Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Emily hesitated when Mark asked her to go with him, even though she could already taste the freedom that would come from getting on the back of his bike and speeding out of town. She needed to work, but she needed to breathe too, and when he smiled at her, everything felt like maybe it could be okay for a few hours. She wanted to go with him and enjoy herself without having to worry.
He held the helmet out to her, and it was like holding out his hand and asking her to trust him. She took it, knowing this was exactly what she needed.
As they exited the cozy warmth of the coffee shop, the crisp breeze embraced them, tenderly sweeping away the last remnants of her doubt. It was as if the wind itself had taken her uncertainties and cast them into the ether. Together, they soared along the highway, the world blurring past as their bodies intertwined with each mile. The road unfolded before them like a roll of ribbon, leading them ever closer to the shimmering expanse of the lake. There, the water danced under the setting sun’s gentle caress .
Mark slowed down when they reached the lake’s edge, and she felt the reluctance in his movements like he wanted to keep going forever. She knew the feeling. He parked the bike and swung his leg off in one fluid motion, leaving Emily breathless and grinning like a fool. She’d never let herself enjoy a moment like this before, and it felt dangerous in a way that had nothing to do with speed.
He nodded toward the water. “I used to spend every day here,” he said, his voice turning low, almost lost in the sound of the wind and the waves. “After the injury…it’s what got me through, and it still does when times are hard.”
Emily felt the weight of his words, the depth of what he wasn’t saying. She moved a little closer, careful not to rush him but wanting him to know she was listening. “It must be tough having to give up what you loved.”
He took a breath and admitted something she didn’t expect. “I miss the rush of saving people. That feeling. Nothing else compares to it.”
Emily nodded. “I can only imagine.” She felt the honesty between them, raw and real. “But sometimes God has other plans that can be just as fulfilling as what we had planned for ourselves. It may not be the same, but it can matter just as much. Just think of all the people you’re going to help with the Brave Badge.”
He seemed to think about that for a while, letting her words settle. Then he looked at her, curiosity and something else flickering in his eyes. “Is that why you left Hero? To find a different path than the one you were on?”
Emily hesitated, wondering if she was ready to tell him everything. She knew, though, if she couldn’t be open with him now, she never would. “In a way. I needed a change. An escape. Dave didn’t really get the message when I told him it was over, so I figured some distance would make the difference.” Her voice was strong, but she felt a familiar shiver at the memory of Dave’s relentless presence. “I guess I miscalculated how determined he was to keep things going.”
“Is he always so…aggressive?” Mark asked; concern etched in his features.
“Yeah, he got crazy jealous when any guy talked to me, and I’m not into that,” she clarified, forcing a smile to lighten the mood.
Mark’s expression softened, understanding mingled with something protective. He reached for her hand, and the touch was electric, drawing her in closer and closer. When they kissed, it was even better than the first time, like everything they’d gone through today intensified their connection.
Then there was a noise, loud and jarring, pulling them out of their special moment.
A group of hikers appeared from nowhere, their chatter and clumsy footfalls breaking the stillness like a misplaced punchline. Emily and Mark jumped apart, their faces mixed with surprise and amusement.
“Didn’t see that coming,” Emily said, catching Mark’s eye and laughing despite herself.
“We can’t seem to catch a break,” Mark chuckled with a shake of his head.
They exchanged a look, half embarrassed and half entertained, like they were in on a joke that no one else could understand.
As the hikers moved on, Mark turned back to Emily, his expression thoughtful and a little impish. “Want to come over for dinner? Less chance of interruption.”
Emily raised an eyebrow, pretending to consider. The idea thrilled her more than she wanted to admit. It felt big, this next step, but right. “You cooking? ”
“If you’re brave enough to try what I make,” he teased, and she loved the way it sounded like a challenge.
“Sure. Why not? Brave is my middle name,” Emily shot back.
