Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Emily’s gaze flicked toward the clock, her heart thudding with excitement. After weeks of working side by side at the Sweet Bloom Sheriff’s Department, she and Paul were finally going on their first official date. The anticipation buzzed through her veins as she smoothed down her dress, checking for any wrinkles. The restaurant they had chosen was known for its romantic ambience and exquisite cuisine, and Emily couldn’t wait to experience it with Paul by her side. She smiled to herself, feeling grateful for the opportunity to spend some special time alone with him.
“You got this, Emily,” she whispered to herself as she applied a touch of extra mascara and some light pink lipstick. The mirror reflected her green eyes, shimmering with anticipation. Her brown hair cascaded in soft curls around her willowy frame, and she couldn’t help but smile. Tonight was special, and she wanted to look her best for Paul.
She heard the doorbell ring, and her pulse quickened. Taking one last look in the mirror, she felt a warmth spread through her chest. It was time.
“Wow, Emily...you look amazing,” Paul said, his brown eyes widening as he took in her appearance. He stood in the doorway, looking handsome in a casual button-down shirt and dark jeans. His strong, trim figure hinted at his recent completion of training at Disaster City Search and Rescue.
“Thank you, Paul.” She blushed, feeling a flutter in her stomach. “You clean up pretty nice yourself.”
“Shall we?” he asked, extending his arm like a true gentleman. She took it gratefully, and they headed out into the night.
As they walked to Paul’s car, Emily felt a twinge of nervousness. She had sworn off dating men with badges after her last disastrous relationship, but Paul was different. His warm smile and kind eyes put her at ease.
They drove through the quiet streets of Sweet Bloom, chatting easily about their day. Emily relaxed, enjoying Paul’s company outside of work.
“Here we are,” Paul announced, pulling into a small parking lot in a neighboring town.
Emily gasped as she saw the twinkling lights of a quaint Italian restaurant. “Oh, Paul. I’ve always wanted to try this place.”
“I know,” he said softly. “I remembered you mentioning it once.”
Her heart warmed at his thoughtfulness. As they entered the cozy restaurant, the aroma of garlic and freshly baked bread enveloped them.
“Table for two,” Paul told the hostess. “Under Evans.”
They were led to a secluded corner table lit by flickering candles and red roses in the center. Paul pulled out a seat for her and as she took it, she murmured as she looked around, “This is perfect.”
Paul’s eyes never left her face. “You’re perfect,” he said softly.
Emily’s cheeks burned, her entire face flushing with a deep shade of red. She shrunk away, her body tense as she considered the possibility of finally letting her walls down for this man. A rush of fear and excitement coursed through her, making her heart pound in her chest. Could she really trust him enough to open up?
Paul noticed Emily’s sudden tension and reached across the table, gently taking her hand. “Hey, are you okay?”
Emily took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just...this is all so unexpected. I never thought I would be here with you like this.”
Paul’s brown eyes softened with understanding. “I know. It’s unexpected for me, too. I never imagined myself being a one-woman kind of guy, but here I am, all in with you. We can take things slow, though, Emily. There’s no pressure.”
His words washed over her like a soothing balm, and she felt herself relax slightly. “Thank you, Paul. I appreciate that.”
The server arrived with menus, giving Emily a moment to collect herself. As they perused the options, Paul asked, “So, what looks good to you?”
“The chicken Parmesan sounds amazing,” Emily replied, grateful for the shift to safer territory.
“Great choice. I think I’ll go with the lasagna.”
They placed their orders and settled into easy conversation. Emily found herself laughing at Paul’s stories about his K-9 training mishaps.
“So there I was, covered in mud, with my overly enthusiastic German shepherd partner dragging me through the obstacle course,” Paul chuckled, his eyes crinkling with mirth.
Emily giggled, picturing the scene. “Oh no. What did your instructor say?”
“He just shook his head and muttered something about needing more coffee,” Paul grinned.
As their meals arrived, Emily felt the last of her nervousness melt away. She realized that being with Paul felt natural, comfortable.
“This is delicious,” she said, savoring a bite of her chicken.
