“But it’s different with her, isn’t it?”
“You’re annoying.”
“Once a team leader, always a team leader.”
Luca shook his head. “You’re not my boss here. It’s my contract.”
Hammer grinned. “Just as long as I get paid. I’m gonna have four mouths to feed pretty soon, and who knows how many more babies Sierra wants to have?”
Yeah, the guy looked real disappointed about the prospect of making a big family with his wife. The difference between the man Saxon had known for years and the married guy with kids wasn’t something Saxon could completely fathom. The difference between Hammer and Rowan. It really was almost like he was a different man entirely.
Which was true, wasn’t it?
Not only had Hammer become a believer the way Saxon had while fighting wildfires. He’d come home and literally become Rowan once again. Hammer was the past; Rowan Wallace was the man who had married and settled down—the guy looking to the future.
Luca wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to change that much. He didn’t need to, right? But it just might be that the man he should become was exactly the kind of person who could love Kira well. The way she deserved.
“She wants me to go to the foundation gala with her. Do some snooping around in the Rousseaus’ nonprofit to see what we can find out about the syndicate. If there’s any connection.”
Hammer grinned. “That’s how it starts. You team up working on something one minute, and the next, you realize you already fell in love with her and it’s too late to do anything about it.”
“As long as she falls in love with me at the same time, I’m not sure I’m going to want to do anything about it.”
“Good.” Hammer laughed. “Then you just have to make sure she falls in love with you.”
Luca wasn’t entirely sure he had that skill to draw on. But he could certainly give her the chance to know him, and he wanted to see the look on her face when she saw him in his nicest suit.
“Just trust.” Hammer slapped his shoulder. “God will take care of the rest.”
Hammer would say that, wouldn’t he? Rowan Wallace had everything he’d ever wanted.
The idea of Luca and Kira going through anything like what Sierra and Hammer had been through terrified him to his core.
But whatever happened next, his friend was right.
He needed to leave it in God’s hands.
Kira scanned the patient’s lab results. “This isn’t good.” She looked at the nurse behind the counter. She didn’t work much with Barbara, but the older woman worked out so she could stay strong and outpace most of the younger nurses. She was also the kind of Christian who couldn’t help but counsel the people around her. The wisdom just seemed to pour out of her. Over the course of her shift so far, Kira had told Barbara nearly everything about today—minus the syndicate parts.
Kira focused on the numbers in front of her. “Up the dosage and check on him in an hour.”
“Yes, Doctor.” Barbara tapped the raised counter between them. “Sounds like God is doing something in your life.”
Kira smiled. “Nothing has changed for me in years. Right now it feels like everything is different, and I’m still spinning from everything that’s happened in such a short period of time.”
Barbara nodded. “That’s when you need to cling to Him harder. It’s why we go through things like this. So we can draw near to that firm foundation.”
“It’s not a storm or a trial though.”
“It’s still good practice.” Barbara patted her arm. “For when it will be later and you need Him most.”
It had been more than twelve hours since that man had accosted her and she’d had that sweet moment with Luca, and she was still thinking about it all. The promise, the threat, all of it mixed up in her mind. But she knew she wanted to spend more time with Luca.
Not just at the gala. She wanted to get to know him for real.
She’d tried to nap this afternoon, but it hadn’t happened. She was going to feel it in the hours after midnight, that was for sure. She needed some caffeine.
The doors at the end of the hall banged open. Kira handed over the tablet and headed for the paramedics and their patient, two corrections officers following the gurney. Sure enough, the patient had on an orange jumpsuit and was handcuffed to the rail.