Chapter 18
EMBERLYNN
After we finished, I hugged and kissed Tia so much that she had to pull herself away.
She was on her way to the airport and wouldn’t let me take her since Callum had already volunteered his services.
I kissed her one last time as I helped her into his truck.
Then I walked Emberlynn to her car. Because her house–the big house–was on the other side of the grounds, it was best that she drove versus walking.
I asked if she needed me to go with her since she seemed so tired.
She declined, but I gave her my number so that she could call or text me when she got there.
Instead of going back inside, I got in the car to get that fresh air I needed. Halfway down the road into town, my phone buzzed across the passenger seat of Hardison's SUV. Raya.
I answered with a smile. “Miss me already, mama-to-be?”
Her laugh was warm, but tired. “Hey, Emberlynn. Listen, I know this is out of the blue, but my therapist is in a bit of a bind.”
“What’s going on?”
“Hold on, I'm going to conference call her in.” The line went silent, and then Raya came back. “Lynn? Emberlynn?”
We both responded at the mention of our names.
“Oh, good. Alright Lynn, she wants to know what's going on.”
“One of my therapists quit last night. Just up and left. And of course, today is fully booked with sessions. I’m trying to move things around, but—” she paused, breath shaky, “—I remembered you’ve got some background in counseling, right?”
I chewed my lip. “I’m not licensed here. I don’t want to overstep.”
“You wouldn’t be.” Relief threaded through her voice. “I just need someone to help me run the office, greet clients, take notes, keep everything moving. The paperwork alone is enough to bury me…” she trailed off.
I could almost hear her anxiety taking over, and my heart softened. “Say no more. Tell me where you need me, and I’ll be there.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” Her voice cracked with gratitude. “Come by the clinic. I’ll show you what needs done.”
I glanced at the town just up ahead, then turned my car down the next road toward the little clinic. “On my way.”
As I drove, a strange mix of nerves and excitement fluttered within me.
Helping Lynn wasn’t just about paperwork.
It was about stepping into her world, into this world, the one Hardison was tied to.
It was about proving—to her, to myself—that I wasn’t just some woman playing the ranch game until I was burned out.
I could belong here. And maybe today was my first chance to prove it. Not only to Hardison but to myself as well.
I pulled into the small parking lot behind Lynn's office.
I clicked the engine off in the busy parking lot.
The small building had a cheerful red brick facade, but the second I opened the door, I could tell the day had already started without mercy.
Phones rang in rapid succession, papers were stacked high on every counter, and a faint whiff of coffee mixed with disinfectant clung to the air.
Lynn appeared from a side door, already juggling a phone and a clipboard. “You must be Emberlynn!” she called, waving me over like I was a lifeline.
“Yes, hi! I'm ready to rescue you,” I joked, ducking under the flurry of motion.
“You have no idea.” She handed me the clipboard she’d been holding.
“Clients are dropping in, forms are missing, and I swear if one more appointment cancels, I might—” She stopped herself mid-rant, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Anyway. I need you to handle intake, greet the clients, make sure the schedules get logged, and—”
“Got it. I can do that,” I said, taking a deep breath as I scanned the room. I set my bag down and rolled my sleeves up, feeling that familiar buzz of adrenaline when you’re suddenly in charge of keeping everything from falling apart.
The first client arrived—an older woman with an armful of paperwork that looked like it belonged in a library archive. I guided her to the waiting area, handed her a clipboard, and smiled. “Lynn asked me to help today. I’ll make sure your visit goes smoothly.”
As I moved back behind the counter, juggling phone calls and logging appointments, Lynn caught my eye and gave a quick grateful nod. “I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Keep breathing,” I teased lightly, feeling the tension in the room ease just a fraction. “That’s Step One.”
We fell into a rhythm surprisingly quickly, the chaos less intimidating now that I had my feet under me.
Between answering calls, reordering files, and redirecting clients to the right room, I realized I was thriving in the mess.
Lynn’s expression every time she glanced up at me—relief, gratitude, a little awe—made me smile.
