Page 150 of At First Catch

“About time.”

I glance toward the western slips where the restoration crews work beneath the bright morning sunlight.

Then farther beyond that—toward town, toward the bookstore, toward Hadley

Home.

“Yeah,” I admit.

Walter nods once like he already knew.

“Good.”

Then, because this town apparently communicates affection exclusively through emotional ambushes, he claps one hand against my shoulder hard enough to jolt me sideways before walking out of the office.

I stare after him.

My phone buzzes against the desk.

And warmth spreads through my chest because I already know it’s her.

Hadley

Bailey just caught me smiling at my phone again and threatened an intervention.

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.

God.

I love this woman.

It feels so natural now that it no longer scares me when it arrives. Instead, it settles warmly beneath everything else like truth.

Me

Fair concern, honestly.

Three dots appear.

Hadley

You’re supposed to be on my side.

Me

Depends. Were you staring dreamily again?

I blow out a breath.

Hadley

Maybe.

Warm affection swells through my chest hard enough to ache.

Because I can picture it perfectly—Hadley behind the bookstore counter, blushing while Bailey terrorizes her emotionally.

Me