Second Honeymoon

Chapter 55

SARAH TURNED TO face him. He sort of reminded her of Matthew McConaughey—a little younger, without the Texas accent, and maybe without the need to always be taking off his shirt. At least so far.

He was holding a beer. Her beer. Had he grabbed it by mistake? His own bottle of Bud was close by.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Sarah. “I was practically done with it.”

On a dime, he broke into a smile—a great smile, she noticed—and started to laugh. “I’m just kidding. I knew it was your beer.”

Sarah joined in. “You had me there for a second,” she said.

“I’m sorry. I have an offbeat sense of humor. Please, let me buy you another one.”

“Really, that’s okay,” Sarah said. “It’s totally not necessary.”

“But I’m afraid it is, if only so I don’t disappoint my mother,” he said.

Sarah looked around. “Is your mother here?” she asked, half joking.

“No. But she’d be mortified if she knew her son wasn’t able to make amends. She was a stickler for manners.”

He flashed that amazing smile of his again.

“Well, I suppose we don’t want to disappoint your mother,” said Sarah.

“That’s the spirit,” he said. He turned and got the attention of the bartender, ordering another Budweiser. Then he put out his hand. “My name’s Jared, by the way. Jared Sullivan.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Sarah.”

Sarah then did something she’d never done in all her years with the FBI.

She shook hands with a serial killer.