For the next hour, Nat and Ford told the team everything that had happened since the shooting.It sounded terrifying.Southern France sounded beautiful and romantic though, and for the first time in ages, Reese thought she might be almost ready to venture outside her self-imposed boundaries.
The team had shifted to discussing ongoing investigations and new tips from sources when Reese had to duck out to open the shop.She ran upstairs to the break room to grab another espresso and her laptop before emerging into the back of the store to start her morning routine.Through the front windows she could see a man already waiting at the front door, munching on a burrito bearing the bright orange wrapper from next door.She couldn’t blame him.The scent was hard to resist, and Margarita’s breakfast burritos were legendary, with a local following that formed a line around the block on weekends.
The bookstore was a direct beneficiary of all the foot traffic, especially during the summer months, and Reese recommended the little restaurant to anyone who’d listen.
She set up her computer, turned on the point-of-sale device, and opened the blinds.She could swear the man followed her progress, and her skin prickled with uneasy awareness.Hadn’t he been here a few days ago?Surreptitiously, she took note of his features, even though the cameras were probably catching more detail than she ever could.White guy, maybe late twenties, wire-rimmed glasses, dark blond hair curling up from under a Dodgers ball cap.Lean and good looking in a slightly nerdy way she might appreciate if she wasn’t so jumpy.
They had repeat customers all the time.Why was she so on edge?
Maybe it was the team meeting.Finally seeing Natalie in the flesh after believing her dead forweekshad been terrible and surreal.The embodiment of every dream she’d had about her sister that would never come true.
Reese gave a little head shake.Her nerves were too exposed was all.Surely if there was anything to worry about, Dallas would’ve already flagged the guy.But just to be safe, after Emma and Natalie and their boyfriends snuck down the back staircase to the alley to avoid being seen by patrons, she’d ask Dallas to take a closer look at their new customer.
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS AFTER the showdown on the boat, Nat stood in the doorway of Henri’s Geneva apartment and gave the man a goodbye hug.Hollows darkened his cheeks and his clothes hung loosely on his frame, but he looked significantly better than he had the previous month.
The man she now considered a friend had even put colored lights and ornaments on a modest Christmas tree that filled the lovely old living room with a fresh evergreen scent.
He’d recovered from his injuries in time to testify against Deschamps, but it hadn’t been necessary.Henri’s would-be killer had been arrested, and had rolled on Deschamps, who’d been remanded to jail while awaiting his multiple trials.While there, he’d walked into the wrong end of a shiv, presumably at the behest of a rival.
Nat wasn’t bloodthirsty, but she didn’t mourn the crime boss’s death either.He’d killed Henri’s wife, made his life hell, and then tried to killhim.Deschamps’ death wouldn’t bring back Delphine, but at least Henri could stop hiding.He could live again.
“We’ll see you next week before we leave.”Natalie stepped back and smiled.Ford had invited him to celebrate the holiday with them early, along with Katja, Sabine, and Alain.After that, Ford would accompany Nat to LA to be with her family and friends on Christmas, followed by a visit to San Francisco to see his family for the new year.
If they kept this up, she’d have enough frequent flier miles to fly first class.
“When will you be back in the new year?”Henri leaned against the door jamb and crossed his arms.
“Not sure yet, but I’ll let you know.”She glanced at Ford.They needed to talk, because a long-distance relationship wouldnotwork for her long term.Nat’s heart broke at the thought of him returning to Europe without her after the holidays.
Henri looked at her and Ford, his gaze steady.“You are good for each other.”He nodded sharply.“Make it work.”
Her lips parted.Could he read minds?
Ford just smiled.
A few minutes later she and Ford sat in his Audi SUV, surrounded by the huge trees and old multi-story apartment buildings in Henri’s posh new neighborhood.
She put her hand on the sleeve of Ford’s puffy jacket.“Anything I need to know about the rest of the day?”She knew he’d ensure she had anything necessary for whatever he had planned.Mostly she asked so he understood she didn’t mind that he needed an itinerary.Honestly, as much as she craved spontaneity, his organizational skills meant they got more done—including fun activities—than would ever happen if she were in charge.
Her contribution usually entailed derailing his plans to keep things fresh and interesting.
He’d learned to adjust, to go along with her detours, and almost always enjoyed it.Like yesterday when they’d been in Old Town to buy his mother her favorite chocolates for Christmas.After buying plenty for themselves too, including a delicious chili flavor that Ford had balked at but ended up loving, Natalie had convinced him to go ice skating in Bastions Park.
They’d returned to his place exhilarated by the brisk air and laughter—neither of them was a great skater so there’d been lots of grabbing each other for balance—and hadn’t even made it past the foyer before he was buried deep inside her with her back pressed to the front door.Her skin tingled at the memory.
He wasn’t the only one who flexed in the relationship though.She made sure to give him the time and space to accomplish his main priorities.She liked variety, but she wasn’t a child who needed him to constantly entertain her.She wanted a partner, not a parent or someone who resented her.
They were opposites in many ways, but they fit well together.He reminded her that there could be joy in setting aside her immediate desires for delayed gratification.She reminded him that going off script could make the mundane moments and tasks more interesting.
She didn’t feel pressured to change and hoped he didn’t either.It was more like they each tempered the other’s extremes.It wasn’t a laugh a minute, but together they created more joy than she could ever experience on her own.He’d lightened up so much in the last few months, and she loved seeing him smile more, be playful.He still took safety seriously, he still needed a lot more organization and structure in his life than she did, and those were also things she loved about him.She wanted him to be happy, not to become a different person.
Now, next to her, he ran his palms along the tops of his thighs as if to warm them.“It’s lunchtime.How do you feel about Osteria Delle Alpi or Zesti?”He shrugged.“Or, we can just scrounge from the cupboard at home.”
The way he saidhome—like she belonged there—made her stomach dip, but if they went straight back to his house, she’d probably jump him and then just eat unhealthy snacks.Tempting, but… “Zesti sounds good.”
“Greek it is.”
