Page 67 of The Friendship Pact

“I’ve gotta call it in,” Nick said.

Kordell placed a hand on Nick’s shoulder and glanced into the room. “It’s almost like she knew.”

“Yep. That’s my thought too. Let’s clear these steps for the coroner.”

Nick called Meg and asked her to keep May’s passing quiet until he could contact her daughter. She supplied him with the phone number, and he headed outside to the porch to make the dreaded call.

It was hours before they wrapped up in the house. The local coroner and funeral director removed May’s body while Nick and Kordell secured the house. The key had been where May’s daughter remembered it being. She asked Nick to keep the heat on. She took care of all her mother’s bills and would contact him when she arrived in town.

Kordell had cleared the vehicle of snow by the time Nick was ready to go. “I’ll drop you off at Kate’s,” Nick said. “I have some paperwork I need to take care of. Thanks for clearing off the cruiser.”

“No problem. Living in Florida has spoiled me.”

On the way into town, Kordell said, “I can tell you have feelings for my daughter. Don’t wait too long to tell her.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you and Jill make it work? The divorce rate for officers is high and . . . well, it’s the reason I tend to avoid relationships.”

“I hear you, but it’s doable. I can’t say it’s been easy, but it’s been worth it. You’ll know when you’ve found the right one. I’m not saying it’s my daughter, but if it is, it can work.”

“Whatever our relationship ends up to be, I promise I won’t hurt her.”

Kordell nodded. “That’s all I ask.”

* * *

When Nick and Kordell pulled up to Kate’s back door, both women rushed outside. Nick hadn’t planned on stepping out of the vehicle, but he couldn’t avoid the pull Kate had on him.

She wrapped her arms around him. “Thank goodness you’re okay.”

“I tried to call,” Jill said to her husband.

Kate stepped back. “We heard there was a situation, and the roads are bad . . .”

She couldn’t complete her sentence. Nick took her hand. “You could have called my personal cell.”

“I did.”

He pulled the phone from his pocket. There it was, a missed call and text asking him if they were okay.

“Dad forgot his phone at home.”

Nick put a hand on Kate’s cheek and she closed her eyes.

“Let’s get inside, Jill. It’s been a long day,” Kordell said.

“I’m sorry I didn’t see your text,” Nick said. “We were called for a welfare check. It didn’t turn out well, and we were delayed. I need to file a report, so I’ll be at the office for a while.”

Kate glanced up at him, snowflakes dotting her eyelashes. “I told my parents I talked you into fake dating.”

He pulled her in close. She wrapped her arms around him.

“I’m glad you fessed up,” he said, “and just so you know, I enjoyed every moment of our fake relationship.” He rested his cheek on top of her head.

She stepped back. He missed her warmth. “Can I call you tonight?” he asked.

“I’d like that,” she said.

He placed a kiss on the top of her head and left for the station. Love. He had his answer. He was in love with Kate Davis. The pursuit was on.