With him on leave for at least another week, they spent their days out—at a movie, lunch, or even a walk on Navy Pier or along Chicago’s lakefront trail—anything to keep her mind distracted until her shift started at Kincaid’s for the evening. He’d even treated her to a sundae at Ghirardelli’s in the city, a place she’d always wanted to go to as a kid but had never had the opportunity.
Seeing her relaxed, laughing and smiling and gazing at him so affectionately, only solidified his growing feelings for her and made him more determined than ever to show her how perfectly she fit into his life, in so many ways. He’d never believed he’d settle down with just one person, never thought there would ever be a woman who understood not only his personal quirks but also his painful past. But Sarah accepted him, damaged past, flaws, and all.
Having been a waitress a few times before, she’d made an easy transition to the bar. She was efficient, competent, great with customers, and every night she’d come home with a good amount in tip money—far more than she was making at Circle K. He knew she was squirreling that cash away, and for now he let her, because there was no sense in arguing over wanting her to remain in Chicago with him when she still felt threatened by Dylan. Undoubtedly, a conversation like that would only push her away and make her more guarded. All he could do was show her how much she meant to him and how much he cared.
So far, Nick didn’t have much to report on Dylan. The guy used a post office box for any mail delivery, and his last known physical address had been an apartment he no longer lived at. Which meant he was probably residing solely at the Sacrosanct compound.
Levi had made his own calls and contacts at the Eighteenth District Police Department, where they had jurisdiction over Fairdale, to find out what they knew about the supposed community. Come to find out, Sacrosanct was already involved in a lengthy and ongoing investigation with the FBI and ATF for suspected weapons violations. They’d already issued a search warrant and thoroughly inspected the grounds and spoken with the members. The two agencies had even brought Rick, the leader of the group, in for an interview but had found nothing they could use to shut the place down.
If there was any wrongdoing going on, the community hid it well.
But none of that news meant that Sarah was safe, and every day that passed made Levi feel tenser about the situation.
Tonight, he was sitting on a stool at the far end of the bar at Kincaid’s in what had become his usual spot. He’d traded in his normal orange juice for a Sprite and lime, which had been Tara’s suggestion to shake things up, she’d teased him. As he nursed the drink, he kept his gaze on the Sunday evening crowd. It was the slowest day of the week but still busy enough to keep Sarah’s section full of customers.
“Everything still status quo?”
Levi pulled his gaze away from the main part of the bar, where the tables and dance floor were located, and glanced at his brother Mason, who slid onto the seat next to his. Over the last couple of nights, it had been Clay who’d hung out with Levi, not that he needed any backup when both his brothers had women at home they could be spending their time with. But it was nice to know they cared enough about Sarah, and what was going on with her, to keep themselves involved, even if it was just to keep him company for an hour or two while he waited for her shift to end.
“Nothing new to report,” Levi confirmed as he took another drink of his Sprite.
His brother gave him a lopsided smile and nudged the elbow Levi had braced on the bar. “That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yeah. But it’s frustrating, too,” he admitted, and when Mason gave him a curious look, he elaborated. “It’s this stupid catch-twenty-two feeling of wanting something to happen so it can just be over for Sarah so she can put this entire incident behind her, and dreading it being over.”
Mason smirked, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Damn, I’m having a hard time believing that Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collected has fallen in love, though it’s nice to know you’re human, after all, beneath all that straight-laced control,” he joked.
Levi ignored Mason’s wisecrack and instead frowned at him as he focused on the first part of that sentence. “I never said I was in love with Sarah.”
“Are you saying you aren’t?” Mason countered with a raised brow. “Because if that’s the case, I’m going to have to call you out for being a fucking liar.”
Levi blinked at Mason, stunned by the fact that his sibling—who’d once thought of love as a dirty word—was now suddenly an expert on Levi’s emotions. He would have called out Mason for being a dick, but the thing was, his brother was actually being sincere in his encouragement, and that in itself was a shocking change, too.
Levi narrowed his gaze at Mason. “Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my self-centered, asshole brother?”
Mason chuckled, not at all offended by Levi’s comment, not when they’d spent most of their adult lives antagonizing one another. “Blame Katrina,” he said with a sappy grin that told Levi just how whipped his brother truly was. “I know it sounds trite and corny, but she’s made me a better man. But I have to admit that I still have my asshole moments, so don’t go thinking I’m a total pussy.”
Levi laughed. Yeah, his brother was a changed man, for the better, thanks to the woman who’d stuck by his side for twelve long years as his best friend. Katrina and Mason were made for each other, like two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together. Exactly the same way he felt about Sarah . . . but love? He cared deeply for her, and their connection was far more intense than anything he’d ever experienced, but honestly, Levi was afraid to believe it could really be true.
His heart pounded hard and fast in his chest as he glanced from the man who’d just sat down at the opposite end of the bar by himself and ordered a drink from Tara, to Mason. “What makes you think I’m in love with her?”
Mason rolled his eyes. “Jesus Christ, and here I thought I was dense when it came to my feelings for Katrina.
Here’s a simple question for you. Are you willing to let her walk out of your life and never see her again once this is all over?”
His answer was immediate, because he’d already thought about the possibility of Sarah leaving him once she knew she was safe, and it made his gut twist with turmoil. “No.”
Mason tapped a few fingers on the top of the bar. “In order to keep her, are you prepared to offer Sarah something more than whatever this temporary arrangement between the two of you is?”
“Yes.” Another automatic reply he didn’t need to contemplate, even as he watched Sarah deliver a tray of drinks to a couple at a table, then switched his gaze back to the man at the end of the bar who kept glancing over his shoulder to look at something . . . or someone. “Of course.”
“Like . . . forever?” Mason asked, very seriously.
Yes. The realization made him breathless, because forever meant the rest of his life. And Jesus Christ, he wanted that with Sarah. He wanted to give her everything she’d been robbed of since the death of her family. Everything she deserved and more. He wanted to take care of her, protect her, and yes, love her.
“Oh, fuck,” he breathed in shock, and awe as well. He loved Sarah.
“Ahhh, the light bulb finally went on.” Mason grinned knowingly. “Both Clay and I have seen the way you look at her, the way you’ve upended your own life to help her when you’ve never done that for any other woman. We recognized the signs before you did because we’ve both been there. You just have to figure out the rest for yourself.”