That meatloaf was amazing, Mr. Zavala.” Rachel sat beside Scott at Napoleon’s kitchen table, dabbing her mouth. “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal that good in a long time.”

“I’m glad you liked it, my dear.” Napoleon’s dimples sprouted when he smiled. “Do you cook?”

“I love cooking.” She laid the napkin in her lap. “But, it’s so easy to just pick up something from a fast food place.”

“Rachel’s a working woman.” Scott snickered, sipping from his glass of grape juice. “She doesn’t have time for that domestic stuff.”

She nudged him. “I’m as much of a domestic as anyone.”

“I’m glad you came, Rachel.” Napoleon reclined across the table. “I wish you could’ve met Lita, but she went to that new Ryan Gosling flick.”

“I love Ryan Gosling.”

Napoleon smiled. “You and Lita would like each other.”

Rachel sensed Scott tensing.

Napoleon winked. “You’re just as lovely as Scottie said you were.”

Butterflies filled Rachel’s stomach.

Scott put his arm around her chair. “I told you he’d like you.”

“What’s not to like?” Napoleon asked. “It’s important for me to get to know anyone Scott cares about and he cares for you.”

She smiled at Scott. “I’m sure it seems strange how Scott and I are so close this quickly, but I can’t explain it.” She took his warm hand. “I felt like I’ve known him my whole life.”

Scott kissed her cheek, sniffing her.

“I don’t find it strange,” Napoleon said. “There’s no timetable for falling in love. In fact, my mother and father got married a month after they met.”

“A month?” Rachel whistled. “That must’ve been some romance.”

“My father said he knew she was the one the first time he saw her.” Napoleon tapped his fork against the table. “Sometimes you just know.”

Rachel swooned. “Sounds like they were really in love.”

“They were married sixty years.” He nodded. “Stayed together until the end. So, don’t let anyone tell you that love can’t happen fast because it can.”

Scott’s phone rang. “Never a moment of peace, huh?”

“Not with these damn cell phones,” Napoleon said.

Rachel grinned, sipping juice.

Scott read the screen. “It’s Mr. Fisher.”

“Who’s that?” Rachel asked.

“The most annoying man on the planet,” Napoleon said. “Another regular at the library who’s always bothering Scott about some book order.”

“I could ignore him, but he’ll just keep calling.” Scott stood, straightening the chair. “I’ll be right back.”

“Why don’t you talk to him here?” Napoleon helped Rachel out her chair. “Rachel and I will be in the living room when you’re done.”

Scott nodded, taking the call.

Napoleon escorted Rachel through the slate hallway. “After you.”

They entered the classical den of white walls and dark-brown hardwood floors.

Napoleon stood in front of her with an expression that reminded her of a concerned guardian. “What’s wrong?”

She walked toward the stone fireplace, rubbing her arm. “I feel like I don’t belong here.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” She leaned over the back of the beige sofa. “Scott and I are so different.”

“Because of your races, you mean?”

“No, I mean our families.” She stood straight. “He grew up in a stable environment with people who loved and protected him.” She gravitated to the pictures of Napoleon’s loved ones on the wall. “My brother and I grew up surrounded by crime and not knowing if we were gonna be alive from one day to the next.” She picked up a photo of Napoleon standing beside teenage versions of Bobby and Scott. “Those West boys sure have some foreheads on them, huh?”

Napoleon laughed, joining her. “They get those wide heads from their mother.” He showed her a tall, stout man in a police officer’s uniform standing beside a petite blonde woman with high cheekbones and flaming green eyes like Scott and Bobby’s.

“Is this their parents?”

“Yeah.” He handed her the picture and slipped a hand in his pocket. “Robert and I were like brothers. I was closer to him than I was my siblings.”

Rachel ran her fingers over Scott’s mother’s smile. “Scott and Bobby look just like her.”

“Yeah, they took their stubbornness from Robert and their looks from Minnie.”

“They look so happy together.” Rachel imagined her and Scott taking Robert and Minnie’s place in the picture. “Scott’s so sweet.” She smiled, placing the photo on the wall. “I didn’t think there were any gentlemen left until I met him.”

“He was raised to be respectful of women, and he’s very kind.”

“That’s what I like about him the most.” She scanned the pictures of Napoleon and his family. “He has a genuine heart that most people don’t have these days. How many people would’ve saved me like he did?”

“It’s not the first time Scott has rescued someone.”

“What do you mean?”

They walked past the wooden end table, the dust smell more clear as they sat on the couch.

“Scott saved this little boy’s life when he was ten.”

Rachel positioned herself on the couch, eager to hear the story.

“One summer, Robert and Minnie took the boys to the lake to swim. Bobby and Scott made friends with this other little boy whose family would vacation at the lake too. One day, the little boy and Scott were in the lake and the boy almost drowned. Scott pulled him out the water and gave him mouth to mouth.”

“My god,” Rachel whispered. “At ten, huh?”

“Robert taught the boys CPR and many safety measures. He felt even kids needed to be prepared for what might happen. Well, Scott brought the boy back to consciousness, but he begged Bobby and Scott not to say anything because he’d get in trouble if his parents knew he’d been swimming alone.” Napoleon stretched. “Well, Bobby used to be quite the motor mouth, and he told what happened. Only thing is, he took the credit.”

“Wait, Bobby said he saved the boy?”

Napoleon nodded. “Scott was livid.”

“I’d have been too. How could Bobby do something like that?”

“He was the apple of Robert’s eye and he did everything he could to stay in his father’s good graces. He was a child. Children lie and he didn’t mean any harm.”

“Didn’t Scott tell what happened?”

“He confronted Bobby but said nothing to his father. He said it meant more to Bobby than him to be the hero so—”

“That’s remarkable. He saved that boy’s life and let Bobby take the credit?”

Scott walked in, putting his phone in his pocket. “What are you two talking about?”

“You.” Rachel jumped off the couch and kissed him. “And, what an outstanding person you are.”

“Uh, am I missing something?” Scott glanced at Napoleon.

“A beautiful woman just gave you a compliment and a kiss.” Napoleon dipped his head. “Does it matter why?”