Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Why had she let Lainey organize a clean-up day?
“This is so not a good idea.” Emma pulled on her thick, heavy gloves and glanced at the animals still lounging on her property. “What if the sea lions attack someone? Or what if they wreck any progress we make?”
The wind whipped around her, tugging at her jacket, and she tucked a stray curl behind her ear. She and Luke stood behind her house, their backpacks at their feet. The dumb sea lions barked and lounged on the dock, clearly put out that she’d had the audacity to show up again.
Luke turned to face her, his hands tucked into the pockets of his green puffy vest. His faded jeans emphasized his lean, athletic build, and his gray hoodie hugged his broad shoulders.
Even his navy-blue knit hat framed his face in a way that softened his sharp jawline.
She let her eyes linger on that scar. The one she’d touched without thinking last night in the resort’s office. The memory sent a shiver through her.
“Sea lions are going to do what they want, unfortunately. If you need to make the house halfway livable so you can sell it, then you’re going to have to let people help you clean up the place,” he said.
“I know. You’re right. But we can’t tell anyone about the gold.” She dug in her backpack for a knit hat. “I’m not ready for word to get out. Especially since my mother owes those taxes.”
Luke’s eyes softened, and he stepped closer, his warm, steady presence grounding her.
“Nobody’s asking you to do things you aren’t ready for.
But you can’t do this by yourself. I’ll do as much as I can, you know that…
” His voice trailed off as he gestured toward the house.
“This is more work than two people can handle. You need Lainey, Abbie, Mark, and Tate. And they want to help.”
Emma sighed. “I’m just nervous. And maybe a little overwhelmed.
I thought this would be easier. That I’d be on a plane back to Boston by now.
” Her voice was sharper than she intended, but she couldn’t help it.
Between the gold he’d helped her stash at the resort and her conversation with Nathan last night, followed by that tense interaction with Luke, her nerves were frayed.
Luke tilted his head. “Is that really what you want?”
She met his gaze but couldn’t answer. Not truthfully, anyway. Not after last night. Because the pull she felt toward him and toward Redemption was getting harder to ignore. But there was Nathan. And the life she’d promised herself. How could she forget that?
The sound of distant voices carried through the trees, interrupting her thoughts. Laughter, shouted instructions, and the occasional bark of a dog grew louder. She glanced past Luke, and out on the water, the steady hum of a boat engine grew louder.
“That’s Cal,” Luke said, following her gaze. “He’s convinced he can find a way to dock safely without disturbing your tenants.”
“Ha.” Emma glared at the sea lions as they shifted, barking and slamming their bodies against the battered wood on the dock, clearly irritated by the noise. “He’s brave.”
“Or stubborn.” Smiling, Luke waved toward the boat. “He might end up beaching the boat around the point if the sea lions won’t give him space.”
Emma nodded absently, her anxiety bubbling up again. This had all been Lainey’s idea, of course. Lainey, with her relentless optimism and her uncanny ability to rope people into her plans.
“We’ll all come out,” Lainey had said, her tone breezy. “We’ll help you get the place cleaned up. It’ll be fun.”
Fun. That wasn’t exactly the word she’d use. The thought of old friends sweeping through her past made her feel exposed. Especially Tate, who looked at her like she was a puzzle he needed to solve. Unlike Luke, who had that disarming charm and that easy smile that made her want to trust him.
Luke reached out now and placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch firm but tender. Her breath hitched as he met her gaze, his eyes steady and full of something she couldn’t quite name—something she wasn’t sure she deserved.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said. “We’re going to get the repairs squared away, and you’ll have this listed in no time.”
Emma swallowed hard, her throat tight. “I know.”
Luke’s smile was small but genuine. “Good.”
One by one, the group emerged from the trees, a strange little parade of reunited friends armed with tools and supplies.
Lainey led the way, the faux-fur pom-pom on top of her pink knit hat bobbing as she waved.
Abbie and her husband, Mark, followed close behind, lugging a cooler between them.
Tate appeared next, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder and a puppy with golden brown hair trotting at his heels.
