Page 26 of Engulfing Emma

I nod in the direction of the school. “What do you say I walk with you?”

Her eyes close briefly. “No. I’m not ready.”

“Can I walk you somewhere else then?”

She leans forward, planting her hands on the bench on either side of her as she rocks back and forth. “I’m going to sit here for a while.”

I stand and sling my bag over my shoulder. “Well, if you think you might be ready on Friday, I get off shift at this same time.”

She looks back in the direction of the school. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Either way, I still get off at this time.” I stare at her, hoping she gets the meaning behind my words. I want to see her again. I want to see her again so badly, it’s hard to find the words.

“Okay,” she says.

“See you around, Emma Lockhart,” I say.

“See you around, Lieutenant.”

I can’t help smiling the entire way home.

Chapter Ten

Emma

I’m not a nervous person by nature, the past eleven days notwithstanding. So as I put freshly baked croissants into a bag to drop them by the firehouse, I wonder if it’s the daunting possibility of making it all the way to school this morning that has me on edge, or is it the thought of seeing Lt. Brett Cash again?

He specifically told me to come back this morning.Didn’t he?Then again, he’s a firefighter. A civil servant. He probably thinks it’s his duty to help me make it to the school. He’s being nice.

But when we looked at each other …

No, Emma. Don’t go there.

It’s not that I haven’t thought about a serious relationship with a man. I have. I’ve often wondered what kind of man it would take to make me want to consider someone as a father for Evelyn. Once I got over the fact that Stefan didn’t want her—or me—I tried many times to put a face on the fantasy that would be our happily ever after.

But I’ve never been able to. Not until my dream last night.

Even if the gorgeous lieutenant was interested, I could never allow it to happen. I mean, he’s a firefighter.

I finish filling the bag with croissants as Mom comes into the kitchen, ready for work.

She raises an eyebrow. “Baking for the third time this week. Are you feeling better?”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

“You’ve been back to school then?”

“I’m trying, Mom.”

She wraps her arms around me from behind, giving me that supportive hug she’s so good at. “You’ll get there. Maybe Evelyn coming home Sunday will be just the thing you need to turn everything around.”

I’ve missed my daughter so much. Although I dread telling her what happened, I’ve never been more excited to see her.

“Want me to go with you today?” she asks. “I don’t have to be at work for another hour.”

“This is something I have to do myself.”

It’s a lie. Deep down, I hope it’s something I get to do with the gorgeous lieutenant. But I can’t tell her that. She’d get all excited and want to know every detail. Then she’d be the meddling matchmaker mom, pushing me to do things I don’t want to do. Hell, she’d probably plan our wedding before I even found out if he likes me.

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