Of Spice and Men by Sarah Fox

Author:Sarah Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2017-11-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Instead of following Wildwood Road home, I headed toward the ocean, deciding to take the beach route. It added a couple of minutes to my journey, but I longed for a few moments of peace by the water before I met my fears head-on and got in touch with Brett.

The beach was deserted, even the hardiest of souls having taken shelter from the worsening weather, and I welcomed the solitude. The tide was almost at its highest point, the waves crashing onto shore, wild and frothy white. The buffeting wind blew my hair and ocean spray into my face, and I had to wipe my sleeve across my eyes several times before I reached home.

When I arrived at my Victorian, I let myself in through the back door and sighed with relief as I shut it behind me, blocking out the rising storm. After the roaring of the wind and ocean, the house seemed to ring with silence. Flapjack had been snoozing on the couch, but now he stood up and stretched before hopping down to wind figure eights around my legs.

“Hey, buddy.” I kicked off my sneakers and lifted Flapjack into my arms. “I think this is a good day for you to stay indoors.”

He purred and bumped his head against my chin. I smiled, but then pressed my face into his fur, nervous flutters in my stomach reminding me of what I was about to do. As curious as I was about Jamal’s phone conversation and its possible implications, Brett was my priority and I wasn’t going to let anything—not even a murder investigation—stop me from reaching out to him.

Once I had a cup of tea in hand, I snatched a paperback mystery off the coffee table and headed upstairs to my bedroom, Flapjack following me. As I climbed the stairs, I tried not to dwell on any what-ifs. Thinking about worst-case scenarios for the future of my relationship with Brett wouldn’t do anything except make me sick with anxiety. Still, butterflies fluttered nervously in my stomach as I curled up on the cozy window seat in my bedroom.

Flapjack hopped up to join me, sprawling out at my feet and washing his front paws, with not a care in the world. If only I felt the same.

From the window seat I had a perfect view of the stormy ocean, but once I’d set down my book and cup of tea, I focused on my phone rather than the world beyond the window. I hesitated for only a second before quickly typing out a text message to Brett.

I’m ready to talk. Whenever you’re free.

With another flutter of nerves, I sent the message.

I set down my phone and picked up my book, hoping I’d be able to keep myself distracted until I heard back from Brett. The story was a good one, but it didn’t hold my attention. When I realized that I’d read the same paragraph three times, I gave up and set the book down. As I took a sip of tea, my gaze wandered to the window and the stormy view beyond it.

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