Page 40 of Beautiful Harmony

She sighed and leaned against the desk, rubbing one hand at the back of her neck. “Yeah, I did, but I should have been more tactful about it.”

He smiled a little. “I like blunt Emma.”

She gave him an earnest look, her hands knotted together at her waist. “I really am sorry, Lucas.”

“I’m sorry too,” he said. “For my behaviour this week and kissing you when I agreed to be just friends.”

Now it was her gaze on his mouth, and his cock started to harden despite his best intentions.

She looked away. “Why did you kiss me?”

“Because I’m attracted to you,” he said.

“I’m attracted to you too.” She made a self-deprecating laugh. “Sorry about that.”

He frowned. “Why are you apologizing? If we have a mutual attraction, then -”

“We can only be friends, Lucas,” she said.

“Why?”

A flicker of frustration crossed her face. “You know why. Please don’t be obtuse on purpose.”

“I’m not,” he said. “I honestly don’t -”

The door opened, bringing a swell of laughter and loud voices. Gideon stepped into the room with his phone to his ear. “If you need me to come by and help corral them back in the barn, Ian, I will. It’s not a big deal.”

He stared in surprise at Emma and Lucas.

“Sorry,” Emma said, grabbing Lucas’s hand, leading him out of the room, and shutting the door.

They stood in the hallway, but before Lucas could suggest they find another quiet place to talk, Emma said, “Are we good, Lucas? Back to being friends?”

The worry on her face made him nod. “Yes, we’re good, Emma.”

“Great.” She squeezed his hand. “Can we just forget about that night at your parents and return to how things were?”

“Sure,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound as defeated as he felt. Asking him to forget how it felt to kiss her was like asking him to fly to the moon. “That works for me too.”

“Okay.” Her smile lit up her entire face - fuck, she was so beautiful - and she patted his chest. “Come on, let’s rejoin the party.”

* * *

“I didn’t knowyou were friends with Grace and Sheriff Gideon.”

Every muscle in Emma’s body tightened when she heard Phoebe’s voice. Not even bothering to keep the smile on her face, she turned to stare at her childhood bully. “I didn’t know you were either, Phoebe.”

Phoebe gave her a thin smile, her gaze stamped firmly on Emma’s hidden birthmark. She was dressed as Ariel fromThe Little Mermaid,and her green mermaid-style dress clung to her perfect body. Her red wig was high-end, and her makeup looked professionally done.

“I see you’re trying out a new makeup look tonight. Do you think that’s wise?” Phoebe asked.

“Excuse me?” Emma said.

Phoebe shrugged. “There are a lot of guys you don’t know here. While I admire your tenacity in trying to find someone who’s attracted to you, do you think it’s a good idea to hide your birthmark from them? Eventually, they’ll see the real you and -”

“Hey, Phoebe!” Rayna appeared like a blue overall and fake mustache-wearing guardian angel. “Don’t you look… nice.”

The word nice dripped from Rayna’s mouth like sludge from a backed-up pipe.

---