By mid-morning, I was in full swing, passing notes, calming frayed nerves, and even catching Lynn sneaking a sip of her coffee when she thought no one was looking.
The day might have started as a disaster, but together, we were making it work.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew Hardison would have been proud.
More than that, I was extremely happy to feel like I was making a difference in a workday. That element had been missing from my previous job.
A little later, Lynn leaned back in her chair, kicking her heels off under the desk with a sigh that made me laugh. “You saved my butt today. I don’t think I’ve run around that much since grad school.”
I smiled, tucking the last file into its slot. “It was fun, actually. A little chaotic, but… it reminded me of why I loved doing this.”
Her eyes lit up, sharp and assessing in the way therapists sometimes look at you when they’re connecting dots.
“So why not come on board here? We could use someone like you. And honestly—” she gave me a grin, half-serious, half-pleading—“I’d sleep a lot better knowing you’re around to catch me when the universe dumps a day like this on me again. ”
I froze for a beat, then let out a slow breath. “I’d love to. Really. But my license is in Ohio.”
Lynn’s face fell. “Ah. The joys of bureaucracy.”
“Exactly,” I said, nodding. “Florida’s one of the strictest states for transfer. It’s not as simple as sending paperwork. I’d have to apply, meet their requirements, and that can take… anywhere from six to nine months.”
She groaned dramatically and dropped her head onto the desk. “Six to nine months? That’s cruel and unusual punishment. Don’t they know excellent help is impossible to find?”
I laughed, reaching out to tap the back of her hand. “Welcome to the world of mental health. We spend half our time helping people cope with systems we can’t fix, and the other half trying to jump through the same hoops ourselves.”
Lynn peeked up at me with a mock glare. “So you’re telling me I’m stuck with you as a temp fairy godmother instead of a full-time lifesaver?”
“Pretty much,” I teased. “But hey—when the paperwork finally clears, you’ll be the first to know.”
She sat up, grinning again. “Good. I’ll hold you to that. And next time, coffee’s on me.”
What had I just done? I smiled to myself, knowing exactly what I'd agreed to. Then my joy faltered when I thought about the fact that I hadn't spoken to Hardison about it.
Sure, we'd agreed to be together, but nothing more than that. I knew once I left, he'd have to make this place his own.
I drove back to the ranch, tossing all the different thoughts I was having back and forth, trying to decide before talking to him about it.
When I got inside, Hardison was in the kitchen cooking, and I was so lost in thought that I didn't think about greeting him properly.
I walked past him to the bedroom and put my things away.
“Hey, is everything okay?” Hardison peeked his head into the room.
“Can we talk?” I asked, blurting it out before considering his question.
“Come into the kitchen when you’re finished?”
I nodded, and he exited. I showered, put on a pale pink chemise, and slid my feet into my matching fluffy slippers. Entering the kitchen, Hardison did a double take and didn't stop staring.
“What?” I asked.
“You're so beautiful.” I pressed his hands onto the counter and leaned forward. “Are you trying to distract me from talking?”
I giggled. “No, I'm not. This conversation is important.”
He patted the counter, and I walked around. He lifted me onto it and caught my lips as he stole a kiss. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I did the same to his neck.
“Talk to me, Queen.”
“Before I do, how is the goat?” I asked.
“Good. Andy–the owner of Silver Creek–found a vet nearby who specialized in ranch animals. He came straight down in the morning, which is why I was up so early. The goat will be fine and he left antibiotics. I had him look around, and he agreed that all the animals looked healthy. He set up a wellness visit for next week to tour the ranch and take a deeper look. He’s a good guy. Veteran.”
“Very nice. How’d Elijah take it?”
“Much better than I expected. He put a rush on the eclectic fence, and he talked to a contractor about some other upgrades. He’s taking this farming thing more seriously than I thought he would. He tagged along to learn stuff while the vet and I were talking.”
“See…” I nudged him. “I love how y’all work well together. I think you need that. You both do.” I kissed him again, loving how much he cared about the animals here.
“I love you, too.” He hugged me tight. “Now… what did you want to discuss?”
“How do you feel about me moving into town?” I asked.
