The sun was already beaming into the studio windows when Lance heard a vehicle pull into his drive, the tires crunching over the crushed oyster shells and sand. Pinching his lips together at the intrusion, he stood, walking to the window, surprised to see Mitch climbing out of the Baytown Police SUV.

Leaving his studio, he walked toward the kitchen, knowing Mitch would eschew using the front door and come around to the back. Pouring another cup of coffee, he yelled that the door was unlocked and looked up as Mitch walked in.

Mitch slid his sunglasses off as he entered, his smile landing on him, or rather on the cup of coffee he was holding out toward him.

“Thanks man. My first cup of the day has already worn off.”

“Long night?”

“Accident on the road leaving town early this morning. No one hurt. Old Man Copper pulled his tractor into the lane and a vacationer wasn’t expecting farm equipment on the road. Slammed right into him. Zac was on call as the EMT and Jason got the car towed.”

Nodding, he walked with his cup to the screened porch, knowing Mitch would follow. The two men settled into the worn, comfortable chairs facing the bay. Quiet for several minutes, they allowed the peace of the view to sink in. Gulls, dipping as they flew, called back and forth to each other. A flock of three black Pelicans glided over the surf. The tide had rolled in, chasing the crabs into their holes.

He remembered the first time he met Mitch, both serving in Afghanistan in the military police. Different localities, but their paths crossed when he was investigating military thefts of weapons that were being sold on the black market. The two men hit it off immediately. He had also decided to join the Army after high school, and served with the Criminal Investigation Command.

When Mitch left the military, he joined the FBI as an investigator after college. But it was not until Lance was discharged, then working with the Richland Police, that Mitch reached out and encouraged him to move to Baytown.

“You’ll love it here…quiet, not expensive, good people. Honest, hardworking people that would give you the shirt off their backs.”

Mitch was persuasive, or perhaps it was just the call of the bay. One visit was all it took and he packed up and moved. Now, a year later, he still enjoyed the peace, making a few acquaintances at the American Legion. Not friends…just good acquaintances.

“Awful quiet out here,” Mitch said, appreciating the view.

“Yep,” he responded.

“Don’t get many visitors this way.”

“Nope.”

“Guess that suits you, doesn’t it?”

“Yep.”

Mitch chuckled at the short answers he was receiving, causing Lance to look over at him. Sighing, he said, “You got something you want to say? Or did you just come out here to watch the gulls and drink my coffee? Which, considering your cousin, Jillian, owns a coffee shop, I’m sure you didn’t need to come all this way for.”

Shaking his head, Mitch turned to him and said, “You always were a straight shooter.” Sucking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he added, “So, why the hell did you tell Jade that you own the beach and she was trespassing?”

He jerked his head to the side, staring at his friend. “Are you shitting me? She went to the police? I can’t believe—”

“Whoa, chill,” Mitch interrupted, his gaze now hardened. “First of all, you’re not the injured party here, and second of all, no, she didn’t come to the police.”

Dropping his chin, he grimaced, knowing he had been a jerk to the woman on the beach. Still, he hated having to explain himself.

Mitch explained, “She was talking to the girls this morning…she’s friends with Tori and the others.”

Lance knew exactly who Mitch was referring to—the Baytown Women. Tori, Jillian, and Katelyn. So, if one of them knew, they all knew about the incident.

“I just happened to stop by the coffee shop to check on Tori—”

Jerking his head around, he asked, “Is she okay?”

Smiling, Mitch nodded. “Yeah, she’s good. I just had to leave this morning with the call-out and didn’t get to kiss her good morning.”

Rolling his eyes, he snorted.

“Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” Mitch laughed. “Anyway, Jade was there and really upset. She was embarrassed that she didn’t know this was private property. As you can imagine the others immediately told her that it wasn’t.”

“Great. Katelyn and Jillian are probably already planning my execution.”

Throwing his head back, Mitch laughed. “Well, those two take their friendship duties very seriously.”

