s your poison?”
“Vodka and soda.”
I nodded and got to work. “Lynx, babe?”
