Page 26 of Love, Lies, and Celtic Knots

Chapter 12

Emma

It’s quarter to seven, and I’m standing in front of my bedroom mirror, trying to convince myself that this is just another night. Just dinner. A casual dinner, I remind myself. But deep down, I know this is different. Miles is different. He’s not just some guy from a bar. He’s smart, confident, and intense in a way that pulls me in and makes me want to get lost in him.

I love him, and I know he loves me, too.

My hands tremble as I smooth down the simple black dress I’ve chosen for tonight. It hugs my curves in all the right places, accentuating my figure without being too much. I want to look good, but I also don’t want it to seem like I put too much effort into this.

Even though I did.

I apply a final coat of lip gloss, my heart racing as I glance at the clock again. He should be here any minute. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I’m a successful attorney, a woman who handles stressful situations for a living. I can do this. I can handle one dinner with a man who makes my pulse race with just a look.

When I hear a soft knock on the door, my heart leaps into my throat. I take one last look at my reflection beforeheading to the door. I pull it open to find Miles standing there, looking impossibly handsome in a pair of dark jeans and a crisp white button-up shirt. His smile is easy, but there’s a spark of something more in his eyes, something that makes my stomach flip.

“Hey, beautiful” he says, his voice low and warm.

“Hey, yourself,” I reply, my voice breathier than I’d like. I step aside to let him in, trying not to let the heat of his presence overwhelm me.

He steps inside, holding up a brown paper bag with a grin. “I owe you dinner from the other night. Hope you’re in the mood for Italian.”

“You made Italian food?” I raise an eyebrow, impressed.

He chuckles, setting the bag down on the kitchen counter. “Well, I can’t take all the credit. My Italian cooking skills are…limited. I picked it up from this little place down the street.”

I laugh, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease slightly. “That’s still impressive. I love Italian.”

He starts unpacking the food, and the smell of garlic and herbs fills the room. It’s comforting and mouth-watering, and I can’t help but smile at the simple pleasure of it all. For a few moments, we work in comfortable silence, setting up the plates and uncorking a bottle of wine that he’s brought.

Once the food is laid out and the wine is poured, we sit down at the small dining table by the window overlooking the beach. The sun is just starting to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the evening sky. It feels like a scene out of a romantic movie, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the atmosphere.

“This looks amazing,” I say, taking a bite of the pasta.

Miles watches me with an easy smile, but there’s something more in his gaze—something intense. “I’m glad you like it. I wanted tonight to be special.”

There’s a weight to his words that makes my heart skip a beat. I swallow, trying to keep my voice steady. “It is.”

We eat in comfortable silence for a while, the food delicious and the wine flowing easily. But I can feel the unspoken words hanging in the air between us, the tension that’s been building since we first met. Finally, Miles sets his fork down and leans back in his chair, his gaze locking onto mine.

“Emma,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “I don’t want to play games with you.”

I blink, taken aback by the seriousness in his tone. “Games?”

He nods his expression unreadable. “I know we’ve only known each other for a short time, but there’s something about you. Something that makes me want to be honest with you. And I don’t want to waste time pretending that this is just some casual thing.”

My heart races as his words sink in. This is what I’ve been afraid of—feeling too much, too fast. But at the same time, it’s exactly what I’ve wanted. Someone who sees me, who understands me, and who’s not afraid to say what they feel.

“I feel the same way,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to play games, either. But it’s complicated, Miles. With everything going on—with Brennen, with the winery…I don’t know if I’m ready for more.”

Miles leans forward, his eyes soft but unwavering. “I get it. And I’m not asking for anything you’re not ready for. But I need you to know that I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve decided to stay in Pelican Point… indefinitely, to be with you. To be here for you.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest tighten. I reach across the table, taking his hand in mine. “Really? That means more to me than you know.”

We sit there for a moment, the silence between us no longer filled with tension but with understanding. I don’t know wherethis is going, but for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m not alone. And that’s enough for now.

After dinner, we move to the couch, the bottle of wine between us as we talk about everything and nothing. He tells me more about his time in the SEALs, the missions he can talk about. I share stories about law school, about the cases that have kept me up at night and the ones that have made it all worth it.

Before I know it, the sun has long since set, and the room is lit only by the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the window. I glance at the clock and realize how late it’s gotten, but I don’t want the night to end.

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