“Jesus…” he sighed, now wishing he had left the beauty on the beach alone.

“Why the hell did you have to scare her?”

“Scare her? I just told her she was trespassing,” he defended, but knew his words sounded peevish.

“Jade’s a nice girl. Only been in town for a year…’bout like you. She teaches at the elementary school.”

Great…Now I’m the big, bad wolf to some little Snow White…or was that Red Riding Hood? Fuck, what’s the matter with me? Irritated, he growled, “Didn’t stop to ask her about her life story…just wanted her to leave.”

Mitch was quiet, sipping his coffee as his gaze stayed on the ever-changing surf.

Lance rolled his neck, wincing at the sore muscles from sitting at his design table for so long. He hated defending his actions, even when they did not make sense. Letting out a long breath, he said, “I just like my privacy, that’s all. And she was picking up sea glass. Hell, had a bunch in a bucket.”

“Yeah, I figure Jillian showed her your work since the girls were in the galleria.” Finishing his cup, Mitch stood. “I love this view,” he said. “I like the view from my grandfather’s little cabin, but this is a really nice place you’ve got here.” Looking over at him he added, “Too bad you’re out here all by yourself. When I invited you to come here to live in Baytown I thought you’d enjoy the town a little more.”

“Don’t gotta surround myself with a bunch of people all the time to enjoy it,” he countered, then hung his head. “Jesus, sorry Mitch. I know I’m an asshole…but I’m an asshole who prefers my own company.”

“Nothing wrong with that. But I’d like to think that Baytown has something to offer you besides just the chance to hide.”

“People know where I am, I’d hardly call that hiding.”

“There’s all kinds of hiding…I think you’re mostly hiding from yourself. But then, I figure you got your reasons.”

No response was needed so he clamped his lips together, his chest tight.

“Don’t forget about the American Legion meeting tomorrow night,” Mitch said as he stepped through the door, letting it clang shut behind him, and began walking down the path. “Oh,” he called over his shoulder, “and stop harassing the pretty teachers you come across. After all, she was gathering the sea glass for the kids in her class.”

He watched Mitch round the corner, heading to his vehicle parked out front. Dropping his head back, he sighed, the face of the teacher—Jade—coming to mind.

Dark hair blowing from a ball cap perched on her head. A pink tank top and white shorts that revealed more of her figure than he wanted to notice. He had stood on the beach, feet apart with his hands on his hips in a threatening stance hoping she would see him and turn around. But she never looked up. She just kept her head down as she searched the beach. He watched as she rushed to the edge of the water, coming up with a large piece of sea glass before she looked out at the ships and yelled a thank you, dancing around in the surf at the same time.

Shaking his head at the memory, he had thought she was a young teen until she came closer, her head still down as she searched. Then, it was easy to see she was a woman, and a beautiful woman at that. And she never looked up.

Not until she ran right into me.

A slight grin twitched at the corners of his mouth as he remembered her huge eyes as they widened, taking all of him in. An embarrassed blush painted her cheeks as she dropped her bucket.

That damned, pink, child’s sand bucket.

Taking the now empty cups back to the kitchen sink, he rinsed them before setting them on the drying rack. He knew Mitch was right—he shouldn’t have scared her. Or lied to her. Or made her embarrassed. That was an asshole move. But damnit, I like my privacy.

He remembered a time in his past, though now it seemed like centuries ago. Friends. Fun. Drinks with co-workers. Dating. That confident young man was gone. Dead and buried in the hills of Afghanistan.

Walking back into his studio, he tried to focus on the new design he was creating, but as his gaze landed on the clear, plastic containers dividing and holding the different colors of sea glass, he found himself staring at the green ones. Walking over, he reached down, running his fingers through the green, smooth fragments. The various hues glistened in the sunlight. As he continued to stare at the pieces so resembling jade, they began to taunt him.

Jade. Fuck, her name is Jade. He remembered those green eyes staring up at him. The color of her name.