Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Confusion revved like a throttle inside Mark. Emily’s brown eyes and gorgeous smile invaded everything, even his dreams. He grabbed his helmet and keys, anything to escape the noise of his own crowded thoughts. Maybe a ride would help. It used to in the past. Clear his head, clear the noise. But Emily was louder than most things. His leather jacket felt heavy as he zipped it up, buckling his chin strap like a challenge to himself. He couldn’t stop thinking about her; the way she laughed, the way she looked at him, the way she made everything feel—he didn’t even know.
Mark tore down the stairs, each step a question he couldn’t answer. Was it her, or was it him? He pushed out into the night, hoping the road would know. As soon as he slipped onto his motorcycle, everything blurred as fast as his tires could spin. He hit the first corner outside of town hard, riding the road with the wind whipping around him like it could blow Emily out of his head. But it didn’t. Not this time.
He gave the handle a little twist, a little power, hoping for some much-needed freedom. If anything could make sense of this mess, it was a long ride and the open night sky.
Empty streets were a blur of dark as he raced past, the wind yanking at him like it was trying to pull him off his bike. But he wouldn’t let it. Out here, it was just him and the bike and the cool air. But try as he might, he couldn’t push Emily’s face from his mind no matter how fast he went. Every mile brought him closer to nowhere, and he liked it like that.
His mind twisted with each curve, the road winding and wild like his thoughts. He leaned into the turns, enjoying the ride, his heart pushing at his chest the way he pushed the bike to go faster. Away from Emily, away from town, away from whatever this thing between them was becoming.
The wind stung, sharp and clean, and it felt good; like a reset. Like maybe the end would tell him something different from the beginning. But no matter how hard he rode, Emily stayed right there, in his mind, in his heart, turning with him like they were on this wild ride together.
Mark gunned it, anticipating the stretch of straightaway ahead. He didn’t care where it led. All that mattered was the speed, the rush, the way it let him leave everything behind, even if only for a moment. He needed the air and the night to make him forget the way Emily smiled, the way she seemed to see right through him, the way she made his pulse thud every time they were close.
When the road finally curved again, it pointed toward the town’s scenic overlook, a place where he could sit and think and maybe catch his breath. He slowed a little, the roar of the engine dropping to a purr, the sudden quiet louder than he expected.
As Mark pulled into the area, he spotted the bike before he spotted her. Emily, here, of all places. Her presence filled the overlook like she had planned it—like she knew he’d be there. Mark cut the engine, but his thoughts were pounding in his head louder than the motor. By the time he got his helmet off, she was walking toward him.
“You lost, stranger?” Emily’s warm and inviting voice cut through the night.
Mark felt his heart skip a beat but did his best to ignore it as he hung his helmet on the handlebar. “No, this is one of my favorite places to come relax. How did you find out about it?”
“One of the locals told me this place was incredible at night, so I decided to come check it out.” Noticing his motorcycle, she asked, “Is that your dad’s bike?”
“Sure is.”
“He had good taste,” she said, circling the black beast.
“Yours isn’t bad either,” he acknowledged with a lopsided grin. “I was impressed the first day I saw you ride up on it.”
“Really? I didn’t even know you were paying attention,” she mused.
“What are you doing out here, Emily?” he questioned as he gestured to a lone bench that was placed at the center of the overlook.
“Trying to clear my head. And you?”
“Same.” He looked at her, wondering what she was thinking. “It’s nice to end up here with you.”
“Guess I should’ve known. Great minds think alike.” Emily laughed as she moved over to the bench to join him. “So, Mr. Rescue, save anyone lately, besides Kurt and me, of course?”
He shook his head. “I hope I didn’t overstep. Old habits die hard.”
“I get that. Riding is like that for me,” she admitted. “ You wouldn’t believe half the stories I have about my road trips.”
“Try me.” He looked at her with a dare in his eyes, like he was the road, and she was already going too fast to turn back.
So, she took him up on his offer. She told him about wild rides and missed turns, near misses, and close calls. He listened, laughed, and shared his own tales of adventure. His words were full of twists and chances, and she told him she couldn’t believe he’d taken them. But they both knew what was really being said beneath it all. Risks. Not all of them are worth taking. Some of them are worth everything.
“Ever crash your bike?” she asked.
“A few times. Always got back on, though, until my accident on the job. For a while, I was worried I might never be able to ride again, but then you came into my life and encouraged me to try.”
“And here you are,” she murmured with an approving smile.
“Here I am, doing what I forgot I loved…thanks to you.”
