Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest 2)

“Nicole got in touch with Sam. Said she called her mother, who did know the antiques dealer, and she gave Sam an address where she thinks her sister set up house. It’s about twenty minutes from here,” Mike said.

“You going to check it out?”

“Yeah. I’ll wait to hear if you find Victoria.”

Mike clicked off and Cole returned to where Erin stood. “Mike thinks he has a lead on where Victoria’s hiding out.”

“If he finds her, we won’t have to go through with tonight?” she asked, stark relief in her voice.

“You don’t have to go through with it no matter what. We can still opt to wait her out, hope she shows herself eventually.”

And damn if a part of him wished she’d choose that option.

• • •

Erin hadn’t dressed up nor gone out for fun in so long that despite the circumstances, she put thought and effort into her style. Maternity clothes or not, she wanted to look good. And she wanted to hang out with her friends before all hell broke loose, so she called Trina and Macy to make sure they’d be there for moral support. She hadn’t filled them in on the details of the plan. She wanted to do it in person.

She also wanted an outlet for the stress building inside her. Mike had called earlier, and he’d found Victoria’s location, but not the woman herself. He wondered if she’d been tipped off by her sister, but unable to prove it, he said he had to live with Sam keeping an eye out.

But Mike had gone to check out Victoria’s place himself, and the house had creeped her brother out. Inside, there were photos of Cole from afar, both framed and laying around, making it look like it had come from an episode of Criminal Minds. Or at least America’s Most Obsessed—not that there was such a thing.

She and Cole were going to Joe’s separately, in order to make a statement they’d further reinforce later. Erin knew the plan. She’d crafted it herself, but she hoped she could be as good an actress as it required.

She walked downstairs to see Cole pacing the front hall. “Cara should be here soon to pick me up.”

He faced her, looking delicious in faded denim and a soft gray T-shirt that, as usual, hugged him in all the right places. Erin did her best not to drool.

“We’ll get her,” he promised, obviously focused on the plan and not their imminent parting.

She forced a smile. “We’d better. This hiding out is getting old.”

“I can’t imagine how bored you’d get on a good old-fashioned stakeout.” He paused to glance out the window before facing her again.

She laughed. “I’d probably want to hang myself.”

His grin lightened the more somber mood that had been hanging over them for too long. Since she’d opened her big mouth and he’d moved out of the bedroom.

The sound of a car horn broke the silence between them and Erin tore her gaze from his. “I’ll see you at Joe’s.”

Cole raised his hand in farewell.

Erin drew a deep breath and walked out the door.

• • •

At Joe’s, surrounded by friends, Erin could only focus on one thing. “Where’s Cole?” she quietly asked Cara, who sat by her side.

“I don’t know. He should have been here by now. Wasn’t he ready to leave when I picked you up?”

Erin nodded. “He said he’d be a few minutes behind me.”

“Have you called him?”

Erin tipped her head to the side and glared at her sister-in-law.

“Okay, dumb question.” Cara laughed. “Let’s talk about something else while we wait for showtime. How are you handling everyone knowing your secret?” She reached out and patted Erin’s stomach.

Erin took a sip of her club soda. “Considering I haven’t been allowed to leave the house since the news broke, just fine.”