“Did you get to ride on Uncle Stryker’s motorcycle?” Sammy asked.
“I did.”
“My dad says I can do that when I’m one hundred.” Sammy scrunched up her face. “That’s too old. I’m getting my own motorcycle when I’m twenty.”
“Is that so?” Providence asked.
“Uh-huh, definitely,” Sammy replied.
One of Sammy’s cousins ran over. “Sammy, come play with me.”
“Okay.” Sammy hugged her mom. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
Emerson put her hand over her heart. “She’s absolutely adorable and so affectionate with you.”
“Sammy is Dakota’s biological daughter. I adopted her after Dakota and I got married. We’re very close.” Providence paused to watch her child play. “Stryker said you’re a police detective. Do you like your work?”
“I love it, but I’m leaving after I solve a high-profile case I’m working on.”
“Is that why you’re wearing a vest?” Providence asked.
“Yeah,” she said and nodded.
“Are you staying in law enforcement?”
“I’d like to. I’ll know better once I start interviewing. How ‘bout you? Do you work?”
“I’m a marketing consultant. Not much to say about that.” Providence tossed a nod toward Stryker. “He’s fallen pretty hard.”
Emerson smiled. “Me, too.”
Talking with Providence came easily. Spending the evening with Stryker’s family helped put him in perspective. He was a complicated man who loved his family and was haunted by his past.
After dinner, the adults sat around the table on the screened porch while the children played nearby. Stryker’s phone buzzed with an incoming call and the adults began booing.
“Don’t answer it,” Dakota said.
“Voicemail,” Providence echoed.
Laughing, Stryker pulled out his phone and pushed away from the table. “It’s Cooper, I gotta take it.” He answered. “My family is so pissed at you right now.” As he went into the house, Emerson heard him say, “What about Spinetti?”
Conversations resumed. When Stryker returned, a shadow had fallen over his face, his brow knitted in frustration. “I’ve gotta take off.” He swept his gaze over the adults, pausing on Emerson.
“That’s my cue.” Emerson rose, plate in hand.
“Stay,” Providence said. “We’ll take you home later.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got a ton of work to do,” Emerson said, before regarding Stryker. “Can you drop me off?”
“Yeah,” he replied, curtly. Whatever Cooper had told him had gotten under his skin.
They pulled on their leathers and returned to the porch to say goodbye.
“Emerson, make sure Stryker brings you next Sunday,” Heather said.
“We’re having our first sleepover with all five grandbabies,” Gordon said. “There will only be anextif we survive tonight.” Everyone laughed. “Heather, honey,whatwere we thinking?”
