Page 14 of Bright Lights and Summer Nights

“This one,” Emma instructs, seconds after I’ve already turned into the long driveway.

The moment I put the car in park, she’s trying to get the door open, even though it’s locked.

“Let me walk you in,” I demand, already getting out of the car.

Emma continues to struggle with the door handle, not understanding that her efforts are futile unless she unlocks it.

Making it to the passenger side, I reach over and pull the lock up. Her lips part in annoyance, as if she’s mad at herself for not thinking of that in the first place.

“I don’t need you to walk me in,” she protests as I swing the car door open.

“Don’t remember saying you needed me to,” I clip, reaching out for her hand. She ignores it, sliding out of the car—almost falling on her face in the process and steadying herself on her feet at the last minute. With a loud groan, she rips one heel off and then the other before walking to the front door.

“You can leave now, Preston,” she calls over her shoulder. I make sure to stare at the back of her head, trying my hardest not to look at the way her hips sway with every step she takes.

“Once you’re safe inside, I will.”

“Pretty sure I’m safe. We’re in the Hamptons.” She looks around, spreading her arms out wide as she does a spin. “Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

My teeth clench as I get annoyed that she doesn’t take her safety seriously. Nowhere is safe. She’s in an unfamiliar place; it’d be smart for her to be more aware of that. “Don’t say that,” I bark, realizing my tone might be harsher than it needs to be.

Emma stops at the bottom of the stairs of the two-story Hamptons house. It’s larger than some of the other places I’ve been to here, but it still holds a lot of charm. There’s a small sidewalk to the left that leads right to a white picket fence. Behind it, you can see the smallest glimpse of a pool and a guesthouse tucked into the backyard.

This is a really nice place, and I haven’t even seen the inside yet.

“Look, I’m all safe and sound now. No one’s jumping from the bushes to murder me. You can go back to wherever you’re staying knowing I’m totally fine.” Emma’s entire face lights up as she looks at me with the biggest smile, as if she finds her words hilarious even though I’m not laughing at all.

“Make sure you lock the door once you’re inside,” I demand, watching her type a code into the keypad of the door.

“Thank you, grumpy Captain Obvious,” she mumbles under her breath, a small giggle escaping from her lips after.

The door swings open. It’s my time to go, but for some reason, I want to find another excuse to just spend a few more minutes with her. I don’t, instead deciding to back away and head back to my car.

“It was wonderful to meet you tonight, Emma,” I tell her, tucking my hands in my pockets.

She stands in the doorway, her body perfectly illuminated by the lights she’d left on in the house. “It was unexpected meeting you tonight, Preston,” she responds, leaning her shoulder against the door frame.

“A good unexpected or bad unexpected?” I press, hoping she doesn’t already regret how the night transpired.

She shrugs. “I guess we’ll see how this week goes. I could have major regrets.”

“Or it could be the best week of your life,” I counter, hoping she doesn’t leave this with regrets.

“Best week of my life? That’d be hard to accomplish.”

“I guess I’ve got my work cut out for me, then,” I respond, my lips turning up in the smallest of smiles.

“You should do that more,” Emma offers, changing the subject.

“Do what?”

“Smile. Not be so stiff.”

“You just met me. How do you know I don’t smile a ton?”

She laughs, her head falling backward with the motion. “Oh, I knew it after ten minutes of talking with you. Good night, Preston.”

Before she can close the door, I speak up, needing to hear her say that she isn’t going to run this week. “So I’ll see you later, then?”

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