13. Emily
Emily
It’s one thing to be running late, it’s another to be running late with an audience.
And right now, Henry Walker is my audience.
I’m sprinting around my bedroom, hair half-dry, shoes mismatched, trying to find my other earring while mentally cursing and Henry Walker, in bed, shirtless, is wearing the world’s smuggest grin.
“Relax, Carter,” he drawls from the pillow, hands behind his head, looking as unbothered as a man who has nowhere to be. “You sure you need to go to this meeting? I can have a chat with Logan, let him know he’s disturbing my fiancée.”
I nearly trip over my own feet pulling on my pants. “You are aware that Logan is the mayor before he is your brother-in-law, right?”
“I don’t care,” he stretches, muscles flexing in a way that is definitely illegal before noon. “He should know better than to steal you away first thing in the morning.”
I shoot him a glare through the mirror. “I wouldn’t be late if someone hadn’t—” I gesture vaguely at him. “Distracted me.”
His grin is pure sin. “You’re welcome.”
I throw a pillow at him. He catches it midair and chuckles.
Yanking on my blazer, I grab my bag. “This meeting is important.”
“Is it? I’m sure I can convince you with more important things.”
“You convincing is the reason I’m running late!” I throw a pointed look at him, and—God help me—he smirks.Again.
“I don’t hear you complaining.”
Oh, for the love—
I yank a shirt over my head before I lose whatever self-control I have left. “You are ridiculous.”
“And yet, here you are,” he says, completely unrepentant.
I roll my eyes, grabbing my bag. “For your information, Logan got a sponsor—some investor who wants to fund medical expansions in the hospital.”
Henry makes a sound that’s pure skepticism. “Uh-huh.”
I shoot him a look. “That’s a good thing.”
“Maybe. Or maybe Logan just wants to use you as his golden ticket for this deal.”
I sigh, knowing he’s probably right. “Look, I know this is politics. But if it means better facilities, more equipment, and actually saving lives, then it’s worth it.”
Henry doesn’t seem convinced. “And you trust this sponsor?”
I shrug. “I’ll know after the meeting.”
Henry mutters something under his breath, but before he can go full overprotective Navy SEAL, I lean down and kiss him hard.
That shuts him up.
For about two seconds.
His hand curls around my waist, tugging me closer. “You’re just gonna leave after that?”
I press my lips together, fighting a smile. “Yes, Walker. I’m just gonna leave.”
He exhales dramatically. “Heartless.”
I grin, kissing him once more before turning for the door. “Try not to miss me too much.”
His voice follows me out. “No promises.”
***
The second I step into the mayor’s office, I know something is wrong.
Not because the meeting room is too quiet, or because Logan’s assistant looks a little too chipper.
No.
Because standing across the hall—leaning casually against the wall, hands in his pockets, wearing that same damn charming smirk I used to fall for—is Dane Freaking Jacobs.
My stomach drops.
No. No, no, no, this is not happening.
I blink, hoping I’ve manifested an alternate reality.
I have not.
Dane pushes off the wall, striding toward me with the easy confidence of a man who thinks he still has a place in my life.
“Emily.” His voice is smooth, too smooth. “I was wondering when I’d run into you.”
I stiffen. “Dane. What are you doing here?”
His smile widens, all teeth, all wrong. “What a coincidence, huh? Fate has a funny way of bringing people back together.”
Fate?
Fate?!
Oh, please.
Before I can tell him exactly where to shove his cosmic coincidence, Logan steps into the hallway, clapping his hands together. “There she is! Emily, come on in.”
I try not to glare at him.
“Ah,” Logan adds, noticing Dane. “You two know each other?”
Before Dane can open his lying mouth, I plaster on a polite smile and say, “We worked together once.”
Dane’s amusement flares.
Logan, oblivious, nods. “Well, that makes this even easier.”
Nothing about this is easy, Logan.
But I follow him into the meeting room.
And Dane follows me.
I try to focus. I really do.
But how am I supposed to concentrate when Dane is sitting across from me, watching me like I’m some puzzle he’s just dying to figure out?
Logan, completely unaware of my slow mental breakdown, dives into his pitch. “Dane’s firm is interested in funding our hospital expansions. It’s a big deal, Emily. We’re talking about new equipment, better resources, more staff.”
I nod, forcing my attention away from the man currently making my skin crawl. “That sounds great.”
Dane smiles, voice smooth as silk. “And I’d love to work with you on it.”
Oh, absolutely not.
I open my mouth to very politely tell him I’d rather lick a hospital floor than work with him again, but Logan beats me to it.
“Actually, since you two already know each other, this should be smooth sailing.”
I choke on air. “Logan—”
Dane leans back, smug. “I think it’s a great idea.”
I shoot him a murderous look.
He winks. Oh, I am going to scream. It takes all of my self control to hold back as the meeting drags on for another excruciating hour. By the time it ends, my mind is a mess. Dane being here doesn’t make sense. His calls, the way he suddenly knows where I am—it’s too much.
Too coincidental. And I don’t believe in coincidences. Not anymore.
I grip my bag tightly and push away from the table the second Logan wraps up the meeting. My mind is a whirlpool of disbelief and panic, my heartbeat thudding so loudly in my ears that I can barely focus.
Dane. Dane is here.
He’s not supposed to be here.