Paul nodded in agreement, his fork loaded with lasagna. “Definitely. We’ll have to come back here again sometime.”
Emily’s heart skipped a beat at the implication of future dates. “I’d like that,” she said softly.
As the evening progressed, Emily found herself opening up more, sharing stories about her family and her dreams for the future. Paul listened attentively, his warm brown eyes never leaving her face.
When the check came, Paul insisted on paying. “My treat,” he said with a smile.
As they walked back to the car, Paul’s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining naturally. Emily felt a spark of electricity at his touch, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“Thanks for a wonderful evening,” she told him with a appreciative smile.
“It’s not over yet,” he teased. “I’ve got a surprise in store for you.”
The drive back to Sweet Bloom was filled with comfortable silence, broken only by the soft music from the radio. Emily stole glances at Paul, admiring his profile in the dim light.
As they arrived at their destination, Emily clapped her hand. The local ice rink was alive with laughter and music. “I haven’t done this since I was a teenager.”
“Glad you're excited,” he chuckled. “Just hope I don’t make a fool of myself.”
“You and me both,” she teased as she climbed out of the car.
As they laced up their skates, Emily couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. It had been years since she’d been here, but it brought back memories of simpler times.
“Ready?” Paul asked, offering his hand.
“Let’s do this,” she replied, taking a deep breath.
As they stepped onto the ice, they wobbled and giggled together. Each slip and slide only brought them closer, their laughter echoing around the rink. Paul’s focused determination, which served him so well in his new role as a K-9 handler, softened into an easygoing playfulness that mirrored Emily’s own.
“Tell me something about yourself that I don’t know,” Paul said, steadying himself on the ice.
“All right.” Emily paused, thinking. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano. What about you?”
“Me? I never had a pet growing up,” he confessed, chuckling at the irony. “It’s why I love working with Maddox so much.”
“Really?” She looked at him with a mix of disbelief and sympathy.
“Yep, my dad was allergic when I was a kid, and then after they passed away, they didn’t allow pets in the group home.”
“You never got placed in a foster home?”
He shook his head. “I was too old by the time I entered the system.”
“Well, I’m glad you have Maddox now,” Emily said softly, squeezing Paul’s hand.
Paul’s eyes met hers, filled with warmth. “Me too. And I’m glad I have you.”
Emily felt her breath catch. The sincerity in his voice touched something deep inside her. She opened her mouth to respond, but her skate hit a rough patch of ice. She stumbled, letting out a small yelp.
Paul’s arms were around her in an instant, steadying her. “I’ve got you,” he murmured.
Their faces were inches apart. Emily could feel the heat of Paul’s breath and see the tiny flecks of gold in his brown eyes. Her heart raced, and not just from the near-fall.
“Emily,” Paul whispered, his gaze dropping to her lips.
She knew what was coming. Part of her wanted to pull away, to protect herself. But a larger part yearned for this moment.
Paul leaned in slowly, giving her time to back away if she wanted. Instead, Emily closed her eyes and met him halfway.
Their lips touched, soft and tentative at first. Then Paul’s arms tightened around her waist, drawing her closer. Emily’s hands found their way to his chest, feeling his heartbeat through his shirt.
The kiss deepened, and the world around them faded away. There was no ice rink and no other skaters. Just Paul and Emily, wrapped in each other’s arms.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Emily’s cheeks were flushed, and Paul’s eyes sparkled.
“Wow,” Emily breathed.
Paul grinned. “Yeah. Wow.”
They stood there for a moment, still holding each other. Emily felt a warmth spreading through her chest, a feeling of rightness she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“So,” Paul said, his voice a mix of hope and uncertainty. “Where do we go from here?”
Emily took a deep breath. Her old fears whispered at the back of her mind, but the memory of Paul’s kiss, his kindness, his understanding—they all spoke louder.
“Forward,” she said firmly. “Together.”
Paul’s smile could have lit up the entire rink. He took her hand, intertwining their fingers. “I like the sound of that.”
