While she wasn’t an inherently negative person, she would admit to moments of frustration and disillusionment with the system. Too many criminals flooding the streets. Too few people to catch them and ultimately prosecute them. And a bad life for the ones who were caught, locked up in a system that, while often full of well-intentioned people, was home to many who weren’t.
She’d always understood it, but had also believed the work she did to serve the goal of justice would result in good outcomes. Even if her pregnancy had made her start to question some of those things and the reality of the world she was bringing her child into.
Her parents had never set a very good example, and she’d had to forge a path forward on her own. It was only recently that she’d begun to wonder if her dogged pursuit of justice was more because of them than in spite of them.
“Sera!”
Saved from her own maudlin musings by the loud shout, she glanced up to see a former law school classmate waving to her from down the hall. Picking up her pace, Sera headed his way.
“Sam, how are you?” They quickly exchanged hugs. “It’s great to see you, but what are the odds we’re here on the same day?”
“Pretty good if we’re both on the new task force starting up this morning.”
“You’re a part of it?”
He smiled before pointing toward the conference room a few feet away. “I am and will confess to getting here early and seeing your name badge on the sideboard. I’m glad we’re working together again. I’m representing the local FBI office.”
“I’d heard the Feds snapped you up. Lucky for them.”
“Lucky for me, too. I love the work.”
Although she’d always known she wanted the DA’s office, Sera was happy for him. His agile mind and love of complex cases likely made him a huge asset to the government.
“I love it, too, but I do have to say I’m disappointed in us.”
“Oh?” His blue eyes widened.
“We’re both guilty of that dreaded post-law school sin of spending most of our waking hours together for three years and then abandoning one another for the work after getting out.”
“Proof they didn’t lie about the work.”
She shook her head but couldn’t hold back the smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Me, either.”
They found seats at the table and, after settling their things, wandered over to the sideboard to pick up their badges and get some breakfast. Sera eyed the pastries with a bit of caution, but was pleased to also see a selection of hard-boiled eggs and some dry toast waiting for toppings.
She hadn’t been able to stomach anything that morning, but recognized the breakfast foods as a gift of fate. The protein from the egg and the bland toast with a bit of honey on top would go a long way toward keeping her level throughout the introductory meeting. A bit of tepid tea and she’d have a breakfast trifecta that would hopefully stave off morning sickness.
“You always were a healthy eater,” Sam whispered, leaning in conspiratorially.
“Not everyone can eat sugared cereals and donuts for breakfast.” She eyed his plate, a match for her own. “What happened?”
Although he’d always been a good-natured person, even in the throes of the most difficult exam periods, Sam lit up in a way she’d never seen before. “I’m a man with a fitness plan. And a wedding in three months.”
“Sam! That’s wonderful.” Sera put her plate down and pulled him in for a hug. “Tell me all about her.”
“Her name’s Alexandra. Alex.” He smiled, his gaze going hazy with love. “We met at the Bureau my second week on the job. She held out for a long time, saying we shouldn’t mix personal with work and that it was a bad idea.”
Although it wasn’t forbidden in the Bureau, Sera could understand the reticence. But she also knew Sam Baxter and figured the woman was a goner when faced with such an earnest and truly wonderful man.
“Is she a lawyer, too?”
“Nope, a field agent. Which puts us in the same office, but not working directly together most of the time.”
His happiness was electric, and Sera tried to tamp down the small shot of sadness that filled her as she pictured Gavin’s face in her mind’s eye.
Would it ever fade?
Even as she considered it, she knew the truth. Did she want it to?
And then she pushed it all away and gave Sam another hug. She could be sad in her own time, but there was no call for anything but joy in the face of such good news for a friend.
Which made the hard cough and rough “excuse me” a bit jarring as she pulled back from Sam’s embrace.
And turned to find the one man she hadn’t been able to forget standing two feet away.
Chapter 2
Sera.
She was here—actually here—with her arms full of another man.
As he tried to maneuver around the hugging couple, Gavin wasn’t sure what was more embarrassing. That his heart was exploding in his chest or something worse.
Something that felt a lot like jealousy.
It’s just a hug.
