Laughing, he rolled them over until she was sprawled on top of him. “Yeah, I’m working on that. Trust me.” He loved looking at her. Even tousled and a little sleepy, she was still the most beautiful girl in the world to him. Reaching up, he caressed her cheek. Her smile was soft and dreamy, and he knew he’d never get tired of looking at her.
“Mmm…” she hummed. “This is nice.”
Garrett nodded. “I love you, Emmaline.”
Her eyes went wide.
“No more secrets, no more keeping things to myself,” he went on. “I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time and I know I’m always going to love you. Maybe it’s too soon for you to hear it, but for me, I should have said it years ago.”
“Garrett,” she whispered, her eyes scanning his face. “I…I don’t even know what to say.”
It was wrong for him to be disappointed that she didn’t say it back to him, but that was truly where he thought they were both going. He meant what he said and he’d give her time, but she was it for him.
“Don’t say anything,” he said quietly as he cupped her face in his hand. “I just wanted you to know how I felt.” Pausing, he smiled. “This is me not being secretive.”
She smiled as she leaned down to kiss him and Garrett felt it…she might not be able to say the words, but she said it in the way she kissed him. Touched him. And for now, it was enough.
13
Everything was better.
Emma knew the moment Garrett said he loved her that it would be.
Now, a week later, things seemed to be falling into place all around her.
Ed’s recovery was going well and things were being handled perfectly at Happy Tails. A dozen dogs were adopted in the past week thanks to several fun videos Georgia’s daughter-in-law Scarlett did for them.
And no one had to take their shirt off.
Garrett was in talks with Doc MacEntyre to buy his practice, and the two had been working together so Garrett could get a feel for the day-to-day operations. Every day when he came home, he was practically giddy from everything he was learning and all the plans he was making for improvement. Next weekend they were supposed to go up to Norfolk to pack up his apartment and get him moved back to Magnolia Sound. Most of his stuff was going to go into storage since he was moving in with her. Once things got settled for him with the clinic, they’d look into moving someplace bigger, but they could totally make do for now.
It was Friday night and they were pulling up to Austin and Mia’s for dinner. It was actually going to be a family affair, with Grace and Cash Coleman joining them to celebrate the sale of the property. No one seemed to want to openly talk about it, but Emma knew she was dying to know what was going on with the two of them and what had happened to Dominic. She kept wanting to ask Garrett, but any time she tried, he got really upset.
And he wasn’t afraid to show it.
When they were walking up the steps to the front door, Garrett stopped her.
“It’s going to be weird in there,” he warned her. “And I can’t promise we’ll all play nice.”
“Garrett…”
“I’m serious, Em. I’ve been very straightforward with Cash and so has Austin. Neither of us is thrilled that he’s still sniffing around our mother.” He shook his head. “And I’m not too thrilled with her either because she refuses to talk about it, so…yeah. There is potential for this to be a disaster.”
She held up the big pink bakery box. “Then it’s a good thing I picked up lots of cookies and brownies. I think Mia and I can sit back and be spectators while indulging in sweets, so don’t worry about me.”
Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her soundly. “God, I love you.”
She smiled sweetly. “Let’s do this.”
Yeah, she still hadn’t been able to say the words back to him. She wanted to–deep down, she knew she was in love with him–but she was still being cautious for some reason.
“Hey, you guys!” Mia said when she opened the door. “Come on in!”
Garrett kissed her on the cheek as he walked in and Emma hugged her. “I brought cake,” she said. “Well, technically brownies and cookies, but…you know…”
“Two of my favorite things,” Mia assured her but held her back when Emma went to follow Garrett into the house. Her voice lowered as she moved in close. “Okay, I don’t know about you, but I’m worried about tonight. Grace is here, Ryder’s here, and Cash is due any minute. Austin’s already argued with Grace about everything going on and demanded that she invite Dominic, but…it was awkward.” She pulled back and offered a weak smile. “I just wanted you to be prepared.”
“Thanks. Garrett warned me too, and I told him if all hell broke loose, you and I would sit back with this box of goodies and observe.” She smiled. “I hope that’s okay.”
Mia grinned broadly. “I knew you and I were going to be good friends!” Hooking her arm through Emma’s, she led her into the house. “Let’s think of a code word just in case we need to pull away from the group.” She paused. “Ooh…I know! Coconut. If you use the word coconut in a sentence, that will tell me you’re overwhelmed and I’ll do the same. Deal?”
Emma laughed. “Deal.”
Austin introduced Emma to Ryder, and she was a little taken aback at how…everything he was–tall, built like a linebacker, and almost movie-star handsome. What in the world was he doing buying property in this little town?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emma,” he said, shaking her hand. He had an easy smile and she almost let out a very feminine giggle because he was just that good-looking. One glance at Garrett, however, and she knew exactly where her heart belonged.
“You too, Ryder,” she said before moving closer to Garrett.
“I was just getting ready to pour some champagne,” Austin said to them, “to kick off the celebration, but I supposed it would be rude if we didn’t wait for Dad.”
They all agreed and moved out to the deck to chat and relax while waiting for Cash.