As they skated on hand in hand, they continued sharing stories from their lives. Emily found herself lowering the walls she’d built around her heart. She knew she had been cautious about dating someone with a badge, but seeing Paul in this light made her realize that perhaps they were meant to be more than just coworkers. Their laughter filled the air, creating a joyful melody that harmonized perfectly with the music of the ice rink.
By the time they were finished skating, their cheeks were rosy from the cold and exertion. As Emily and Paul clutched steaming cups of hot chocolate, they settled onto a bench, a comfortable silence wrapping around them like a warm blanket. Emily glanced at Paul, wondering how she had managed to keep herself from dating him for so long.
“Can I ask you something?” Paul said, breaking the quiet.
“Of course.” Emily took a sip of her drink, waiting for his question.
“What happened with your ex?”
“He was a deputy here in Sweet Bloom. We met when I got hired on by the department, and we ended up dating. Things were fine at first, but over time, I noticed he always seemed to put work first. The longer we were together, the more he didn’t seem to care about me as much as I did him. Then he was offered a job in Dallas, and, without even talking to me, he took it and left town.”
“Is that why you’re cautious about dating someone with a badge?”
“Yes.” She sighed, clutching her hot chocolate to her chest. “I’m afraid of getting into another relationship and having history repeat itself.”
“Emily, we all have our insecurities and fears. But I promise you, I’m not your ex. I’ll do everything in my power to protect your heart.”
She looked into his eyes, seeing sincerity shining through. A warmth spread through her chest, and she could feel herself trusting him more and more.
Just then, Marjorie Simms hurried over to them, her salt-and-peppered hair bobbing with each step. “Emily, you won’t believe what I just heard.”
“Hi, Marjorie. What’s going on?” Emily asked with apprehension at the sight of the town gossip.
“Your ex-boyfriend, Deputy Tyler, is back in town,” Marjorie exclaimed.
A wave of anxiety washed over Emily, her heart pounding with old fears resurfacing. She could feel Paul’s hand searching for hers, offering support, but she was too caught up in her own internal turmoil to take comfort in his touch.
“What do you think he’s going to do when he finds out you're dating another deputy now?” Marjorie questioned, oblivious to the tension she had just created.
Emily’s thoughts raced, her heart pounding as she processed Marjorie’s revelation. She glanced at Paul, wondering if he could sense the storm of emotions inside her.
“Miss Simms, I think you’ve done quite enough. Can you give us some time alone?” Paul snapped.
“Why, I was only trying to warn her,” Marjorie grumbled before sauntering off.
“Are you okay?” Paul asked, concern etched on his face.
“Uh, yeah. I just...I wasn’t expecting that news.” Emily tried to steady her racing heart, but the thought of her ex-boyfriend’s return left her feeling exposed and vulnerable.
“Emily,” Paul said softly, “I know this is hard for you, but I’m here. We’ll face it together.”
“Paul, it’s not that simple.” Emily struggled to find the right words, fear clashing with the desire to trust him. “He hurt me so much in the past, and I just...I can’t risk going through that again.”
“Emily, please,” Paul urged, his brown eyes filled with determination. “Don’t let your past control your future. You deserve happiness, and I want to be the one to give it to you.”
“I need to go,” she mumbled, avoiding his gaze as she stood up and started to back away.
“Wait,” Paul jumped up and reached out and caught her arm, pulling her close. “I can’t let you give up on us. Not like this.”
Before she could protest, Paul’s lips met hers in a tender yet passionate kiss. Emily’s mind reeled as warmth spread through her, her fears momentarily melting away. It was everything she had ever wanted, and she gave in to the incredible feeling. But it only lasted a moment.
As she yanked away, reality crashed back down. Her ex-boyfriend’s return loomed large in her thoughts, and she couldn’t shake the fear that if she continued dating Paul, it would happen all over again.
With a cry of anguish, Emily tore herself away from Paul. “I can’t do this.”
“Emily,” he called after her, but she couldn’t bring herself to face him or the emotions swirling within her.
Tears streaming down her face, Emily ran, leaving Paul behind as she tried to escape the confusion that threatened to engulf her.