Page 6 of Holidays and Handcuffs

She looks at me, clearly surprised. “You... added beads?”

I shrug, trying to keep it casual even though her attention is doing all kinds of things to my pulse. “It’s my lucky charm. Couldn’t exactly take it off now, could I?”

Her gaze softens, and I swear, the way she’s looking at me right now makes my chest tighten. There’s something about this moment, sitting across from her in this quiet coffee shop, that feels like we’ve picked up right where we left off all those years ago.

“I didn’t know it meant that much to you.”

I lean forward, the space between us shrinking. “It still does.”

Her eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, the world outside disappears. It’s just the two of us. The way she’s looking at me... it’s like she’s seeing me for the first time, and damn if that doesn’t send a jolt of heat straight through me.

“It does?” she seems shocked.

“I never forgot about you, Princess,” I say quietly, my eyes never leaving hers. “Not for a second.”

Her lips twitch into a soft, almost shy smile. “I didn’t for...” her phone rings, interrupting her. Her eyes drop to the screen, and I watch as her expression shifts to fear, worry. She doesn’t even hesitate before getting up from her seat.

“I’m sorry, but…I... I have to go,” she stammers, her voice tight with urgency.

I stand as well, concern rising in my chest. “Is everything okay?”

Her hands shake slightly as she grabs her bag. “My brother… he’s sick. They need me at the hospital.”

The fear in her eyes is unmistakable, and I want to reach out, but before I can say anything, she’s already moving.

“How about dinner tonight?” I ask, following her out of the coffee shop.

She pauses, glancing over her shoulder, and nods. “Yeah, dinner sounds good.”

“Give me your number,” I say, pulling out my phone.

She rattles it off quickly, and I save it just as fast. She’s already halfway out the door when she turns back and gives me a rushed, but grateful smile.

“Thanks for the coffee.”

And with that, she’s gone, slipping out of the coffee shop. I stand there for a moment, still feeling the warmth of her presence lingering in the air, but my gut twists with concern.

Her brother. Billy. Something tells me that her family still don’t treat her any better than they did in the past.

Chapter 3

Emily

As I pull out of the coffee shop parking lot, I glance in the rearview mirror, and see Jack still standing by the door, watching me leave. God, I hope he doesn’t think I’m crazy for rushing out like that. One minute I’m sitting across from him, feeling like the world had slowed down just for us, and the next, I’m bolting like some kind of lunatic because of a phone call.

The truth is, I’d almost forgotten about my family and their constant demands for a moment. It all vanished in Jack’s presence. His easy smile, the way his eyes seemed to study me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world. But then, my mom’s call yanked me right back to reality. Now, I’m driving toward the hospital, knowing there’s going to be hell to pay for not rushing over the second she called.

But strangely, I can’t bring myself to care. All I can think about is Jack. Of all people, I never expected to run into him—literally.

I let out a breath thinking back how handsome he looks. He’s filled out in all the right ways, broader shoulders, a chest that stretches the fabric of his uniform, and his face… it’s even more striking than I remember. He has a scar that cuts across the left side of his jaw, starting near his ear and fading just before his chin. It’s faint, and instead of taking away from his looks, it only adds to his rugged charm. And those piercing eyes, the way they looked at me…

I shake my head, forcing myself to focus on the road.You need to stop daydreaming, Emily.

But then my mind drifts again, back to that moment when I noticed the bracelet on his wrist, he still has on after all these years ago. I thought I’d imagined it at first, but no. He still had it on. All this time.

Does that mean he’s been thinking about me? Do I matter that much to him? Maybe that’s why he asked me to dinner, why he looked at me like he’d never really left. My pulse quickens at the thought. Maybe Jack cares about me.

I let out a breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter as I pull into the hospital parking lot.Stop it, Emily.I scold myself silently.Don’t get ahead of yourself.He probably just wants to catch up, that’s all. No need to go reading into things.

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