Page 26 of Rocky Mountain Devil

“What’s that big sigh for?” Nicole asked.

Laurel blinked in surprise, waiting until the waitress had finished putting their plates in front of them. “Did I sigh?”

“Hugely.” Her friend glanced around the café then lowered her voice. “Something else is going on that you’re not telling me.”

“Turn in your accountant badge for a detective one. Something shiny, just like you.”

“That’s not a denial,” Nicole pointed out.

“Right.” She picked up her hamburger and took a big bite.

“Laurel…”

She took her time swallowing. “Yes?”

Nicole eyed her. “This whole strong, silent thing doesn’t work for me. And it’s totally not you.”

Maybe it hadn’t been her this summer, but she’d had more than enough practice staying quiet over the past three years about all sorts of things.

Credit where credit was due, though… “You’re right. You bring out the noisy in me.”

“I bring out thebestin you, and don’t you forget it.” Nicole looked her over carefully. “You know what? After Troy’s home we need a night out. Girl time—I’ll make sure he’s happy with Netflix and junk food, and we can take off and talk until we’re sick of each other.”

Even though Laurel wished she could sweep everything under a rug and forget, it probably wasn’t a good idea. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to share, but bouncing a few of her concerns off someone she trusted couldn’t hurt.

She nodded firmly. “Deal. You need me to help move stuff tonight?”

Nic shook her head. “Mike offered to box everything up first because I’m going to the hospital, so tomorrow and the next day we’ll move it and unpack.”

“I can bring something for supper tomorrow, then.”

“Sounds good. I have potluck planned for everyone who’s coming to help. If you bring your red velvet cupcakes for dessert, I’ll love you forever.” She batted her lashes.

Laurel smiled. “Five thirty?”

“Perfect.”

They chatted about inconsequential things as they finished their meals. Nicole hugged her tight before they headed off in different directions.

Laurel was struck by how much the world changed in a blink of an eye. For years she’d lived in the same town as Nic, crossing paths and never thinking anything of it, yet after one chance meeting three months ago, they’d become really good friends.

Rafe. He’d been a rock and a safe place to her forever, but the way she’d thought about him had changed in an instant.

And…Jeff. The whole situation with Jeff.

Another example of when one moment to the next, her world had changed.

Some changes were good, some not, and yet there didn’t seem to be any way to control the outcomes of those small, all-important moments. All she could do was the next thing. React, and hope she picked the right path at each fork in the road.

Laurel returned to the library, clinging to the good sensations Rafe had sparked the night before. Chatting quietly with him had been like old times. Comfortable, fun. No unanswerable expectations.

He was Rafe—sheknewhim. A slow peace returned to her soul.

Peace, plus a whole lot of quivering anticipation for the next time they’d be together. Thinking about his kisses and his touch wasn’t a bad way to distract herself and pass the time until she could go home and make official sixth-of-September contact.

It was totally working. Most of the afternoon passed before she rounded the corner of the stacks to discover her father at the front counter, chatting quietly with her coworkers.

He glanced up as she approached, and that’s all it took for her calm to evaporate. She knew that look. It was the same long-suffering expression she’d seen every time he’d been called to the office after one of her and Rafe’s scrapes had landed them in hot water.