Crossing Double (A Heartbreaker Novel Book 3) Read online

  “She’s back now, you know. Once they reported Miller was dead, it was safe for her to come home. Saw her on the news getting barraged by the press about her dad.”

  His heart rate picked up. Maybe this was his chance. He’d find her and apologize. Maybe now that she was home and safe, she’d forgive him. “Gotta go. Thanks for the beer.”

  “Good luck getting her back.”

  “Thanks.”

  But luck wouldn’t have anything to do with it. His mission to win Sara back would be his most challenging one to date. But succeeding would have the biggest payoff yet.

  He’d never failed at a mission in his four years as an agent and wasn’t about to start now.

  Chapter 22

  Brent parked his car and walked to the shelter’s front door to find Sara. It’d been ten days since he’d seen her, but it felt like months. He’d looked for her at her father’s house first. There’d been boxes everywhere. They’d been packing up the house to sell it. Zoila told him Sara had already left for the shelter to log some time before she had to go back to school, so he hoped she’d still be there.

  The goodbye hugs from Zoila and Justin had actually hurt. He’d miss them. A lot. Who’d have ever thought a simple assignment could change his outlook so much? Getting to know the people Sara loved, whether they were related by blood or not, made him understand what having a family could do to enrich his life. He hoped Sara would give him another chance. So maybe they could have their own family one day.

  He grabbed the handle on the glass door and pulled. The small reception area had two chairs, a metal door with an electronic keypad, and a tall check-in counter. The clock on the wall showed it was just before ten. Too early to ask if she’d like to go to lunch. Maybe coffee.

  A man he’d seen with Sara on the platform that day when she donated Scott’s ring was on the phone behind the counter. He lifted his finger in an I’ll-be-right-with-you gesture and then got back to his conversation about cases of food.

  Brent paced off his nerves in the tiny space like a caged animal while practicing what he’d say to Sara. He’d resort to begging if he had to. He would’ve never seen himself doing that for anyone until her.

  The guy hung up the phone. “How can I help you?”

  Brent pasted on a smile. “Hi. I’d like to talk to Sara—”

  “She’s not seeing anyone. I’m sorry.”

  Just like that? “I just need a few minutes.”

  He shook his head. “You guys need to leave her alone. She’s been through enough.”

  “I’m not a reporter. I’m…” What was he to her? Nothing, according to Sara. “Could you tell her it’s Brent, please?”

  “Brent Keiser?” The man whose nametag read Timmy Sanchez laughed. “She left very specific instructions regarding you, which was to send you packing. I’ll have to ask you to leave now.”

  Dammit.

  “I only need a few minutes. Please?”

  Timmy stood and crossed his arms. “Don’t make me call the cops, pal. I’d like to deck you for what you did to her.”

  Brent held up his hands in concession. “Please tell her I stopped by.” He turned and yanked the glass door open and headed for his car. He wasn’t going to give up that easily. Maybe he’d catch her later at her dad’s house. Or better yet, he’d wait for her.

  The visitor’s lot was empty except for his car, so there must be employee parking somewhere else. He rounded the side of the large building. A chain link fence revealed a gated driveway with access from the street behind. He could go all the way around the block, but it’d be faster to climb over. The security cameras lining the roof would record his actions, but he didn’t care. He didn’t have a whole lot to lose at the moment. Except for Sara.

  He hopped down on the other side of the fence and walked to the rear of the building. Her car was parked by a door that was marked for employees only. He leaned against her small red car and crossed his arms. The weather was mild for January. He could stay there all day. He didn’t have anywhere else he had to be. He hadn’t gotten his badge back yet. He was still being punished.

  After two hours had passed, the back door opened, and Sara took a step outside, looking madder than hell. With one foot holding the door open and arms crossed, she said, “Are you planning to sit on my car all day?”

  The cameras were being monitored after all. He’d begun to worry for her day-to-day safety if they hadn’t been. “If that’s what it takes to speak to you. How are you?” He stood up and took a step closer.

