Because after all, that was what mattered most to her father, Nicole thought.
Her father turned his gaze on her. “Now I suggest you and your friend head back to Serenity—”
“Serendipity,” Sam muttered, obviously disgusted that the man didn’t even know the name of the town where his daughter now lived.
Whatever, she thought. She just wanted to get out of here. “Good luck,” she said to her father.
He inclined his head. “Thank you for the heads-up. And thank you, Detective, for your help.”
The men shook hands, and none too soon Sam and Nicole were back in the car and speeding home to Serendipity. She didn’t have anything to say and kept quiet.
“That went well,” Sam said.
She leaned her head back against the seat. “About as I expected.”
Keeping his gaze on the road, he placed his hand on hers. Although his touch usually warmed her, today she was ice cold, inside and out, her father’s behavior having reminded her of her place, not just in his life, but in Sam’s.
Passing through.
“It’s almost over,” Sam said, and she didn’t know if he referred to her father’s business mess or to them. After all, considering what he’d just witnessed, she wouldn’t blame him.
“Yeah,” she said, keeping her gaze on the passing scenery outside the car window. “It is.” She wanted nothing more than to get back to Serendipity and throw herself into her work.
At this moment she was glad he wasn’t a man looking for a serious relationship, because after viewing what she knew of love and affection, if he had been looking, he’d run far and fast from her now.
Sam couldn't remember the last time he hit up Joe’s on a Wednesday night without looking to see if Nicole was there or knowing he’d be meeting up with her later on. But something between them had changed. He would have thought it had to do with their visit to her father, but after the trip, she’d been distant, not gone.
It was Mike’s news the following morning—that the DEA bust had been successful, with the Russians picked up en masse while taking possession of a huge drug shipment—that had caused the shift. Now that Nicole was safe from their wrath, she no longer needed Sam’s protection, and she’d pulled away. As if their relationship had been one of convenience, based solely on his need to protect her, and with that need gone, so was she.
Which made no sense to Sam. One day she’d been warm and loving; the next she’d pulled away. He didn’t know what to do, so he’d given her the space she seemed to need. He’d backed off, letting her leave for work at the crack of dawn and drive herself home after dark, with no help from him.
And unlike before, she wasn’t making time for him afterward. She’d pushed him away. He missed her like crazy and he didn’t know what to do about it. With her grand opening coming up on Monday, he gave her the space she seemed to need, figuring he’d regroup and come at her from a different angle.
Since it was still early, Joe’s wasn’t crowded, the mood mellow. Slow music played on the jukebox and Sam nursed a beer, waiting for his brother to show.
“Problems with Nicole?” Mike asked, joining him at the bar.
Sam shrugged. “You could say that. She wants nothing to do with me.”
Mike hauled himself onto the neighboring stool and gestured to Joe. “I’ll have what Sam’s drinking. And get him another one.” Turning to Sam, he said, “You do something stupid?”
Joe slid two bottles their way.
“Thanks,” Mike said to the bartender.
Joe nodded and made his way to another customer at the other end of the room.
Sam glanced at his brother. “It’s a sad day when you’ve become the expert on women,” he muttered.
Mike raised an eyebrow. “I’ve always been the expert on women. It’s just that now I’m also the expert on keeping one.”
“Good one.” Sam let out a laugh before sobering. “Something changed. I don’t know if it had to do with me meeting her SOB father or her finding out she didn’t need protection anymore, but she froze me out.” He took a long pull of his beer, seeking solace in something, even alcohol.
Mike leaned against the old, scarred wooden counter. “When I showed up at a 911 call from a neighbor after Cara’s father abused her mother, she was mortified.” Mike’s scowl reflected just how he felt about the situation.
Sam understood. Cara’s entire life had been shaped by the fact that her mother hadn’t left her husband.
“Cara didn’t want me to know how bad things were, and if it were up to her, it would have been worse between us once I found out.”