Dark Tide. Susan Sleeman

wife home. So are we done here?”

      Derrick nodded. “I’ll make San Diego flight arrangements for Kat, Gina and me. Hopefully I can get us on the first flight tomorrow. I’ll text everyone the time to be here to assist in her transport.”

      “Which means, with your schedule obsession, everyone can arrive fifteen minutes later,” Kat said as she stood.

      Derrick cast an irritated look at her. “Please don’t.”

      “Lighten up. I was just kidding.” She squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll head home to pack and then come back to spend the night here as reinforcement.”

      It was a logical decision to have both of them on hand at all times, but Derrick picked up on Kat’s hidden motive. She didn’t trust Derrick not to succumb to Gina’s charms tonight. Despite Kat’s heavy-handed approach, he didn’t mind having someone to run interference. “Then we’re good to go. We’ll keep in touch from San Diego by a daily video conference call unless anyone has urgent news to report.”

      “Let’s get going before he changes his mind.” Luke tugged Dani to her feet.

      “Night, all.” She headed for the door.

      As Gina continued discussing babies with Ethan, Derrick watched Dani and Luke depart. He was glad Luke was a stand-up guy, and he wanted his sister to be happy. Really he did. But he missed the close relationship he’d had with her. Not a very manly thing to admit. But, come on. You go through life connected in a way no one can match, and suddenly that connection no longer matters compared with the new man in her life?

      Or maybe you’re just miffed that you don’t have someone special in your life like everyone else in the family.

      Was that why he’d been irritated for months? Not because they’d moved away from him, but because he couldn’t move forward himself? If only he knew how to change. He certainly didn’t want to let it continue to eat at him and make him miserable, but what other choice did he have?

      He needed either to get over his commitment issues or stop wanting a wife and family. He didn’t have a clue how to accomplish either one. He’d have to be careful not to let his frustration over it distract him while he was in charge of keeping Gina safe.