  She held up a hand to stop his approach. “I’m fine. What do you want, Brent?”

  He wanted to hug her. Instead, he shoved his hands into his jeans’ front pockets. “I’m here to make a donation.”

  Her brows arched. “Trying to buy my love now? You still haven’t learned, have you?”

  “I sincerely want to donate to your cause.” He dug the check from his back pocket, but she kept her arms crossed.

  She said coolly, “Go to the website if you really want to give money to the shelter. Is that all?”

  He shoved the check back into his pocket. “I wanted to apologize. Can we go somewhere and talk?”

  She shook her head. “I’m busy. And there’s really nothing to talk about. Please don’t make this harder than it already is.”

  “I need you to know that I believed I was doing the right thing. The best thing for you. That I hurt you by doing it was never my intent.”

  She nodded. “I know. Thank you for calling Mario. And for finding Miller so I could come home. But I can’t be with you, Brent.”

  Can’t be with him? “Why? What can I do to make things right? I’ll do anything.”

  “There’s nothing you can do. I just can’t deal with another broken heart. But I honestly hope you’ll find happiness in your life one day.” Sara’s eyes filled with tears. When she bit her bottom lip to stop them, it destroyed him.

  That sounded way too much like a final goodbye. “You make me happy, Sara. And I won’t break your heart. Please give me a chance to change.”

  “I don’t want to be in a relationship right now. With you or anyone else, for that matter. I’m focusing on finishing school. So please go now.” Tears she couldn’t quite hold back slipped down her cheeks.

  Didn’t her crying mean she still cared? He couldn’t lose her. “I don’t know if I know how to be happy. Especially without you. I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “Maybe start by getting that big dog you’ve always wanted. It’ll love you back no matter what.”

  Zach had said actions spoke louder than words. “I don’t want to give up on us. After you get your degree, can we talk? I promise you’ll see a changed man by then.”

  Sadness filled her eyes as she whispered, “Okay. But change for you, not for me. Bye, Brent.” The door closed with a solid click that reverberated like a gunshot to his heart.

  But she’d left the door open for their relationship. It wasn’t over between them yet. She still cared. He could see it in her eyes. He’d prove to her that he was able to change.

  He slowly walked to the driveway and ducked under the arm that stopped cars from entering without a pass. He could use the time to think as he walked around the block to his car parked in front of the shelter. He needed a solid action plan. But where to start?

  Zach had said he was a runner. From happiness. Afraid to allow himself to be happy. So he’d stop running.

  What had Annalisa said that day in Mario’s penthouse? That he should trust his gift. Use it for the good of others, and he’d find the happiness that’d eluded him. But only after he proved himself by taking a leap of faith. Sara had said her mother was never wrong about her gut feelings.

  A leap of faith. That’d mean taking a risk. The biggest one yet.

  Sara thought he was too driven to make money. That the security his job gave him was a false one. Quitting his job and giving up his retirement benefits would qualify as the scariest jump he could make.
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  And doing good for others? How could he do that without a job?

  Something Sara had said once gave him an idea. Hopefully he could pull it off before some other lucky guy found Sara and took her off the market. He’d have to get started right away. Five months wasn’t all that long to do a complete transformation of his life.

  FIVE MONTHS LATER…

  Brent waded through the crowd of graduates wearing royal-blue caps and gowns, searching for Sara on the lush grounds of her college in Malibu. She’d given a fantastic speech about the importance of community service that had resulted in a standing O. Watching her speak with such confidence and grace had made him proud and unbearably sad at the same time. She was so beautiful, it was unimaginable that she wasn’t with someone else by now, but he had to see her. To tell her she’d been right about him. And to congratulate her on her success not only for graduating with her masters, but for raising millions that helped open another shelter in San Francisco.

