Concealed Hearts (Hometown Jasper #4) - Nicky James Page 0,27

area.”

“Let me know the minute you arrive, and I’ll meet you there. I’m packing a change of clothes so I won’t need to run home.”

“Deal.”

We were quiet for a few minutes as reality sank in. We were really doing this. If I thought too much about it, the risks made me want to change my mind. Windsor was confident we wouldn’t have a problem, so I had to believe him. He didn’t want to get outed any more than I did.

“Are you in bed?” His voice croaked with his question.

“You know I am. It’s become our thing. Are you?”

“Yes.”

And tomorrow we would be in bed together. A thought occurred to me during that quiet, shared moment. I doubted Windsor had considered the necessities of specific bedroom supplies. I would need to ensure I grabbed a few things before I left town.

“I should let you get some rest,” he said after a long pause. “You have a long drive tomorrow.”

“I do.”

“Let me know when you hit the road.”

“I will.”

“And please, drive safe. I’ll be antsy until you get here.”

“Don’t worry yourself sick.”

Another long pause.

“It’s surreal, isn’t it?” That note of worry was back in his tone.

“We don’t need to rush into anything. For the record, I don’t expect you to drag me to bed the second we see each other. Does that help?”

His laugh was brimming with nerves. “Yes, it does, actually.”

“Of course, if that’s where the mood takes you, by all means. I won’t say no either.”

He chuckled again. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Tomi.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.”

“Good night.”

* * *

I was on the road by seven in the morning. The weather was good, and the highways weren’t as busy once I got out of the city. I made good time and arrived in Jasper at just before five that evening. The sun was still above the mountain peaks, and the air was a shade cooler than Vancouver. I followed the service road toward the cabin and was relieved to find it was a good mile or so out of sight from the main road.

I parked out front and groaned as I got out of the car and stretched my legs. There was nothing but miles of mountains and trees in every direction. Windsor was right. It was perfect. The air was crisp, and the birds chattered from the distant branches. The sky was dotted with fluffy clouds. I spent a minute, observing the landscape and taking in the fresh air.

The log cabin was small and blended with the mountains. The front door was locked when I tried it, but I knew Windsor had the key.

It was time.

I pulled out my phone and sent him off a text.

Tomi: A cabin in the middle of nowhere with nothing but mountains for as far as the eye can see. Do you know anybody who’d like to join me out here?

Chapter Seven

Windsor

Friday was the longest day of my life. Tomi had texted early in the morning, informing me of his departure. Since that moment, time had ticked by at an agonizingly slow rate. It didn’t help that my antsy behavior was picked up by both my senior officers. Harriet and John had been giving me queer looks every time they passed my office or had to talk with me about a report.

I was relieved when a few calls came in back-to-back, sending them out on the town. Harriet went to deal with a suspicious person seen lurking around the Jasper Lodge’s outdoor pool area, while John responded to a public hazard complaint at the fairgrounds where our town workers were tearing down the remaining structures from the Canada Day festivities this past weekend.

Alone at the station with Matthew, since Julie had the day off, and Lucas was out patrolling, I tried to work on some documents that had been requested by an Edmonton prosecuting attorney who was heading to court soon with a case we’d closed eight months back. My head wasn’t in it. The words blurred, and my mind drifted every time I tried to focus.

I caught myself checking my phone every ten minutes, wishing Tomi would send me an update on his journey. It was ridiculous. If he was driving, the last thing I wanted was for him to risk sending a text to appease my anxiety.

“Chief?”

I glanced up, finding Matthew at my door.

“Sorry to bother you, sir. We got a call. There’s a bunch of teens throwing punches down by the library. Grover called it in. Someone is taking