An hour later, Mark was in the thick of cooking them spaghetti. The first thing Emily noticed was the smell, the aroma of the Italian herbs tickling her nose. She could tell he’d gone out of his way to make her feel at home. More intimate. She liked that it was just the two of them. No one to interrupt, to judge, to make her feel like she was making a mistake. Just Mark and that look on his face like he was as curious as she was to see where this would lead.
“I’m glad you came,” he told her, his eyes soft and warm as he stirred the sauce.
“Me too,” she replied, and it was the truth. The place was simple and comfortable, like him, and she could tell that he didn’t need much to make him happy. A refreshing change from most men her age.
“Hungry?” he asked as he added the noodles to the boiling water.
“Depends,” she teased. “Do you need me to help cook? I should warn you, I’m horrible at it.”
“So what you’re saying is that if I’m not careful, you might end up poisoning me,” he joked, handing her an apron. She liked the way he made everything feel like it was exactly what it should be. Nothing forced. Nothing rushed.
“I’m warning you, I’m really bad at this,” she admitted, trying to tie the apron and making a mess of it.
Mark laughed, moving behind her to assist. “Looks like you need some help.”
They moved around the kitchen together, Mark doing most of the work while Emily pretended to support him. She chopped vegetables with all the skill of someone who barely knew what a kitchen was. They talked and laughed, the conversation flowing easily. She didn’t think she’d ever enjoyed cooking so much.
“How’s this?” she asked, holding up a sad-looking piece of cucumber for the salad.
“Perfect,” Mark said, grinning like it was the best thing he’d ever seen.
“Liar,” Emily accused, but she loved the way he looked at her; like she was more than what she could or couldn’t do.
Dinner came together faster than she expected, and they sat down to eat, the table set like it was a special occasion. Maybe it was. She felt something in the air, a sense of newness and promise. She didn’t want to put a name to it yet.
“This is amazing,” Emily said, savoring the first bite of the pasta in red sauce.
“I think we made a pretty good team making it,” Mark replied before taking a bite of the salad.
Emily felt herself relaxing, surprised at how much she liked being here with him. “So, this is what normal people do around Faith Valley? Dinner at home? No gossip, no crowds poking into their business?”
“Something like that,” he winked. “I thought you might like the change.”
“You thought right,” Emily nodded, and she meant it. Everything felt different and wonderful when it was just the two of them.
They talked through the meal, and the topics were light and funny. Mark told stories about the town, about the people she was starting to get to know, about how he used to be. She found herself opening up, too, sharing bits of herself she hadn’t planned to. It was like they were building something intimate, piece by piece, and she didn’t even mind.
When they moved to the couch, Emily settled close to Mark. “What should we watch?”
“Nothing scary,” he promised, finding the remote and starting the movie.
“That’s good,” she said, half kidding, half not. “I’m not ready for any more excitement tonight.”
The light from the screen flickered against the walls, the room cozy and perfect as they laughed at the comedy. Emily nestled closer, feeling Mark’s solid presence beside her. Her heart raced, and she wondered if he could feel it, too.
When they kissed, she felt a surge of warmth and contentment, imagining a future where every night could be spent just like this, wrapped in his embrace. The world around them seemed to dissolve into a gentle blur, and she could feel herself getting lost in the comforting ease of the moment. For a brief second, she pulled back, her breath catching in her throat.
“You okay?” Mark asked, his voice gentle, his eyes searching hers.
“Better than,” Emily replied, letting her guard slip a little more. It was dangerous, this closeness, but thrilling, too. It was like a ride she didn’t want to end.
They continued to watch the movie, laughing at the jokes, and sharing looks that said more than their words ever could. Emily realized she was letting go in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to in a long time.
Mark stretched as he turned off the television, his arm brushing against her, and she loved the simple contact. “Should we call it a night?” he asked, his voice holding something she couldn’t quite name.
Emily nodded. “Yeah. Probably. ”
Outside his apartment, the air was cool and clear, and Emily felt light and a little dizzy. It had been such a perfect night that she almost forgot they lived in a place where privacy was a rumor and everyone else knew the story before you did. Then she noticed, almost as if on cue, Birdie was across the street watering her grass, looming like an unwelcome guest at a party.