  The line for punch and cookies was massive, but the crowd of people and press surrounding Sara and her parents was daunting. He pressed forward into the sea of people. His palms were so sweaty, he had to wipe them on his suit pants, and his heart was beating way too fast with nervous anticipation.

  Would she speak to him? Or would she have him removed by one of the many security guards who stood nearby? Had she just told him it’d be okay to contact her to get him to leave that day at the shelter?

  A soft hand grabbed his. “There you are, Brent. I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Sara’s grandmother said with a smile. “Hurry, before you miss her. She has to leave soon.” Eva pulled him along behind her through the people milling around.

  “Hi, Eva. I suppose you’re going to tell me you knew I was coming today?”

  “Still a skeptic, huh? I even know how this will all turn out, but now I’m not going to tell you. On account of your bad attitude.” Eva tapped people’s shoulders. “Excuse me, coming through. Got a love emergency here. Pardon us, please.”

  Brent smiled and let himself be pulled smoothly through the crowd. Maybe it was Eva’s advanced age or her sheer pushiness, but the crowd parted like the Red Sea, leaving a path that led straight to Sara. She wore a cap and gown with sashes draped around her neck for all her extra accomplishments. Her hair was back to its original curly light brown color and had grown just past her shoulders. The way she smiled at the guy she was talking to made his stomach hurt. Was he her new boyfriend? He hadn’t seen her with anyone in the press.

  Eva grabbed Sara’s hand and pulled them both aside. “Grams! What are you doing?”

  “I’m sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. So sue me later. But talk now.” Eva placed Sara’s hand in his then turned around and crossed her arms, daring anyone to disturb them.

  Sara pulled her hand away. “Hi, Brent.” The coolness in her tone wasn’t a good sign.

  “Hi.” He was so happy to see her that a lump formed in his throat. He cleared it away. “Congratulations. For your masters. With honors. And you look great.”

  Sara crossed her arms over her gowned chest. “I look like everyone else who graduated today. I see you’re still wearing suits.”

  “Just for today. For you. I mean, for the graduation ceremony. Great speech, by the way.” He sounded like a babbling idiot. He needed to pull it together.

  Eva said, “Tell her the part about how you work out of that crappy apartment now.”

  How the hell did Eva know that?

  Sara’s head cocked. “You quit your job?”

  “Yeah.” He wanted to hug her so badly. Instead, he took a step closer. “I’d be happy to do some investing for you too. Like we talked about. If you’re still speaking to me, that is.”

  “Oh, my word!” Eva looked up at the sky as if asking for help from above. “Tell her how right she was and how wrong you were before you make an even bigger ass of yourself, please!”

  Sara’s lips twitched. “I have something I have to do, so…”

  “I don’t want to hold you up. I just wanted you to know that I… That you were right. I’m much happier working for myself than I ever was at the FBI. Except for the still-missing-you part. So, thanks.”

  Eva whisper-screamed, “You forgot to tell her about how you give half of all the money you make away. That you learned from her that helping others is good for the soul, or some such.”

  Eva was starting to annoy him. “Actually, what I wanted to say was that I realize now it takes both money and people with big hearts to make a difference.”

  Sara glanced at her feet. “You were right too. About me and fame—”

  A woman with a camera hanging around her neck interrupted. “Sara? We’re ready for you now.”

  Sara smiled weakly. “I have to go take some publicity shots for the college with my mom. Take care.”

  “You too.” He stood rooted to his spot as the only woman he’d ever loved walked away. Again. But then she stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “Did you get the big dog you’d wanted?”

  “Yep. A Golden Retriever.”

  Eva said, “And he named it Ralph.”

  Did the woman have spies following him? “Do you still have Mittens?”

  Sara nodded. “My mom brought her out here just today. Couldn’t have her in the dorms. See ya.” She smiled and then disappeared into the crowd.

  “Well, you mucked that up good.” Eva shook her head in disgust. “Let’s go get some punch and cookies while we figure out how to fix things.”

  “Not until you come clean about how you know so much about my life.”