Need to get out and as far away from him as possible. Bolting toward the door, my legs carry me quickly and as I reach for the handle, Dane’s voice snakes through the room.
“Emily, wait.”
My legs freeze for the briefest second—just enough for him to step in front of me, blocking my path. A smooth smile stretches across his lips, but his eyes are sharp, calculating.
“Why the rush? Let’s grab a drink. Catch up.”
Before I can snap out a refusal, Logan chuckles from behind his desk. “I don’t know if her husband-to-be would like that much.”
Dane’s smile falters. His entire posture stiffens and he turns around to the mayor. “Husband-to-be?”
My stomach drops.
Shit.
Oblivious to the current tense situation, Logan grins goodnaturedly. “Henry Walker. My brother-in-law.”
Dane turns his gaze back to me, and for the first time since he walked into this town, his mask cracks. His brows furrow, his lips pressing into a thin line.
I don’t give him a chance to recover.
Shoving past him, I all but sprint for the door, heading straight for the elevator which I practically throw myself into, jabbing the button repeatedly as if that will make the doors close faster.
Come on, come on—
A hand slaps against the metal just as the doors begin to slide shut. Curses slip out under my breath as Dane steps in, his jaw set, eyes dark with barely concealed anger.
“What the hell is going on, Emily?” His voice is low, measured—but there’s an undercurrent of something dangerous beneath it.
I fold my arms across my chest, trying to force my pulse to slow. “It’s none of your business.”
His nostrils flare. “You disappeared—just vanished. Then I find you here? Engaged?” He scoffs, shaking his head. “What kind of game are you playing?”
Leveling a glare at him seems easier than it used to be. “I’m not playing anything.”
Dane steps closer, his presence suffocating in the small space. “You think you can just erase me? Pretend like we never—”
“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I cut in, my voice sharper than I expected.
His lips curl into a cold smirk. “I want it anyway.”
The elevator dings, and I don’t waste a second before pushing past him and stepping into the lobby. Dane follows me outside, matching my pace easily.
“Emily.” His voice is lower now, more insistent.
My fists clench, and it’s hard forcing my steps to stay even. “Go away.”
But he doesn’t. Instead, he steps in front of me, blocking my path.
“How on earth did you even find me?”
“I hired a tracer to find you,” he says smoothly, like it’s nothing. “Had them track your number during our last call.”
Ice claws down my spine, pushing me a step back. “You tracked me?”
He shrugs. “I was worried.”
A sharp laugh bursts from my throat. “Bullshit. You’ve never worried about anyone else that isn’t you, your entire life..”
He ignores the outburst, tilting his head. “I have the right to know why you left, Emily.”
My teeth grind in my skull. “You don’t have the right to anything.”
His jaw twitches, his mask slipping further. “And what exactly are you doing here, huh?” His eyes rake over me, the scrutiny making my skin crawl. “Why this town? And why the hell are you pretending to be engaged?”
My stomach coils in anger—and something far worse. Disgust.
Because Dane Jacobs has always had a way of twisting things, of making himself sound like the victim even when he’s the one pulling the strings.
And right now, he’s too close.
I take another step back, my breath coming too fast. “I told you—I don’t owe you anything.”
Dane’s expression darkens. “Don’t walk away from me.”
I turn anyway. And then—he grabs my wrist.
Before I can react, a hand clamps over my shoulder.
A different hand.
One that’s strong, familiar, and makes every ounce of panic evaporate in an instant.
Henry’s voice is low, sharp. “Is there a problem here?”
Dane immediately lets go of my wrist, stepping back, his entire demeanor shifting. The smirk returns, but there’s something stiff about it now. My breath rushes out, my heart pounding for an entirely different reason.
Henry doesn’t look at me—his cold, blue eyes are locked onto Dane’s, unreadable but dangerous.
Dane scoffs, straightening his tie. “And you must be the fiancé.”
Henry doesn’t move, doesn’t blink. “You must be an asshole, who doesn’t know to not grab a woman forcefully.”
Dane’s smirk falters. I almost smile.
“Emily.” Henry’s voice softens just slightly as he finally looks at me. “You okay?”
I nod. “Fine.”
Dane chuckles, shaking his head. “I should’ve known you’d go for the grunting, hulking type.”
Henry’s hand tightens slightly on my shoulder. “You should walk away, now.”
Dane holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, man. No need for the caveman routine.”
Henry’s grip remains firm. “I don’t repeat myself.”
Dane lingers for a second too long, then lets out a small laugh. “Well, this has been enlightening.”
Then he takes a step back, his gaze flicking to me. “I’ll see you soon, Emily.”
My stomach clenches at the promise in his voice.
Henry watches him until he disappears into the crowd. Only then does he exhale slowly, his fingers brushing down my arm before falling away. I immediately miss the contact.
Henry doesn’t ask. He doesn’t demand an explanation, doesn’t press me for answers as we walk toward my car. He just reaches out, plucks the keys from my hand, and opens the passenger door.
I climb in, exhaling shakily.
Seconds later, he slides into the driver’s seat and starts the engine. The silence between us is thick, but not suffocating, and for some reason, I’m grateful for it. Because I don’t know how to explain this to him yet.
I lean back into the seat, closing my eyes for a moment.
Trying to find the words. Trying to find the courage.
Henry just drives.
No questions. No judgment.
Just a quiet, steady presence. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can actually face up to anything just because I’ve got this man.