Everett studied him. “You sound like a man who’s been there.”
“Still am,” Wolfe said quietly. “But I learned to draw lines. Took me a long time—and a woman with more patience than sense—to make sure I didn’t forget what mattered.”
He stared at his boss, faintly surprised he’d used the analogy of lines. The image of Rowan’s tat flashed in his mind.
Find your line.
An odd sense of familiarity and foreboding washed through him. Wolfe turned and continued. “The job comes with a ton of perks and money. But it’ll also require some travel and longer hours.” His blue eyes were sharp. “You ever draw those lines?”
No. He hadn’t. Yet, suddenly, with the promotion looming and the summer almost over, he wanted to. He didn’t want to leave Rowan behind, but he had no choice. “Not yet.”
“I’m sorry, Everett.”
His chin jerked up as he refocused on his boss. “Taking away my almost-promotion already?” he joked.
Wolfe gave him a level stare. “No. It’s worse. You love her.”
He blinked. It was the second time this man had managed to shock him. “What?”
Wolfe waved a hand in the air. “Sorry, I’m worse than my wife and she used to be a matchmaker before she became a surgeon. Watching you both dragged me back to the past—when I was trying to tell myself Gen wasn’t meant for me. That things would be too complicated. Much easier to turn away from it than step into the mess.”
“Forget Hallmark. I think you’re a shrink.”
His boss grinned. “Nope, I was on the other side of the shrink’s couch.”
He shifted in his seat, slightly uncomfortable. Having a heart-to-heart with the man who could fire or promote him wasn’t his usual MO, but something about tonight made him want to open up. “We’re getting close,” he said carefully, skirting around bigger, scarier terms. “I’ve never felt like this. I’m gone in two weeks and I can’t see how a long-distance relationship can work. But when I think about leaving her ...”
“You feel sick.”
Everett nodded. “Kelsey is also attached. Somehow, we all became close and now it’s ...”
“Fucked.”
He couldn’t help but laugh at the way Wolfe finished his sentences. “Yeah. And I’m not sure what to do or even how to have the conversation.”
Wolfe tapped the edge of his glass, gaze narrowed in thought. “I suck at love advice. Gen was patient with me, and Mama Conte—another important woman in my life—showed me I was allowed to ask for more. Maybe it’s as simple as telling Rowan exactly how you feel. Maybe you ask her to go back to New York with you. Maybe you find a way to make it work long-distance for a while. If she makes you happy, it’s worth fighting for.”
The speech stirred him. “Thanks. Gonna think about all that.”
“Good. Hallmark time officially over. Let’s order something sweet for the table.”
The macadamia tart had crusted edges of caramel with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Rowan and Gen returned, and they all attacked the dessert with gusto. When the check had been paid, the women shared a warm hug.
“Have a wonderful rest of your vacation,” Rowan said. “Please reach out if you want to try those lessons.”
“Thanks! We’ll see if we can squeeze it in. There’s a lot we want to do while we’re here.”
Wolfe shook Everett’s hand. “Good luck with the opening. I’ll see you back in New York.”
They parted ways and Everett drove Rowan back to his place since Kelsey was sleeping over at Chelsea’s house. She was quiet on the drive, obviously lost in her thoughts, but each time he prodded, she gave him a smile and said nothing.
“Want to have some wine on the balcony?” he asked after they’d kicked off their shoes and Rowan let her hair loose.
“Sounds good.” He poured two glasses and they sat outside, chairs pushed together, her legs stretched out on his lap. The moon shimmered and the roar of the waves filled the air. His soul eased into quiet as he massaged her calf, lightly stroking across the scar on her knee.
“I got in the water. I surfed.”
His head spun around to meet her gaze. “Wait—you did? Was Lea with you? Tino? Tell me what happened.”
