of time,” she continued defending. “I could be earning a living and moving on with my life.” She rewound what she’d said and closed her eyes. “I didn’t mean I’m wasting time with you. I meant—”
“Pancakes!” Gramps called. “Get in here before Lila and I eat them all!”
When she opened her eyes, Brady’s expression was carefully neutral.
“You don’t have to explain why you’re doing what you’re doing, Elli Bean. I just wanted to make sure the choices you’re making are for you for this time around. That you live the life you want and not the one someone is trying to create for you.” He bit down on his bottom lip, chagrined. “Guess that goes for me, too. Hell, I’d love it if you stick around. But you know that already. I respect your decision.”
He stood and helped her to her feet. Her heart raced as she took his hand. He’d said what she thought she wanted to hear. That the decision was hers. That he wouldn’t interfere. But at the same time, she felt like he was letting her go.
And like watching him leave last night, being let go felt awful.
Chapter 19
Brady hated to acknowledge it, but part of him was rooting against Elliott.
On Sunday, they’d eaten pancakes and laughed at Gramps’s colorful sense of humor. Brady had witnessed firsthand the chink his grandfather put in her armor. Seemed only fair. She’d battered Brady’s suit of armor half to hell.
But another part of him, the part that understood she was on her own journey and needed to make choices for herself, was betting on her to win. Her journey was just that: hers. He’d started up with her because he wanted her, not because he’d intended on forever and ever amen with her.
At least that’s what he kept telling himself.
“No charge, officer.” Elli pressed a button, shoved some cash from her pocket into the cash drawer and closed it before he could pay for his coffee. Jo chuckled, one hand on the bakery case, the other hand on her hip.
“Do you train your baristas to be this stubborn?” he asked.
“This one came with that feature. Didn’t need training,” Jo said. “I’ll miss her when she goes. Haven’t you talked her into staying yet?”
Elli’s playful smile tightened at the corners. Jo didn’t know she was dancing around a landmine, so he let her off the hook.
“You know me, Jo. Can’t tie me down. I’m a loner.” He slid his sunglasses onto his nose and his radio crackled in his ear. He recognized the address of the call. Mack and June Browning’s house.
Adrenaline shot down his arms as he recalled their last heated exchanged. When he’d punched Mack. Took Lila. Left June crying.
He pressed a button on the radio and replied he was on his way.
“Is everything okay?” Elliott’s concern for him was written all over her face.
The truth was no, everything wasn’t okay. A call to Mack’s likely meant he was hitting his wife again, and this time, if June didn’t press charges, Brady might kidnap her and relocate her to an undisclosed location. Protocol or not.
“If Brady’s answerin’ the call, everything will be okay. Won’t it, Officer?” Jo knew plenty. Including Mack’s address. She’d employed June for a short while until Mack had refused to let her work. That reminded Brady of what Elli had been through, and the thought of her bending to her ex’s will made him want to chew nails.
“Perfectly fine.” He gave Elliott a cocky smile to communicate that she didn’t have to worry about him. “I’m a professional.”
He turned to leave, coffee in hand, when she called out, “Dinner at my house tonight? Seven o’clock?”
Slowly, he turned. She was standing at the counter, her face filled with a desperate sort of hope. He hadn’t expected the invitation. She’d blown him off since the visit with Gramps. He’d seen her here at the shop, and they’d had a few short text exchanges, but she hadn’t been eager to invite him over.
Until now, evidently.
The smart move would be to turn her down. She was leaving soon, and there was no sense in dragging this out longer than necessary. Except the look on her face was killing him. Her concern combined with ample longing was his weakness.
“Everything goes the way it should, I can be there at eight.” He had a full day ahead, but he wouldn’t miss the chance to spend time with her. Maybe she’d changed her mind about the Cove after all. And about