“Ryder, how do you feel about fishing?” Garrett asked as the men moved over to the edge of the deck. Meanwhile, Emma, Mia, and Grace sat down on the cushioned benches around the fire pit.
They made small talk, and Emma did her best to bite her tongue and not ask what she desperately wanted to ask.
“I hope Cash gets here soon,” Mia commented. “Austin picked up some fabulous steaks from the butcher and I managed to snag us fresh seafood. I made a crab dip and lobster bruschetta, and if I do say so myself, they’re both delicious.”
“Oh, that does sound yummy,” Emma agreed. “I ate a very light lunch because Garrett warned me there’d probably be a lot of food tonight.”
“I brought scalloped potatoes and a salad,” Grace added as she discreetly looked at her watch. “Cash was supposed to bring the wine. Maybe that’s what’s taking him so long.”
Emma and Mia exchanged glances.
“Grace,” Mia began, beating Emma to the punch, “I know it’s really none of my business, and I know you and Austin just talked about it earlier, but…what about Dominic?”
Her shoulders sagged as she looked at the two of them. “Things are a little…confusing right now,” Grace quietly explained. “When the boys told me that Cash was back, I really didn’t feel much of anything. It was like…okay. Then he showed up at the house and…” She sighed and shook her head. “It’s crazy how some feelings just don’t go away.”
Mia gently patted Grace’s hand, and Emma was pretty sure her eyes were about to bug right out of her head.
“The night he first came over, we stayed up all night talking,” Grace went on. “He kissed me goodbye and asked if he could see me again.” She looked at them helplessly. “And I said yes.”
Emma quietly cleared her throat. “Well, there were a lot of unresolved emotions there.”
Grace agreed. “I felt so guilty that I called in sick to work that Tuesday and went to see Dom at the shop. We sat in his office and talked, and…honestly, he�
�s way too forgiving. If the roles had been reversed, I would have wanted to scratch someone’s eyes out.”
Both Emma and Mia nodded in understanding.
“Anyway, he suggested that I take some time to sort things out.” She shook her head again. “He said if he had another opportunity with his wife, he’d take it.” She paused. “It’s not the same thing, of course. His wife died tragically young and they had a good marriage. Cash and I…everything was a struggle. But I took one look at him and was ready to fall all over again.”
“It has to be very confusing,” Mia said after a moment. “I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling.”
“And knowing he’s dying makes it so much worse. How can I possibly be mean and hateful or drag up the past when he’s suffering like this? No one deserves that kind of treatment.”
Emma definitely kept her mouth shut because she didn’t agree at all. While it was unfortunate that the man was dying, it didn’t give him a free pass or a blanket of forgiveness for all the hurt and hardship he’d caused his family.
But considering Grace was already struggling with enough, she didn’t want to share her two cents.
“So what happens now?” Emma asked instead.
“Well…Dominic asked that I not reach out to him until I know what it is that I want. He didn’t want to be part of the equation.”
He already is, Emma thought.
“Cash and I have gone out together several times and…it’s been nice. We’ve gone to dinner and the movies, to the aquarium, and for walks on the beach. All the things we did way back when we were dating.” She paused and let out a weary sigh. “Nostalgia is a funny thing. The lines between past and present are getting blurred and I’m not really sure how I feel. Maybe part of me wants the man I thought I married, and he’s finally trying to be that man.”
“But…?” Mia prompted.
“But…I’m not that same girl I was all those years ago and I don’t want to ever be her again. I’m afraid being with Cash will force me back into that person.” Reaching out, she squeezed Mia’s hand. “It’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster.” After another pause, she added, “And it’s nice having the two of you to talk to about this. The boys don’t quite understand.”
Before anyone could comment, Austin walked over wearing a fierce scowl.
“What’s the matter?” Mia asked.
“He’s thirty minutes late,” he snapped. “I’ve had lunch with him several times and he’s always early. He actually bragged about how important it is to him to be punctual.”
“O-kay,” Mia replied cautiously. “Maybe something’s happened? Have you called him?”
“Three times and it goes directly to voicemail.”
A soft gasp had them all turning toward Grace. “What if something’s happened to him? What if…what if he’s lying unconscious somewhere?” She jumped to her feet. “We should go to his place and check on him! And if something happened on the way–like an accident–surely we’d see it, right?”
Everyone seemed to nod in agreement, and when Garrett came to sit beside her, he asked the group, “Does anyone have his address?”
“Um…”
“Uh…”
“I never thought to…”
Ryder held up a hand. “It’s on the contract,” he stated firmly, looking more than a little put out at the entire situation. Pulling out his phone, he scrolled until he found it. He read the address and looked up. “I thought he wasn’t living here in Magnolia?”
“That’s my address,” Grace said wearily before closing her eyes. “He lied about his address on a legal document.”
“Give me a minute,” Ryder said, walking away with his phone.
“This is bad,” Grace said. “This is very, very bad.”
“So…wait,” Mia said, looking around in confusion. “No one knows where he’s been staying?”
