Page 7

7

A mber puttered around her kitchen. She stopped in front of the sink, placed her hands on the edge, and looked out the window filled with mini ceramic pots filled with succulents. It was the second morning after she’d been narrowly kidnapped. The first morning she woke with her eyes puffy and red and spent with Caris. Bless her employer. She couldn’t have wished for a better therapist, but thank god she was so much more, including her friend.

She’d needed Caris’s calm strength and ability to listen without interruption. Amber knew she was also strong enough to get over the attack, but she was having trouble with the what-ifs. What if she hadn’t gone to the party? What if she had left earlier? What if Royce hadn’t been there to save her?

A loud knock interrupted her thoughts. She looked down at her robe. Dang it, she hadn’t showered yet. The pounding increased. Then a loud voice sounded, “Amber, it’s Sophie, Zoe, and Reese. Sweetie, we have chocolate.”

She tightened her belt and walked with a slight hop in her step. Yeah, chocolate sounded just about right. “Is it dark chocolate or—” A slightly befuddled teenage boy stood awkwardly between the women, a large bouquet of flowers in his arms.

“Um, are you, Ms. Amber Wyatt.” A slight flush appearing upon his face as his gaze traveled to her legs. “Here, you go.” He mumbled after thrusting the flowers into her arms and made a quick escape.

She took the vase with overflowing blooms, a mix of white and blush Peonies, Ranunculus, and greenery. She chuckled at the teenager's reaction to her short robe. “Hi. Come on in.” She placed the gorgeous arrangement onto her dining table and turned around and was engulfed by love.

“How are you? What do you need?” Sophie asked.

“I hope that bag of crap never sees the light of day. Because if he does, I’ll track him down, and no one will be able to find his body.” Reese added.

Tears threatened to fall, but Amber shook her head, and laughter won out. “Good to know. And I’ve spoken to the prosecuting attorney already; gave him my statement yesterday. That loser is now a three-time loser. He assured me he’s going away for a long time.”

“Thank the Lord. Everyone is so upset for you, Amber. Let’s sit. What can we do for you?” Sophie put an arm over her shoulder and guided her to the sofa.

Amber sat and looked from one friend to another. “This is perfect. You both, here, with chocolate. Gimmie.”

They broke into laughter and maybe a few tears. “I can make coffee, or?—”

“Dammit, I was going to pick up some lattes on my way over. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll have your favorite dinner delivered tonight. I was in such a hurry to see you; I forgot.” Reese sat on the other side of Amber. “Are you sleeping? Did that creep hurt you? We heard from Royce that the paramedics took you to the hospital, but Caris said she brought you home an hour later.”

“Yes, no, and yes. I have Caris down as my emergency contact, and she was so great. She stayed with me all night and made me soup and…” Amber noticed concern on her friends’ faces. And worry. “Hey, I’m fine. I’m going to be fine, really. I had my very own hero. And he rescued me before…before anything bad happened.”

Sophie and Reese exchanged a look Amber couldn’t read. But she had a sinking feeling it had something to do with Royce. “What’s going on? You both look guilty.”

“Hey, let’s see you sent you those awesome flowers.” Reese jumped up and ran over to the table and took the white envelope off the plastic holder thingy, and brought it back to Amber.

The writing was obviously not the sender’s, so she had no clue who’d sent them. She pulled out the small white card and read, “To the bravest woman I know. You’ll get through this. If you need to talk or text, here’s my number.” It was signed Royce . The lettering looked masculine. Had he gone to the florists and picked everything out and wrote the card out in his own hand?

A tiny thrill went through her, and a low pulse somersaulted in her abdomen. He’d sent her flowers. Her favorite flowers. How had he known?

“Wow, I mean, yeah he’s my brother, and I love him, but he’s not the flower sending kind of guy. Um, that was really sweet.” Reese stared at the flowers, then the card, confusion, and something else Amber couldn’t read appeared on her friend's face.

“That is really nice. I didn’t think you two were friends, not that he needs to be a friend to send you flowers or anything. It’s just, you know, like Reese said, really sweet.” Zoe smiled, concern written all over her face.

They all sat in silence for a moment. Amber didn’t want to attach too much meaning to Royce Kincaid sending her a bouquet of her favorite flowers. He was a nice guy. A nice, hot guy who she didn’t want to see her as a victim. Her shoulders fell, and she leaned back into the sofa cushions and sighed.

It was probably for the best anyway. They needed to be firmly in the friend zone. He didn’t need his sister’s wrath coming down on him, and Amber couldn’t think of a way to approach Royce and suggest well what she really wanted from him and then be able to keep it a secret. She wasn’t that good of an actress. But maybe…she’d have to think about it. Because after what had happened the other night had woken her up. Life was fragile, and anytime it could be taken away.

The rest of the morning was spent with them. They were the best friends a girl could have. After a quick shower, they took her out to her favorite place for eggs benedict and a huge side of crispy hash browns. They talked about normal things and argued over who in their tight circle would get pregnant. A baby boom was in the making, and Amber had to wonder at Reese’s odd moments of weepiness. It was not like her. She didn’t say her thoughts out loud but would put good money on another bundle making an appearance soon.

“Okay, it’s settled. We’ll get everyone together one last time before the weather turns colder. I think we can talk Lara into hosting. I’ll bribe her with catering the event from my restaurant.”

“Yeah, well you’re going to have to bribe her with a year’s supply of the lobster mac and cheese because she told me Luke wanted out of the “hosting” duties. He claims he’s tired of his friends using their guest bedroom as a place to hook up.”

Reese’s face turned beet red. “No comment.”

“You? Did you and Connor…um, have a little encounter at Luke’s place?”

Reese didn’t answer. She grabbed the check and made a beeline for the cashier.

Sophie and Zoe laughed. Then Sophie leaned in and said, “I heard it was one of the rookies, but it makes sense if it was her and Connor. Their chemistry was through the roof as I recall. Well, it still is. Anyway, I’ll call you after I talk to Lara, okay?” She looked back at Reese still at the front of the café. “Between you and me, and you have to swear I never said a word, but Connor is going to propose to Reese.”

Amber bit her tongue to keep from shouting. “It’s about damn time.”

“Right? But from what Grant got out of him, he had some issues about his parents' failed marriage to resolve. I’m just happy he’s ready. I know Reese has put on a brave face, but she’s been wanting this for a while. And I know she wants to start a family.”

So many changes. She was happy for Reese. Connor was the perfect man for her, and he was beyond lucky to have Reese. It just seemed like she was the only one, well and Evie, having a hard time finding someone who was the exact right fit. But, perhaps before she got serious about finding the right one, she’d go after the one was right for her now.