Emily stopped and inhaled sharply, grabbing Mark’s arm to keep him from moving. She saw Birdie’s eyes fix on them, a knowing smile spreading like a stain, and Emily braced herself for what was coming. “Looks like we have company.”
Mark followed her gaze, his expression shifting from surprise to understanding. “We knew this was bound to happen,” he said, his voice calm but edged with the same frustration Emily felt.
“Not tonight,” Emily replied, feeling the weight of it all pressing in on her. “Should we do something?”
Mark looked at her, a question in his eyes. She loved that he wanted her to decide. It was her fight, too. “Let’s set her straight,” she said, more bravely than she felt.
Emily felt exposed but determined as they walked toward Birdie. She didn’t want to face this yet, not when everything felt so fragile, but she knew they had to.
Birdie watched their approach with the smug satisfaction of someone who knew she’d be the first to tell the story. “Looks like we have a new pair in town,” the older woman said before they even reached her, her voice carrying a gloating tone.
Mark was the first to speak, his voice steady and respectful. “We’d appreciate some privacy,” he said, his words powerful without raising his voice.
Emily stood beside Mark, unflinching under Birdie’s gaze. “Our relationship isn’t for the gossip mill,” Emily added, her eyes meeting the other woman’s eyes with a directness that surprised even her.
For a moment, Birdie seemed taken aback, her confident smirk faltering as she realized they weren’t going to let her win this one. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
Then Birdie recovered, her smile turning sharp and mischievous. “If you didn’t want anyone to know, you should have stayed inside,” she said, her words biting but not unexpected. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as if she was already planning how to twist the story. Emily watched as Birdie turned on her heel and marched off, eager to spread her version of what she’d seen.
“Well, that was fun,” Emily mocked.
Mark slipped his arm around her, pulling her close. “It won’t always be like this,” he promised. “Eventually, the rumors will die down when they have something or someone else to talk about.”
“I know,” Emily said, leaning into him and feeling the tension ease away. Then, an idea came to her. “We should plan something to shift the focus back to the Brave Badge.”
“What do you have in mind?” Mark asked, curiosity and excitement lighting up his eyes as they walked over to his bike.
“An event,” Emily suggested, feeling the thrill of a plan taking shape. “Something big. Something that will get everyone talking about the shop instead of us.” She paused, then smiled, knowing this was the perfect way to connect with Mark’s past and his future. “A charity event for the local search and rescue team.”
Mark's face lit up, and Emily could see that he loved the idea as much as she did. “That’s perfect,” he said, his enthusiasm infectious. “They could really use the support.”
“We could have a launch party,” Emily continued, getting caught up in the excitement. “Invite the whole town. Make it about more than just coffee. Make it about community and helping out the local first responders.”
Mark nodded, and she could see the wheels turning in his mind. “Let’s do it.”
They talked for a while longer, tossing around ideas and building on each other’s energy and passion for the event. She loved being a part of his life, a part of the shop and the community he was building. It made everything seem possible.
A little while later, they arrived at the hotel and made their way to her room. They reached her door, and Emily felt a reluctance to let him go.
“Thanks for everything tonight. I really appreciate you turning the day around for me,” she said, her voice full of gratitude.
“I’m glad you let me,” Mark told her, and she knew he meant it. She could see it in the way he looked at her—like she was part of something he was building, something that mattered.
“I have to admit, I was worried about the inspection tomorrow, but not anymore. I think we’ll be able to handle it together.”
Mark smiled, the kind of smile that made her forget all the reasons she’d ever wanted to keep her distance. “I was thinking the same thing,” he said. “I’m glad you’ll be there with me. We make a great team.” His sincerity made her feel warm and appreciated, like she was exactly where she needed to be.
As they said good night, Emily knew this was just the beginning of something wonderful. She watched Mark walk down the hall, her heart full. She closed the door with a smile, knowing that tomorrow held more than just an inspection. It held the start of something special.