The heartfelt exchange faded, leaving a peaceful atmosphere between them. Mark couldn’t help staring at her lips and noticed she was doing the same to him. He pondered whether kissing her would match what he imagined all those times they were interrupted.
“We should be careful,” she whispered, half warning, half plea.
Mark moved closer, close enough to know she was breathing harder now. “Not my style.”
“Not mine either,” Emily whispered as she licked her lips.
It was the invitation he’d been waiting for, letting go of the logic that had kept him guarded. His lips found hers with an intensity he couldn’t hold back. His mouth moved slow yet deliberate, as if he were memorizing her lips. She responded with equal passion, letting the kiss deepen.
His hand brushed her cheek softly, and she leaned into his touch, the warmth of her body radiating against his own. The world seemed to fall away, with only the stars as witnesses to this stolen moment.
Then, out of nowhere, there was a beep. His watch. Reality breaking through like a crash, jarring, pulling them apart.
“Sorry,” Mark murmured against her lips, his voice low and raspy.
Emily smiled, a flicker of nerves and something new in her eyes as she gently pulled back. “Hate that thing.”
“I’ll get rid of it.” He ran a hand through his hair, the same hand that had been on her back a moment ago. “But maybe we should call it a night. We have more to do for the inspection.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” She stood, leaving him to feel suddenly cold in the absence of her warmth. “It’s late anyway.”
As they walked to their bikes, the silence wasn’t awkward, but it was thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Emily mounted her motorcycle, glancing over at Mark, who was watching her with barely checked desire.
“Drive safe,” he told her with a smile.
“You too.” She kicked the engine to life, the rumble vibrating between them.
As she pulled away, Mark couldn't help but replay the kiss in his mind, each detail vivid and electrifying. The way her lips had felt on his seemed to burn a permanent imprint on his senses. He felt both thrilled and terrified. What did this mean for tomorrow? For the shop? For them? He didn’t know, but he was willing to do whatever it took to find out.
Even before he hit the lights, Mark knew from the whispers he’d heard at J, that someone had seen Mark and Emily kissing at the overlook. He knew that people had been talking since the sun came up and that it was only a matter of time before Emily found out. By the time he opened the door for shipments, locals were passing by looking in the window, hoping to catch sight of the rumored new couple.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, a reminder of the warning he’d gotten from a friend that morning. People were talking, saying things they had no business saying. Mark hoped it would blow over, hoped he could somehow keep it separate. Professional. He ran a hand through his hair, wondering if that kiss would cost more than he thought.
By the time the first orders came in, he could feel the pressure like a too-tight shirt. Everyone’s eyes were on him. Or worse, on the door, waiting for her to arrive.
When Emily walked in, the room seemed to hold its breath. She looked different, though Mark couldn’t say why. Maybe he was the one who’d changed. Maybe he saw too much of her now. Or maybe he saw what the others saw—how smitten he was with her—and didn't like it one bit.
Her head was high, but her eyes told another story. The whispers turned to full-on stares, delivery workers and staff both. Everyone seemed to know, and they were judging. This wasn’t just a small town. It was a fishbowl, and they were right in the center.
“Morning,” he said, trying for casual. His voice came out stiffer than he wanted.
Emily shot him a glance, then focused on tying her apron. “Morning.”
Mark felt the shift, the energy changing like the charge before a storm. He knew how to handle storms, or thought he knew, but this felt different. Like trouble was just around the corner, and he couldn’t stop it.
A group of women, all sharp eyes with louder-than-they-thought voices, watched them through the window. He caught pieces of their conversation. Fraternizing. Pleasure at the expense of business. Inappropriate.
Then Birdie swooped in, silver hair and a wide smile, chatting up the girls like it was an Olympic sport. “I hear she likes to travel,” the older woman said, conspiratorial. “Not the kind to settle. He should know better.”
Emily’s face tightened as she moved through the shop, taking orders and ignoring the looks. Mark felt a pang. Not guilt. Something else.
“I heard about you two last night,” Birdie yelled through the open door. “Hope you didn’t catch cold.”
Mark didn’t like what was going on but fought the urge to step in and make it worse. Emily could handle it. He had to trust that. Trust her. Trust himself.
Emily worked behind the counter, moving fast. She was focused but far away. The stares kept coming, relentless as Birdie. Mark tried to concentrate on preparing for the inspection, on anything but Emily and the way the whole room seemed to orbit around her.
She didn’t look at him again, and he didn’t force it. She was good at keeping busy, and at keeping the distance. He’d follow her lead, no matter how much he didn’t want to.
