Chapter 52
Elenie
“I guess he was lucky there was no umbrella in the cocktail or he could have lost an eye.”
Milo continued to find the story of Ben and Zena’s public humiliation utterly hilarious. It might just have been that he was sleep-deprived or high on the excitement of becoming a father. Either way, he’d laughed himself sick.
Elenie paid little attention—not to Milo, not to Dougie and Summer who had pulled up chairs to join them, nor to the general hum in Diner 43 going on around her.
Roman, chatting now in a low voice to Otto on the other side of the table, had told her in detail about the events of his evening in the city. She had no further interest in Zena or her misguided affair, because five-day-old Annie Walker, on her first proper outing, was fast asleep in her arms. Wrapped in the softest pink blanket, knitted by Summer in the color of flamingo feathers, the baby’s fingers flexed and twitched as she dreamed.
“She’s so beautiful, Caitlyn,”
Elenie whispered.
“I know. How the hell did I make something so perfect?”
They leaned closer together on the bench seat of the booth, shoulders touching as they smiled at Caitlyn’s daughter.
Delia slapped a tray down in front of them and Annie startled in her sleep.
“Five coffees, one hot chocolate, and a tea.”
Glaring full-on machetes rather than just daggers, the diner owner clattered the cups noisily onto the Formica.
“I need you back at work, Elenie—I’m up to my ass in alligators! I’ve had to pay out for a relief chef this week just so I can wait on tables.”
Elenie blinked at her impassively. Welcome to my world.
“I’ll be back in on Monday, like I told you.”
Losing her job held less fear for her now. The baby pulled a frowny face, pursed her lips, and settled again in Elenie’s arms.
“Those alligators are braver than I am.”
Dougie’s muttered aside followed Delia as she stormed away, short legs going like the clappers.
“I’ll let her get back over to the serving hatch before I remind her about my maple swirl.”
Otto stirred his coffee, slowly and deliberately, a devilish smile playing on his lined face.
He’d immediately offered Elenie a place to live when he heard about the raids and her arrest. Since she didn’t have to worry about reprisals anymore, it was the perfect solution for now. Although Roman’s cabin had become her favorite place on earth, she desperately needed time to assimilate all that had happened. Otto would be the perfect landlord while she found her feet.
“Any sign of Craig Perry?”
asked Milo.
Roman shook his head.
“Seems to have gone to ground.”
Elenie knew he’d taken great satisfaction in pointing the US Securities and Exchange Commission in Craig’s direction. The emails and recorded phone calls that June Reed Sanders had sent Roman were damning. It looked likely that Perry would soon be under investigation for fraud, false accounting, and tax evasion.
“It’ll be fun to catch up with him when he’s back in town.”
There was both threat and promise in the smile Milo shared with Roman.
“Chief Martinez?”
Seven heads turned at the hesitant inquiry. Millie Westlake shuffled her feet. Her cheeks flushed slowly from white to pink, but her chin was high and her face held more than a flash of her old confidence. She directed her words to Roman, her eyes on Elenie all the while.
“I’ve been calling the helpline—it’s made a big difference and I think I’ve gotten my head straight now. I’d like to make a statement, if it’s not too late.”
“It’s never too late, Millie.”
Warmth coated Roman’s reassurance and Elenie fell a little more in love with him.
“Can you come into the station this afternoon with your parents?”
The teenager nodded, exhaling a tremulous breath.
“Let’s say two o’clock, and I’ll see you then.”
Elenie loaded all the gratitude and admiration she could into the look she exchanged with Millie before the younger girl turned and walked away.
“I’m really sorry we weren’t there to bust you out of jail.”
Summer bumped her gently.
Caitlyn sighed.
“The likelihood of me ever being a getaway driver is looking slimmer all the time.”
“Inexcusable, I’m afraid.”
Elenie tucked Annie’s tiny hands back inside the blanket.
“It’s not even as if you were doing anything important.”
“That kid’s got a lot to answer for,”
said Caitlyn.
“I’ll give her some chores to do as soon as we get home. She needn’t think she’ll get away with stuff just because she’s cute.”
“Don’t you listen.”
Elenie pressed her lips to the baby’s fluffy hair.
“She doesn’t mean it and I forgive you. Your mom is a superstar. If I ever need a getaway driver, she’ll be my go-to. Summer will paint your toenails and I’ll warn you about boys and teach you how to swear at people in languages they don’t understand.”
“Hey, boys aren’t all bad,”
Milo protested, no heat in his complaint.
Elenie glanced over at Roman. His rangy frame took up much of the space on the other side of the booth. Elbows resting on the table, he watched her holding the baby, his face soft and relaxed. Catching her eye, he gave her the sexiest wink and a grin that was fire and temptation all rolled into one.
This man who had never judged her, who was honest to his core, actually loved her. She had no reason not to believe him.
It had been four days since he’d held her so tightly she could barely breathe—warm, firm, familiar, and offering everything she’d ever wanted. He’d given her the tools to save herself, the incentive to demand more. And then he’d opened his arms and offered himself. Roman might say that she’d saved him. But he’d saved her right back. They’d come out of the storm together.
A smile, as luminous as fall leaves in the Michigan sunshine, spread over Elenie’s face. Her heart shone in her eyes, laughter lilting her voice.
“You’re right,”
she conceded.
“Some of them are pretty special.”