“In town…” he moved his head back a bit. “Explain.”
“Remember Raya said that her therapist needed more people?”
“I do.”
“She was in a bind today, and I helped her out.
It was busy. Chaotic. And I held it together while she saw her patients.
The phone, make sure everybody got what they needed.
I felt as if I was accomplishing something.
She asked me to come aboard. We discussed the licensing issue and the fact that it could easily take nine months or longer to get my license transferred.
It sounds like she's willing to wait it out if I come to work in the office in the meantime. I'm seriously considering it.”
“Uh huh.” I couldn’t read his expression, so I continued speaking, more out of anxiety than anything else.
“I know we discussed me staying until after New Year's, but what if I don't leave and just move into town? Would you be alright with that?”
“In town…”
“Why do you keep saying that? Yes, in town.” I sighed and removed my arms from his neck. “If you don't want me here, just say that. I thought we agreed to say what we thought or wanted without worrying about what the other person thinks. Was I wrong?”
“I am saying what's wrong.” He countered.
“You aren't. You just keep saying, in town. Like I'm supposed to know what it means!” I sighed in frustration, not able to feel like we were on two different pages. Were we not trying to build something here?
“Watch your tone. I didn't throw a fit when you waltzed in here talking about moving into town instead of moving in here. So, chill and talk to me the same way I'm talking to you.”
“Wait, what?” I swallowed. “So you're upset because I'm not moving in here?”
“That's what I said.” He nodded.
“That's …” I shook my head, laughing. “That's not what I thought you were saying.”
“Obviously,” he mumbled.
“I can't.” I swallowed.
“Why can't you?” Hardison pulled away completely and folded his arms.
“I appreciate the offer. However, moving in so soon makes me feel… feel…” I tried to think of a better word than the one that was threatening to spill from my lips, but I couldn't. “Trapped. Stuck.”
Hardison’s eyes widened. “Stuck?”
“Listen, I want this to work out between us.
But I can't move in here when we're still learning one another. I know everything else has moved really fast, but I want to be sure about our future before we shack up. This vacation arrangement was never supposed to be permanent. As backward as it sounds, I want to enjoy the courtship process. I want my space away from you. More than anything else, I want to be with you because I want to, not because I was forced to.”
“Do you feel forced now?” Hardison's shoulders dropped a little more, indicating to me that the more I spoke, the more defeated he was becoming.
“Now, I'm still on my trip. The mindset is different.”
“But you can't sleep in a different room than me.” His forehead bunched up as he tried to make sense of it.
“True, but that's because when I travel back to Ohio, I won't have any access to you physically. I'm trying to soak up as much of you as I can.”
“Back to Ohio…” Hardison repeated.
“We both knew I'd have to return at some point, right?” Or at least I knew.
Hardison nodded once and then turned to the stove.
He removed a kind of casserole and put it on top of the counter near the sink.
He pulled the salad from the refrigerator and put it up there as well.
Then he wiped down his work area and made sure everything was put away.
After he was sure things were how he wanted them, he took off his apron and turned to me.
“I'm going to get air. I don't want you to eat late, so help yourself. I'll eat once I'm back.” He kissed my forehead and moved toward the door, where he put on his boots.
“Hardison…”
He didn't turn my way when he spoke. “Not now. We can try again tomorrow. I need a minute.” Once his shoes were on, he grabbed his keys and exited the house, closing the door firmly behind him.
“Well, fuck…” I sighed. “That hadn't gone the way I wanted it at all.”
I looked around the house from my vantage point and felt more alone than ever.
If this is how it felt to speak your needs, I know why I didn't do it in the past. Pushing myself off the counter, I made my plate and went to sit in front of the TV.
I turned on a Christmas movie and pulled a blanket over me.
Not starving now, I nibbled on my food. It was delicious, but not knowing what was going to happen left me in a state of unease.
So instead of eating, I cuddled the nearby pillow and focused on the movie.
It's not that I don't want you, Hardison.
It was exactly the opposite. I wanted this to work more than anything in the world. I hope he came to understand that.