Page 28 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

“My skills have improved over the years, as have the dishes I attempt. I suppose my palate became more refined, living in a place like Dallas. Yes, I still have standbys I fall back on. Mom’s meatloaf, in particular.

But I’ve become more adventurous, both in my eating and cooking.

If you’re really interested in me teaching you how to cook, though, I’d be happy to do so. ”

He grinned at her. “Or try to do so.”

That earned him a punch in the arm from her.

“I cook pretty much every night for myself once I get home from the office.”

As they finished transferring the last of the chili, and Darby said, “I’d like that. How is work going for you, Sawyer?”

He shrugged. “It’s different. I can say that.

No more high-profile murder trials. No prosecuting drug cartels.

I got my fill of those cases, Darby. A lot of days are slow, but family law is something important for citizens of a small town to have access to.

People here need wills drawn up. Custody agreements drafted.

I’m not limited to family law, though. I’ve handled traffic tickets.

Larceny. Aggravated assault. Overall, I’m happier than I have been in a long time. ”

“Are you dating anyone?” she asked, curious about his love life, especially since he did seem happy.

“I’ve had a stray date, here and there, since coming back home, but no one has caught my eye yet.” He paused. “It’s just hard to move on from Elizabeth.”

Sawyer had dated Elizabeth Pope his last year in law school and two years after their graduation.

They had become engaged, but Elizabeth was struck head on by a drunk driver two months before their wedding.

Sawyer had grieved deeply for his fiancée and had never dated anyone seriously since her death.

Darby suspected that he had moved back to Hawthorne, in part, to separate himself from memories of Elizabeth and their time together in Dallas.

“I know what you’re going to say,” he said.

“It’s been almost eight years since Elizabeth has been gone, but I just haven’t felt that spark with anyone else that I felt with her, Darby.

Do I hope to marry someday? I do. I want to be a husband and father.

Coming back to Hawthorne has given me a clean start.

We’ll see what the future holds. For you and me. ”

As they transported the slow cookers to Sawyer’s truck, she said, “I met someone. Someone I have pretty deep feelings for.”

He looked at her sympathetically. “Here you go, all these years without someone. And now that you’re leaving Kansas City, you find him.

” He shook his head. “Fate can be pretty cruel, Darby. I know it was a big decision to walk away from him to return to Hawthorne for this teaching and coaching opportunity.”

As Sawyer backed out of the driveway, she said, “The thing is, he’s here in Texas. And no, it didn’t influence my decision at all to take the job at HHS.”

Darby grew quiet, collecting her thoughts. Fortunately, her brother gave her space to do that very thing.

“I really like this guy, Sawyer. He lives in Dallas. While I was there, I spent most of my time with him. I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before, but he runs in a completely different world than mine.”

He stopped at a stop sign and looked at her. “It’s Jace Tanner, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “We hit it off at the wedding. Teased. Flirted some. But as I said, I spent a lot of time with him this past week.”

“Do you think he’s The One?” her brother asked quietly. “With Elizabeth, I knew from the first time she sat down in Constitutional Law next to me.”

Darby bit her lip. “I don’t know. He comes from a world of money.

His clients are famous. He negotiated multi-million dollar deals for them, and his percentage of those contracts is hefty.

He thinks nothing about dropping hundreds of dollars for dinner, while I’m happy with a meal at a Mom-and-Pop place in a strip shopping center. ”

“Besides the money angle, are you compatible?”

Her eyes misted with tears. “I would say very much so. What can I do, though? He’s in Dallas, living a kind of life you only see in the movies.

I’m on the cusp of starting a job teaching here in Hawthorne.

We all know teachers are one of the most underpaid professions, especially here in Texas. I just don’t see our worlds meshing.”

“I’m of the opinion that if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen for you, Darby. Maybe Jace is a stepping stone to the guy you’ll eventually wind up with. A way to transition to life here in Texas. You can see each other. Dallas isn’t that far away.”

She frowned at him. “Dallas is a world away from here, and you know that, Sawyer Montgomery.”

He shrugged. “Then keep it casual. See him once, twice a month. If it goes somewhere, you can cross that bridge then. But not now. Don’t borrow trouble, Darby.

Don’t fret over things which you have no control over.

Focus on you. Your new job. Jace is simply on the periphery right now.

Pull him into your world when you can and see where it goes. ”

By now, they had reached the Sutherlands’ spread.

Sawyer pulled his truck in the circular drive, behind another truck, and cut the engine.

She figured it was Chance’s truck since it looked ancient.

Her old high school friend wasn’t much for change.

She thought it might even be the truck he’d driven in college.

West appeared, Kelby right behind him, and West carried in one of the Crock-Pots of chili, while Sawyer grabbed the other one. Kelby hugged Darby tightly.

“I’m so glad to have you back here. To be in the same zip code is wonderful,” her friend declared. “We’re going to see a lot of each other, Darby.”

Kelby linked her arm through Darby’s and led her inside the house. She couldn’t help but think how much had happened in her life since she’d last been here to pick up a T-shirt to wear to the Hawks football game.

In the kitchen, the men plugged in the slow cookers and turned them on. Chance grabbed her and twirled her about.

“Good to see you, Montgomery. I hear you’re coming back to Hawthorne for good.”

“I am. I thought you might’ve been at the wedding last weekend.”

“I had a horse auction to attend.” Chance grinned at Eli and Autumn. “These two got hitched so fast, I didn’t have time to make other plans.” He looked around. “I see the chili. Where’s that cornbread you’re famous for, Sawyer?”

“Autumn’s bringing the cornbread,” Kelby told her brother. “I’ve got all the other fixings. We can start pulling those from the fridge now. Green onions. Sour cream. You name it, I’ve got it.”

As they filled the island with the condiments for the chili, a sense of peace washed over Darby. Though she still hadn’t heard from Jace since his thumbs up text, she decided she would make the first move and contact him now that she was back in Hawthorne.

And see not only where things stood between them, but if Jace wanted to explore a deeper relationship with her.