Mrs. McGuire and Ethan brought up the rear, their strides purposeful.
“Hey, Emma!” Lainey’s voice rang out, bright and warm.
Emma couldn’t help but smile. “Hi.”
Luke stepped forward. “As you can see, there’s plenty to do: basic deep cleaning, maintenance projects, and it goes without saying—watch out for the sea lions.”
Mrs. McGuire clapped her hands together. “Well, let’s get started. Where do you want us to begin?”
Emma hesitated. But then she caught Lainey’s eye. There was something steady in her friend’s gaze. A spark of reassurance. Emma took a deep breath.
“The inside is pretty much a disaster,” she admitted. “And the exterior has issues as well. I’d love to take down the damaged railings and get those boards off the windows so we can see if they are all still intact.”
“Let’s do this,” Tate said with a nod.
For the next few hours, the place buzzed with activity. People scrubbed, hauled debris, and repaired damage, their laughter and easy camaraderie filling the space. Emma floated between tasks, still feeling a little out of place but also…lighter, somehow.
As the group gathered outside for a lunch of sandwiches and chips, Mrs. McGuire smiled at Emma. “This place has potential,” she said. “Good bones.”
Emma blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. “Yeah,” she said. “Too bad there are so many terrible memories.”
A hush fell over the group. Emma winced, warmth crawling up her neck. “Sorry,” she said quickly.
Luke leaned forward. “You don’t have to be sorry. You’ve carried a huge burden on your own for a long time, but now you don’t have to anymore.”
Emma looked down at her sandwich, her throat tight. His words chipped away at the wall she’d kept around her heart. She wasn’t ready to let it fall though. Not yet.
“You don’t owe us anything,” Mrs. McGuire said. “We’re helping because we care.”
Emma wanted to argue, to tell them they didn’t understand. But when she looked up and met Luke’s eyes, something inside her shifted.
“Thank you,” she said. “All of you.”
Lainey beamed. “That’s what friends are for.”
Friends. The word settled around Emma like a warm blanket. For the first time in years, she felt like maybe—just maybe—she might’ve repaired the cracks in her relationship with Lainey. And Abbie too.
But just as she started to believe it, Mark leaned forward, his brow furrowed.
“So,” he said, his brown eyes gleaming. “Is it true? About the buried treasure?”
Emma froze, her heart pounding in her chest.
Luke grew still. Mark’s question hung in the air, bringing the easy lunchtime conversation to a screeching halt.
He didn’t need to look at Emma to know all of the blood had drained from her face. He could sense it.
“Yeah, I’ve heard rumors about a treasure or something out here too.” Abbie pulled a package of cookies from the cooler. “What’s the scoop?”
Luke cleared his throat, forcing an easy smile.
“You know how rumors are.” He unwrapped the brownie his mom had packed, peeling the Saran Wrap back and stuffing it inside his empty chip bag.
“People love to let their imaginations run wild. I think it’s a stretch to call this place a treasure trove. ”
Mark frowned, tipping his baseball cap back as he scratched his head. “I don’t know. This house, old as it is? And with everything Emma’s dad was involved in, seems like the kind of place where somebody might stash something good.”
Luke’s chest tightened. He had to shut this down.
“Well, if there’s any treasure here, it’s probably buried under a mountain of mud and sea-lion poop.”
Lainey, bless her, picked up on his vibe and jumped in. “And if there was gold, I’d be the first to demand a cut.” She winked.
Laughter rippled through the group.
“You and me both,” Luke said. He pushed to his feet, polished off his brownie, then dusted off his pants and stretched. Act casual. Play it cool. He grabbed his work gloves off the ground.
“All right, everybody. I don’t want to be bossy, but break’s over. We’ve got a lot to do before the sun sets and it gets too dark to hike back to the trail. Mark, how about you help Cal haul that junk from the old garden down to his boat?”
Abbie gave Mark a nudge. “Come on, Indiana Jones. Let’s hop to it. We can do this.”
The group dispersed slowly, chatting as they cleaned up their lunch.
