Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest 1)

“It’s all I have at the moment.” He rose to his feet. “Where can I find him?” he asked of Rex.

She swallowed. “He’s in Nevada.”

“Vegas?” Mike asked.

His mother nodded.

“Figures,” Mike muttered.

“What are you going to do?” she asked, wringing her hands as she spoke.

He met his mother’s gaze and answered honestly. “I have no fuc

king idea.”

She blanched at his language, but she didn’t correct him, obviously knowing he deserved the outburst.

“I have to go.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Tell Dad I said hi.”

“Mike, please. Calm down and let’s talk again before you do anything.”

He wasn’t making any promises. “I love you,” he said, before walking out the door and into the cold sunshine and bright light of day.

He was numb. Angry. Hurt. Pissed. And he had to work it all out before he picked up Cara tonight and took her out with old friends. Or the night he’d been looking forward to was going to end up being a nightmare instead.

Cara was more excited about dinner than she let herself admit. But before she could focus, she needed to do some grocery shopping because her fridge was empty. She pushed a cart up and down the aisle in the Food Mart, following the list she’d made. She often cooked on Sunday, freezing some meals for the week, so she stocked up on both basics and snack foods.

As she turned into the last aisle, she paused the cart by the milk, looked up, and saw her mother standing with a small basket in her hand, studying the orange juice.

“Mom!” Cara said, before she could think through that she’d been avoiding her.

Natalie Hartley glanced up. “Cara!” She strode over and hugged Cara, her pleasure in seeing her daughter obvious.

Despite Cara’s frustrations with how her mother chose to live her life, Cara adored her and missed her like crazy. She tried hard not to let herself think too hard about how much—or she ended up sad and melancholy. The holidays were especially hard. Cara often ended up at the Marsdens’ or with Alexa and her dad, instead of being with her own parents.

“How are you?” Cara asked, inhaling the floral, fragrant scent she associated with the better parts of her childhood.

“Fine.” Her mother’s gaze darted to the left and right before focusing on Cara. “What about you? Are you well? Happy?”

Cara swallowed the painful lump in her throat. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

Her mother couldn’t even go to the grocery store by herself. She was surprised he’d left her alone in an aisle. “He went to pick up soda we forgot. Talk to me quick, before he comes back. Are you well, honey?”

Cara nodded. “I’m good.”

“My baby, a police officer. I’m so proud,” her mother said, tucking Cara’s hair behind one ear.

She blushed. “Mom.” Cara shook her head. “I—”

“Nat, let’s go now!” Cara’s father’s voice interrupted her midsentence.

She’d been about to tell her mother she missed her.

“I have to go.” Natalie’s shoulders had slumped, and she didn’t look Cara in the eye. “I love you.”

“Tell him one minute. We’re just talking.” Cara heard the plea in her voice.

“Baby, move it. It’s time to make lunch,” her father ordered.