“He said he was renting a bungalow down in Wilmington,” Austin said with frustration as he began to pace. “There was no reason to go there because he was always here! How the hell are we supposed to find him?”
Everyone started talking at once and Emma did her best to fade into the background because there wasn’t a damn thing she could add. How do you go about finding someone who wasn’t honest about…well…anything? Short of going door-to-door on the streets of Wilmington–if that was actually where he was staying–there wasn’t a whole lot they could do.
Ryder rejoined them and announce, “He’s staying at a place on Lansing Street in Wilmington.”
“How do you know?” Austin asked.
He shrugged. “I always look into the people I do business with. And knowing your family history, I wanted to dig a little before agreeing so I wouldn’t be blindsided by anything. The address thing got past me, so for that, I’m sorry.” He looked around. “Okay, let’s go find him.”
Now they had to decide who was going.
“Alright, I’m not trying to be sexist or anything,” Austin began, “but why don’t I go with Garrett and Ryder?” He looked at Mia. “But promise to save me some of the dip and bruschetta.”
“I make no promises,” she teased before standing and kissing him.
Grace stood. “Maybe I should go with you. I could…”
This time it was Garrett who spoke up. “Mom, just stay and visit with Mia and Emma. I’m sure we won’t be gone long.”
She wasn’t happy about it, but she didn’t argue either, and in a matter of minutes, the men were gone and Emma heard the car drive away.
She and Mia looked at each other at the same time and said, “Coconut,” before bursting out laughing.
“So, um…” Grace began, looking at them like they’d lost their minds.
“Wine,” Mia said as she walked back toward the house. “And open the bakery box, Emma. I think brownies and wine will go great with crab and lobster, don’t you?”
The GPS said it would take them forty minutes to get to Cash’s place, but Ryder promised to get them there in thirty.
Garrett chose not to question it.
He’d been relegated to the back seat and it was fine with him because his mind was racing with every scenario that could possibly be played out once they hit their destination.
His brother had kept up a running commentary from the front passenger seat, and Ryder pretty much only commented when necessary. The only thing the three of them had in common at the moment was that none of them had any idea what to expect.
Part of Garrett resented that Ryder was even here with them. This wasn’t any of his business. However, the alternative was leaving him behind with his mother, Mia, and Emma, and…yeah, it was probably better that he was here in the car.
“What do you think, G?” Austin turned and asked.
“Um…what?”
Austin groaned. “Can you please focus here? I think Dad just fell asleep and lost track of time. He turned off his phone and we’re all freaking out over nothing.”
“I’m not sure I agree with that.”
“If anyone wants my opinion,” Ryder interrupted. “I think he maybe stopped to get the wine and perhaps wanted to get something for your girls and lost track of time.” He glanced at Austin. “What? You don’t think that’s possible?”
“Who knows if it’s possible,” Garrett murmured. “The man’s never done anything for anyone else in his entire life. These last few weeks have bordered on the bizarre and the fact of the matter is we can sit here and speculate all we want because we don’t know him.”
“Shit,” Austin hissed. “I think it’s safe to say that we’re all trying not to say the one thing we’re all thinking.”
“That he took the money and ran?” Ryder suggested. “Um, yeah. That was my first instinct, and I’m rarely wrong.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Austin argued. “Not after everything these last few weeks. He knows what we’re all going to do with the money that he’s promised. I mean, I can deal with it because it was all extra for us and for th
e house, but he knows Garrett’s only able to buy Doc MacEntyre’s practice because of the inheritance. He wouldn’t do that.”
Garrett slammed his head back against the seat cushion and cursed even as his heart sank. He didn’t have a good feeling about any of this and no matter how many times he told himself not to panic and that everything was going to be alright, he was seriously beginning to lose hope.
“Okay,” Ryder said simply. “Then let’s hope it’s one of the other scenarios we just mentioned or that he’s too sick to answer his phone.”
The rest of the drive was made in silence, and when they finally pulled up to the address, one thing was abundantly clear.
Cash’s car wasn’t there.
Ryder parked and climbed out, and Garrett and Austin followed.
“Wait, why are we getting out?” Garrett asked.
“Look in the windows,” Ryder said as he walked up onto the front porch of the small house. He looked in the window on the right of the front door while Garrett looked in the one on the left. Austin walked around to the back, but it wasn’t necessary. “Son of a bitch!”
“It’s empty,” Ryder confirmed and walked down the front steps and over to the house next door. All Garrett could do was remind himself to breathe. He was definitely going to be sick as everything around him began to spin. He was sliding to the floor when Austin ran up and grabbed him.
“G, come on,” he said quietly. “It’s gonna be okay.”
No words came out, but he shook his head.
Nothing was going to be okay. He’d already started a contract with Doc MacEntyre to buy the practice. He had to be out of his place in Norfolk in a week. He had promised Emma that their lives were going to get better. He vowed he’d take care of her better than anyone ever had.
And now he couldn’t.
His brother loosened his grip as they both sat on the porch floor.
“I can’t believe he did this,” Garrett whispered.
“I know this looks bad, but…maybe we got the wrong address or something.”
Since You've Been Gone Page 19
