Chapter 11 #2
He found the box and opened it, but even as he focused on the mundane task, his mind kept drifting back to Emma.
To how tired she looked. To the unshed tears glistening in her eyes a few minutes ago when she’d ended her call with Nathan.
It wasn’t his business, not really. But that didn’t stop the tightness in his chest, the burning frustration that clawed at his ribs.
He couldn’t exactly blame the guy—if he were Nathan, he’d probably want her home too. Want things back the way they were.
The door squeaked as Emma nudged it open, and the air shifted, the temperature in the room seeming to climb a degree as she stepped inside.
“Why are you hiding in here?” She leaned against the doorway, arching one brow. “You offered to help stuff plastic Easter eggs, remember?”
“Busted.” He forced a quick smile, then slid the cartridge into place with a click. “I was just trying to fix the printer so my mom would have one less thing to deal with.”
“That’s sweet of you.” She hesitated. Turned to leave and then turned back. “I didn’t mean to brush you off out there. Thank you for checking on me.”
He faced her and crossed his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. You looked like you needed someone.”
She hesitated, and for a second, he saw a flash of the girl he used to know. The one who laughed with her whole heart, who used to look at him like he was the center of her universe. But now, there was something else in her eyes. Something guarded. Defensive.
She let out a soft breath. “You’ve always been very kind.”
Kind. Right. His fingers curled around the edge of the desk as he leaned against it. “Not always.”
She blinked. “What are you referring to?”
His skin buzzed, adrenaline pulsing through him, fortifying him with a shot of courage. “Do you ever think about that night? The last night you were here, before your parents made you leave.”
Her lips parted slightly as she fidgeted with the hem of her long sweater.
“Luke, I—”
“I fought for you, Emma.” Roughness crept into his voice, the words slipping out before he could overthink them. “I tried to convince your dad that you didn’t have to go, that you didn’t want to go.”
Her eyes flared, guilt swimming in those deep green depths. “I know,” she whispered. “I was there, remember?”
A dry laugh escaped him. “Yeah. And I got hit in the face for it.”
Her expression softened.
He reached up, brushing his fingers over the faint scar on his jaw. “I was an idiot, taking a swing at your dad like that. Falling and smacking my face is exactly what I deserved.”
She took a step closer, and before he could lean away, her fingers grazed the scar—a light touch, barely there, but it sent a current zipping through him, rooting him in place.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I tried to—”
“Don’t.” He caught her wrist, his grip gentle. He let his thumb brush against her delicate skin before forcing himself to let go. “I’m not telling you this because I blame you. You didn’t have a choice. What happened wasn’t your fault.”
Her hand fell to her side, but she didn’t move away. If anything, she was closer now. Her gaze roamed his face, lingering like she was memorizing every line and angle.
“I didn’t want to leave you, Luke. Please, you’ve got to believe me.”
His chest tightened. His arms ached to pull her against him, to tell her she didn’t have to leave now, that she didn’t have to marry someone who made her cry. But he wouldn’t—because as of now, she wasn’t his to keep.
“Why are you here, Emma?”
Surprise flashed in her eyes. Then she stepped back, arms tightly folded. “Because my mom hasn’t paid her property taxes, so I want to make that right. And because I want closure.”
He didn’t break eye contact. “Closure so you can move on and marry Nathan?”
Her chin tipped up. “He’s my fiancé. He’s what I want.”
Luke swallowed hard. Her words stung. “If you say so.”
“I do,” she whispered.
Silence fell between them. He longed to grab her hand, to beg her to stay—but then she took another step back.
“I should go,” she said. “I’ll get Lainey to come by and help me finish up with the eggs.”
He nodded, hands still gripping the edge of the desk to keep from reaching for her.
“Yeah, you should go. We’ve got people coming to your house tomorrow to help clean up. It’s going to be a busy day.”
She nodded, then looked back at him one last time from the doorway.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For always fighting for me.”
He smiled, a little sad, a little resigned. “You’re welcome.”
A ghost of a smile flickered across her face before she slipped out the door.
He collapsed into the worn leather chair, scrubbing his hands over his face. He’d thought he could handle this. Thought he could help her, stay neutral, and be her friend.
Except he was falling for her all over again. And this time, he knew exactly what it would cost him.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he opened the latest email from the lodge on Prince of Wales Island.
The owner had offered two potential times for a job interview later this week.
Luke hesitated, his heart kicking against his ribs.
Then he replied to the email and requested the second option.
He could leave. Take a new job. Start over.
But what if she stayed? What if he left too soon and missed his chance?