Walking Emily to her car,Jake replayed the evening in his head.
She'd laughed. Actually laughed, more than once, the sound startled out of her like she'd forgotten she was capable of it. He'd watched her walls come down in increments. Watched the prosecutor give way to someone softer, someone who told jokes and listened to Tommy's stories and looked at Jake like he was a puzzle she was strategically deciding to solve.
He'd noticed when she stopped checking her phone. When she leaned in instead of back. When she went from evaluating to enjoying.
"I had a good time," she said now, stopping by Claire's car. Claire was inside, giving them privacy. "I wasn't expecting to."
"The skepticism is noted."
"I'm a prosecutor. Skepticism is professional."
"Then I'll take the good time as a win." Jake kept his distance, giving her space. "Thank you for coming. And for not letting hesitation win."
The deck lights caught her face, softening the angles, and Jake had to stop himself from reaching out.
"Can I ask you something?" she said.
"Anything."
"Why me? You don't know me. You read my file and watched me walk into a room and decided to invite me into your life. That's not normal."
Jake considered the question. The easy answer wasbecause you're beautiful, but that wasn't the truth. The truth was harder.
"Because when I saw you walk into Ray's office this morning, I forgot what I was supposed to say." He failed to look away. "That hasn't happened to me in a long time. Maybe ever."
Emily's breath caught.
"That's a lot of honesty for someone I've known one day."
"I don't know how to be anything else." Jake let himself smile. "Get some sleep, Counselor. We've got a witness to find."
He stepped back. Emily looked at him, a decision forming behind her eyes.
"Goodnight, Jake."
"Goodnight, Em."
She blinked at the nickname. He hadn't planned it. The word came out natural as breathing, like he'd been calling her that for years.
She didn't correct him.
He watched her get into Claire's car. Watched the taillights disappear down the gravel road. Stood in the lot with the sound of water behind him and the image of her face when he'd said her name.
He thought about the photo frame on Maria's desk. Emily stopping to look at it on her way in this morning, her expression unguarded for half a second before she locked it down. He hadn't mentioned it. Hadn't let her know he'd seen. Some things you filed away and waited for the right time.
Jake walked back toward The Anchor. Gator was at the door, watching with the expression of a man who'd seen everything and was rarely surprised.
"That one's different," Gator said.
"Yeah."
"You sure about this?"
Jake thought about Emily Callahan. The way she'd challenged him in Ray's office. The way she'd opened up over four hours and four margaritas. The way she'd looked at him at the end like she was making a decision.
"No," he said. "Not sure at all."
Gator nodded. "Good. The ones worth having never come easy."