  “You won’t believe me, so why bother? But I would like you to introduce me to your pal Zach. He’s a hottie. Maybe you can bring him along with you to Dani’s wedding this weekend.” She turned and headed for the cookie line.

  He caught up. “I don’t recall getting an invitation to Dani’s wedding.”

  “For a former FBI agent, you can be a little clueless. Sara needs a date. Get the picture?”

  He smiled at the chance to see Sara again. “Did she say yes when I asked her to go to the wedding with me in one of those ridiculous dreams of yours?”

  “Don’t know. Didn’t have that dream. But if she turns you down, you and Zach can come as my guests. I’m old, so they won’t get mad at me for messing up the seating chart. But you gotta up your game next time, Brent.”

  “Will do.” He laughed as he threw his arm companionably around her shoulders. “Thanks for the assist with Sara. And I guarantee after I show Zach your picture, he’ll want to meet you too.” Brent stopped walking and pulled out his phone for a selfie. “Say hottie!” He took their picture.

  Eva grabbed the phone. “Let me see if you got my good side.” After she nodded her approval, she said, “Send that to me, will you? I like having pictures of me with good-looking young men to make all my girlfriends back home jealous.” She gave him her cell number.

  After he sent the picture and they joined the cookie line, he said, “I’m surprised Sara doesn’t already have a date for the wedding.”

  “Guys ask her out all the time, but she isn’t interested in any of them. Claims she’s too busy to date what with finishing school and Dani’s wedding. But here’s what I think.” She poked him in the chest. “I think you broke her heart. And it’s about time you showed up to fix it. What took you so long?”

  “I had to fix myself first.”

  Sara rubbed the back of her neck as she went over the budget numbers again in her office at the shelter. Thankfully, they’d picked up some new donor corporations in the last few months who’d help keep them afloat. But there never seemed to be enough cash in the account.

  After reading the same page five times from lack of focus, she closed out the screen on her computer and decided to finally do what she hadn’t allowed herself to do in the two days since she’d seen Brent.

  Google him.

  She typed in his name, and up popped his webpage. He’d started an inve
stment company with a fancy logo, very sleek and businesslike. His profile stated the college he attended and his time in the FBI. That’d probably make people trust him, so that was smart. His picture showed a smiling and happy-looking guy in a suit standing on a deck overlooking the ocean.

  His smile looked so genuine, it made her smile. She’d almost forgotten what a sweet smile he had. And how much that had bothered him at her dad’s wedding when she’d pointed it out.

  He looked happy. And he missed her. That was the part that kept playing in her head. She’d worked so hard blocking any thoughts of him because they hurt too much, so she wasn’t sure how she felt about him anymore.

  After she closed his page, she pulled up the budget again. But she couldn’t concentrate on the numbers any better than before she’d taken the little side trip to investigate Brent.

  Am I happy?

  She’d kept herself so busy these last few months with fundraising and school that there wasn’t time to be sad. But she was a little lonely. She’d turned down invitation after invitation, and she hadn’t been sure why, other than she hadn’t felt like being social.

  Well, she’d have more time now that school was over, and Dani’s wedding planning was almost done. She had only a few more things to do for her sister before Saturday. So, she should start accepting invitations again.

  As a big first step back into the social world, she’d be sure to accept the next invitation she got, no matter what it was for. Then she’d probably feel like herself again. She hoped.

  She dug back into the task at hand because she had to leave soon. She had to pick up the flower girl dresses that had been altered, and the gifts she’d picked out for Michael’s girls. Her new nieces were so sweet, and she looked forward to watching them while Dani and Michael went on their honeymoon. They’d all stay in her mom’s suite at the hotel and have popcorn and stay up late watching movies. Maybe she’d take them to Disneyland too.

  Feeling immensely better, Sara got busy sorting out the necessary budget items to be paid from the things that could wait until later, determined to make their budgeted funds last through the end of the month.