Roscoe offered a gentle reminder.
âItâs Valentineâs Day.
I was hoping we could enjoy dinner together, rather than be alone.
â
A light of comprehension dawned on Nicole.
âAh, now I understand.
â
Roscoe looked at her with a hopeful expression.
âAre you free to join me tonight?â
âYes, I can make it,â Nicole responded.
As Nicole walked toward Roscoeâs car, he courteously held the door for her, carefully ensuring she entered without a bump.
Seated inside was a bouquet of white roses, perfectly arranged and waiting.
Nicole gazed at them, visibly touched.
âThese are for you,â Roscoe announced, smiling warmly.
âItâs a nice tradition Iâve picked up.
Adds a touch of celebration, doesnât it?â
Gratitude warmed Nicole, and her smile was genuine as she inhaled the scent of the roses.
It was a surprise that buoyed her mood.
Flowers, after all, had a certain charm, and this bouquet was no exception.
Nicole had weathered many storms, but now she stood resilient, ready to embrace joy without a backward glance.
On their drive, Roscoe inquired about her dinner preferences, âWhatâs your preference for dinner?â
Nicole answered without much thought, âIâm easy to please,â her eyes briefly skimming the news on her phone.
They arrived at a restaurant that was a quiet oasis in the evening bustle.
Once settled at their table, the meal was served promptly, each dish a blend of lightness and flavor.
Roscoe broached a different subject.
âIâve been looking into Jarrodâs situation,â he mentioned.
âThe Hamptons have taken some hard hits lately.
With the recent Lowe incident, theyâre backed into a corner.
Weâve got enough evidence to make a solid case this time.
â
Nicoleâs ease wouldnât come until Jarrodâs fate was sealed.
After all, Jarrod had a knack for turning the tides in the Schultz familyâs favor, skyrocketing them to prominence in no time.
Jarrodâs talent for converting setbacks to wins made Nicole wary of bringing Austin to her side, suspecting Jarrod might still have tricks at hand.
With the court date on the horizon, Nicoleâs anxiety mounted day by day.
âWe canât lose sight of whatâs happening in the Hamptons now,â she said, a gentle nudge in her tone.
Dragging Roscoe into the fray hadnât been Nicoleâs plan, yet his decision to expose the Wattsâ and Schultzesâ illicit activities meant he was now deeply involved.
Their focus had shifted to safeguarding those close to them.
âI have it covered,â Roscoe reassured her.
Wanting to steer away from somber topics, Nicole aimed to inject a bit of levity.
âHasnât your father been playing matchmaker for you lately?â she asked with a playful smile.
Roscoe gave a small smile.
âHeâs tried a few setups, if only to keep off my back.
â
Reading the nuances in his face, Nicole felt a wave of empathy.
âSo none worked out?â she inquired gently.
âI really think you should look for someone.
Better not remain single like me.
â
Love had once left Nicole so scarred that she had shut its door permanently.
Roscoeâs gaze held a complex blend of yearning and caution.
âCanât you see how much you mean to me?â Heâd never been so drawn to others all the while.