Rhea chuckled. “He found your grant application with your phone number. He didn’t want Will to be successful either.”
Letty smirked. “He couldn’t have called the cops?”
Rhea let out a breath. “Pike has issues.”
Letty rolled her eyes. “He just should have done his job before he issued the permit.”
Rhea offered a thumbs up as she typed on her computer.
Cal cleared his throat. “Will thought he was smarter than everyone.”
“He thought she’d fold,” Wyatt said.
Letty turned at that. He hadn’t moved from his spot, but his presence still filled the room. He looked tired, and still too pale under his collar.
Cal clapped Wyatt lightly on the shoulder. “Doc kept you breathing.”
Letty rolled her eyes. “He kept himself breathing. I just yelled at him.”
Wyatt’s mouth curved into a grin. “You did more than yell.”
WYATT
Two weeks later, the marsh looked like it always had. Wind skated low across the water. Egrets moved in the reeds. The world hadn’t changed, but he had. Wyatt stood on his cottage dock. His side itched. Salt & Steel’s doctor had removed the stitches from the knife wound, but the scar along his ribs was angrier now. He stretched, feeling the pull, but it would settle. He rolled the silver dollar across his knuckles without any thought as the waves lapped along the shore.
Letty stepped out of the two-bedroom cottage barefoot, whiskey glasses in hand, hair pulled into a loose knot at the back of her neck. “Tell me you’re not overdoing it.”
“I’m fine.” He scoffed. “I’m simply standing here.”
“You’re stubborn.”
He didn’t argue as she handed him a glass and leaned beside him, shoulder brushing his.
“I got a call from the mayor.”
“Oh?” He took a sip of whiskey.
“I submitted the final revision of my training report this morning.”
His eyes slid to her. “And?”
“I’m expanding the study. Tidehaven’s disaster response needs funding: training updates, infrastructure reinforcement. The mayor wants to discuss what the community needs and how to fund it.”
Something steady settled in his chest. “I’m just glad you’re staying.”
She glanced at him. “Of course I’m staying.” She paused. “This is my coastline. My research belongs where it matters.”
His jaw eased. “I’m not built for anywhere else either.”
Her lips twitched. “I know.”
He looked at her then, really looked. “We can go visit your sisters.”
Letty nudged him. “So glad you mentioned that. I’d like to.”
Wyatt stopped the coin mid-roll and held it out to her as she frowned.
“That’s yours.”