“Shouldn’t mix work with play,” Mark heard Nancy tell Sue when they didn’t know he was paying attention. The words cut more than he expected.
A sudden noise, sharp and wrong. A clatter, a yelp. Emily had dropped a pot of steaming coffee, and the contents had hit her hand. He was across the room before he knew it—before anyone else had moved.
“Are you okay?” His concerned voice carried over the chaos.
Emily looked up and was clearly startled by his nearness. “I’m fine,” she winced.
“No, you’re not. We need to get cold water on that right away,” he ordered decisively.
She didn’t argue or meet his eyes; just nodded, heading for the sink with shaky steps. Mark followed, even though every eye in the place was saying not to.
Nancy was close behind, concern and curiosity mixed on her face. “Accidents happen, especially when folks get distracted.”
Mark knew Nancy wasn’t wrong, and the weight of his impulsive decision to kiss Emily was pressing down on him. He didn’t plan on it being such a mess. Still, they didn’t need anyone breathing down their necks. He turned to face the barista. “Nancy, why don’t you work on coming up with some drink combos for the menu. I can handle helping Emily in the back.”
Once Mark reached her side, he leaned close, his voice low. “Let them talk.”
Emily glanced up, her eyes catching his for a brief, charged moment. “They’re not just talking, Mark. They’re watching our every move and judging us. I don’t like being under a microscope. ”
He nodded, understanding the cost of their visibility in this tiny community. “I know. But right now, let’s just take care of this burn.” His hand reached out for her and, but she jerked back.
“I’ve got it,” she said, clearly worried about causing more whispers.
“You need help, so let me,” he coaxed, grateful when she accepted his assistance and allowed him to run cool water over her reddened skin.
“Thanks for the help.” She gave him an appreciative smile as he wrapped her burn with gauze.
“No problem,” he told her right before she gently pulled away and headed back into the main room.
Within minutes, Emily was back to work as if nothing happened.
He kept his distance, the hardest thing he’d done. The right thing, he told himself. For her. For him. For the shop and everything it could be. It wasn’t his job to rescue her. Not this time. Not unless she wanted him to.
Mark watched Emily from across the room, the space between them full of everything that wasn’t said. She was on her third cup of coffee. If it hurt, she wasn’t showing it. If the talk bothered her, she didn’t let it stop her.
He wanted to reach out, and tell her it didn’t matter what anyone thought. But that would mean admitting how much he cared. How much he didn’t want to lose what they might have. Instead, he kept to his corner, kept to himself, and let the rest of the world crowd in.
By noon, the gossip was thicker than the air. He caught pieces of it every time he turned around. She’s too pretty for him. He’s playing with fire. Maybe she’ll dump him and go back to Hero.
Mark gritted his teeth, focusing on the stack of papers in front of him, on anything but the knot growing in his chest.
He knew this bothered Emily. She had told him as much in the back room, but she worked like she was fine, like she didn’t notice the way they all looked at her. Mark saw the strain, though, the way her shoulders tightened and slumped forward. She was strong. Stronger than he’d given her credit for. But how long could she keep this up?
He stayed busy, busy enough to pretend nothing was wrong, that it was just another day in a small town full of bored people with big mouths. But the pretending wore thin; the pretending wore him out.
Emily barely glanced his way. That hurt more than it should. But he suspected she had a point to prove, maybe to him, maybe to herself. That she could do this. That she didn’t need him to step in and save her.
He wanted to cross the floor, wanted to tell her it didn’t matter, wanted to say the only thing he wasn’t sure of was what they were waiting for. But he didn’t. He kept to himself, let the minutes tick by, each one more awkward, more full of the distance he hated.
Finally, deciding he had enough, Mark threw his towel down on the counter. “I think we can call it quits for the day. Everything is ready for the inspection tomorrow.”
The baristas didn’t wait to be told a second time. All of them gathered their belongings and scurried out of the coffee shop.
“Long day,” Emily sighed, her words reaching him like a lifeline.
“Yeah,” he said as he faced her. “You good?”
Emily nodded, but the hesitation was there.
He tried to keep his voice light. “Sure you don’t want to bail on this place after what happened today?”
“Are you kidding? And miss all the fun?” Emily teased .
Mark almost smiled, almost crossed the room, almost broke every rule he’d set not to kiss her again. But the tension held, thick and tight and unbearable. “Glad to hear you’re not leaving.”
“I don’t scare that easy,” she told him with a weary smile.
“Good, because in that case, I have somewhere I want to take you.”