She laughed and hugged me closer. Her happiness was contagious. I was happier than I’d been in a long time as I held her, kissed her lips, her neck, glanced around and cursed the several beachcombers sharing the location with us.
In that moment, all my issues felt settled. The search ended here. I was where I belonged in Elaine’s arms, and nothing would ever change that. What I’d dealt with these past few days only solidified that fact in my mind. She was my forever.
Chapter 18 – Blue Suede Shoes
My decision, our last day on the beach, our first night at her apartment, all of it was on my mind the entire week. Derek was in Dallas following up with our phishing client, and Nikki was visiting a sick relative, so I was alone in the office with plenty of time to work out the details. By Friday, when he returned, I was ready to lay out a timeline for my relocation.
It would take at least a month to get my business in order, find a place in Wilmington, and see if I could get out of my lease here. I could keep up with our cases from both locations, Derek and I could meet regularly for teleconferences, audio-only or with video, and we could use email and texting for anything urgent. If something major happened, I could always drive in. Firms did it all the time. Besides, with the way he traveled, I was alone in the office most of the time anyway. I hoped my plans would come together easily and I could be in the same city with Elaine by Christmas. I wanted to spend every moment of that holiday with her.
When I heard him making noises down the hall, I hit the button on my office phone. “Got any plans for lunch?” I asked when he answered. I’d give him the morning to catch up before springing the news.
“Building C?” I heard his fingers clicking on the laptop keys.
“Meet you out front at noon.”
As always, Derek was in a suit and tie, I was in jeans and a thin, navy sweater. November wasn’t cold enough for outerwear, but as we crossed the pentagon-shaped courtyard, I could feel the change coming. A few trees still held shades of red, yellow, orange, and gold. Autumn was ending—the best time of year here. Of course, everything felt like the best to me now.
“What’s on your mind?” Derek glanced over, and I noticed a different light in his blue eyes, like something had happened. I was curious, but I had to talk to him about my plans first. Saying it straight out felt like the best approach.
“I’m moving to Wilmington.”
He nodded as we approached Building C. I caught the handle on the glass doors and held it as he entered.
“I expected that was coming,” he said.
“But I’d like to stay on with the firm.”
He didn’t answer as we glanced over the menu selection. Then we each ordered the bacon club.
“While you were gone this week, I worked out the details,” I continued. “It shouldn’t be a problem. We can keep up by video and emails, and who knows…”
I was about to say he might be joining me before long, but I didn’t want to cloud the issue. Still, with Melissa back in her hometown, minutes away from Elaine, anything was possible.
We paid for lunch and took a seat at the stainless bar that ran around the glass outer wall. Derek didn’t speak as he unwrapped the large sandwich, and I followed suit, waiting. I took a bite, and the savory tang of bacon on top of turkey and cheddar filled my mouth. As much as he and Nikki complained about this place, I’d never had a bad meal here.
After a few more bites, Derek finally responded. “I think it’s a good idea.”
My eyebrows rose. I’d prepared for a little debate before he caved to my expert planning. I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. The change in his expression was on my mind, and I wondered if it had anything to do with his easy concession.
“How’d it go in Dallas?” I asked, snagging a chip and popping it in my mouth. Greasy, salty, good.
He nodded, finishing another bite. “They’re very happy with our work. Want us to consider handling all their online security going forward.”
“Hell, yeah,” I said with a smile. That corporation was worth several billion and was multi-national. We could both retire on an account like that. “I guess that’s why you’re onboard with whatever.”
“Yeah.” He lifted the soft drink he’d ordered and took a sip, and since he wasn’t arguing with me, I was ready to get to the bottom of his change.
“So what happened?” I sat back.
He glanced up and then shrugged. “I just presented what we’d found, showed them all the steps we’d taken to prevent future problems—”
“I’m talking about you. You’re not so… devastated anymore. If that’s the right word.”
He picked up a salt packet and tilted it back and forth between his fingers. I waited a few moments, wondering if he was going to tell me.
“Melissa’s back in Wilmington,” he said.
I remembered my encounter with her last week. She looked really good when we’d talked—worried that I had Derek with me, but good. Confident. The dark suit and professional demeanor helped. She wasn’t the timid little kitten she’d been in Scottsdale. Studying the massive guy in front of me, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the hold she had on him. She was tiny, but she was powerful.