Chapter 44
The police handled the situation efficiently, and order was quickly restored to the bar.
With plenty of witnesses and video evidence, Sarah and Scarlett only needed to give statements and compensate the bar owner for damages before being released.
As they left the police station, they saw Steven’s car waiting outside. He rolled down the window, waving at them. “Ladies, hop
in!”
Through the open window, Sarah caught a glimpse of Zachary’s refined profile in the backseat. Before she could hesitate, Scarlett pulled her toward the car.
“Perfect timing! I was worried we wouldn’t find a ride this late!”
Scarlett dove into the front passenger seat, leaving Sarah to slide into the back.
Opening the rear door, Sarah’s eyes fell on Zachary’s long legs, his expensive suit pants perfectly pressed without a single
wrinkle. Her heartbeat quickened for no reason.
Unlike their last car ride, upbeat music filled the car, with Scarlett bobbing her head to the rhythm in the front seat, creating a
lighter atmosphere.
Sarah turned to the elegant man beside her. “Thank you for calling the police, Mr. Reynolds.”
Zachary’s expression remained calm as he looked at her, his eyes twinkling. “I thought you might be angry I didn’t step in.”
Sarah understood his perspective clearly. Someone like Zachary, with his status as the heir to the Reynolds family, couldn’t casually intervene in a public altercation without risking his reputation. If a bystander captured a video of him getting involved and posted it online, it could cause a media frenzy in the East Coast.
Seeing the clarity in her expression, Zachary felt a twinge of disappointment. It wasn’t that he cared about making headlines–he simply wanted to see if the fiery spirit she once had was still there.
Steven glanced in the rearview mirror and suggested, “Hey, after all that excitement, anyone hungry? I’ve got a grill in the trunk.
We could grab some food and have a beach barbecue?”
“Yes, absolutely!” Scarlett enthusiastically agreed, eager to taste Steven’s legendary cooking again.
The man in the back seat nodded. “Sure.”
All eyes turned to Sarah.
Though she rarely stayed up late, after tonight’s events, she was far from sleepy. She nodded her agreement.
The summer night’s sea breeze was refreshing as they found a perfect spot on the beach and set up the grill.
Scarlett discovered sparklers in Steven’s trunk and ran excitedly across the sand with them while Steven tended to the grill,
1/2
leaving Sarah and Zachary sitting together.
Sarah sat with her knees drawn up, watching Scarlett’s sparklers paint bright trails through the darkness. She couldn’t help smiling – it had been ages since she’d experienced such a simple, perfect moment.
The sea breeze kept blowing strands of her hair into her face.
As she reached up to tuck it behind her ear, a large hand beat her to it. Zachary gathered her hair, producing a hair tie from somewhere, and gently pulled it back into a loose ponytail.
His warm hands occasionally brushed against the soft skin of her neck.
Sarah’s ears turned bright red at the contact.