“Remember, if you need to use the bathroom, the porta-potties up at the trailhead are your only option,” Luke called out. “Plumbing here does not function.”
A few people groaned. Cal headed toward the garden. Lainey and Mrs. McGuire gathered up the trash and shoved everything into the five-gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag.
Emma, however, didn’t budge. She sat on her stump, hands clenched around her gloves.
Luke sank beside her and lowered his voice. “You okay?”
She nodded, but the tension in her jaw hinted that the conversation had gotten to her.
“Walk with me,” he said.
She didn’t move. Her gaze flicked toward Tate.
“Hey, Tate, is it okay if Emma and I take Sailor for a little stroll?”
Tate glanced up from tying a knot in the garbage bag. “Sure.” He picked up a bottle of water and tossed it toward Luke. “Can you give him some more water, please?”
Luke caught the water bottle. “Sure.”
“There’s a plastic bowl sitting on the ground near where he’s tethered,” Tate said.
“Got it.” Luke stood and offered Emma a hand.
She hesitated again before slipping her fingers into his.
His grip tightened as he helped her up, her warmth sinking into his skin.
Too much. Too good. He let go quickly, but his pulse thrummed as they walked toward the tree line, picking their way around driftwood and rocks.
Sailor saw them coming and lunged, barking, his pink tongue lolling.
“I knew this was a mistake, bringing people out here,” she said.
“Hey,” he said, “don’t stress. Their curiosity will blow over.”
She shook her head, fidgeting with the zipper on her jacket. “No, it won’t, and I should have been more careful. I told you—”
“Emma.” He kept his voice steady. “Listen to me. Nobody knows about the gold. Just you and me and whoever was clever enough to stash it there. Mark’s just being nosy. You decide what happens here, okay? Nobody else.”
She looked away. “I’m just…I don’t want people to think I’m like my dad. The last thing I want is for them to believe I’m taking advantage of their kindness, because I’m not.”
Luke’s chest ached. “Oh, Emma…” She was so vulnerable.
He reached out and brushed a smudge of dirt from her cheek. His hand lingered longer than it should have. And for a crazy moment, he let himself imagine what it would be like to kiss her. To claim her. To make her his.
But then reality crashed back in.
Sailor leaped in the air, barking at a bird, and Emma’s engagement ring flashed in the light. A sharp reminder. She had a life—and a man—waiting for her back in Boston.
He had no business interfering.
Luke dropped his hand and shoved it into his pocket.
“You’re not your dad,” he said. “And anyone who spends five minutes with you can see that.”
She pressed both hands on top of her hat. “Sometimes it feels like I’ll never escape it. His mistakes, his reputation…it’s all connected. No matter what I do, his long con is like my shadow. That’s why I didn’t want to come back here.”
Luke crouched, untying Sailor’s leash. Man, he hated that she felt this way. Hated that she still carried the weight of her father’s sins on her shoulders.
“You ever wonder if it was really all him? I mean, he took the fall, sure. But…” Luke stood up, keeping an eye on Sailor as he sniffed under a nearby rock.
Emma’s brows squeezed together. “But what?”
Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. “Seems like maybe there’s more to the story, that’s all.”
She glanced over her shoulder toward the water.
“This is your house and your property, so you get to choose how this turns out. Not everyone in Redemption will cheer you on, but there are a few of us in your corner. Focus on the positive, okay?”
Her gaze slid back to meet his. Something like hope flashed in her beautiful eyes.
“Do you mean it when you say that you’re in my corner?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”
The air between them hummed with unspoken words. For the second time in about two minutes, he wondered what it would feel like to close the distance, to hold her, to tell her how proud he was of her strength. Her resilience.
Sailor barked, then Emma laughed as the puppy jumped up and planted both of his front paws on her jeans.
The wind picked up, blowing across the water and swirling around them as they trailed Sailor across the rocks and gritty sand.
Oh, how he wanted to promise her that everything would be okay.
Tomorrow he’d help her get the gold appraised.
Not because he cared about what it was worth.
But because she needed answers. And he’d do whatever it took to make sure she got them.