Page 59 of Beautiful Harmony

Maybe he does now that you’ve slept with him. Maybe he treats his conquests differently than his friends.

She leaned against the counter, that little niggle of worry in her belly growing larger by the second. She and Lucas were still friends. She wouldn’t let her paranoia get the best of her.

Sucks that you gotta go home alone to your vibrator again, though.

Her face flashed hot. Even if she and Lucas had their regular Wednesday night dinner, she’d still go home alone to her vibrator. She had to get this dumb idea out of her head that she would see Lucas naked - better yet, have a naked Lucas on top of her - ever again. It wasn’t happening.

She hadn’t seen Lucas since Sunday, but he’d been texting her regularly, and he was exactly like he always was. He didn’t act at all like they’d had sex, and that didn’t bother her one bit. It was what shewanted.

“Have I told you how much I love that dress?” Nora joined her at the counter with an armful of packaged knitting needles. “The colour is fantastic on you.”

“Thanks,” Emma said. “Although, I’m starting to regret not wearing tights with it.” She studied her legs and then the darkening sky through the big plate window at the front of the store. “This morning, when it was beautiful and sunny and relatively warm for November, I thought it was a great idea to go bare-legged. But now that the sun is going down and it looks like it might snow, I have serious regret.”

Nora laughed. “What’s life without risk, right?”

“Right.” Emma caught the needles sliding out of Nora’s arms and set them on the counter.

Nora set the remaining needles on the counter before joining Emma behind it. She began to sort the needles by size. “So, Eva told me you’re coming to her house on Sunday. She was ridiculously excited.”

Emma laughed. “She’s so cute. I’m teaching your brother how to Dutch braid.”

“Cool,” Nora said. “Just remember, you have to be the one to ask James out. He’s way too shy to ask a woman on a date. You’ll have to make the first move.”

“I’m not asking your brother on a date,” Emma said.

“He’s not your type, huh?” Nora said.

“No, it’s not that,” Emma said. “I’m not interested in dating right now.”

Not interested in dating someone who isn’t Lucas, you mean.

“Okay,” Nora said. “Well, again, if you change your mind, don’t be shy with my brother. He likes a confident, bold woman.”

Emma laughed. “There are no shortages of those in Harmony Falls, so I’m sure he’ll find someone soon.”

“Doubtful,” Nora said. “He’s shy and kind of geeky, a lethal combination in attracting the opposite sex.”

“Your brother is not geeky looking,” Emma said. “He’s really hot, actually.”

“Gross,” Nora said. “He might be conventionally handsome, but he’s one hundred percent geek on the inside. Which is even more hilarious if you met my other siblings.”

“How many siblings do you have?” Emma asked.

“There are six of us all together,” Nora said.

“Holy shit.”

“I know, right? We sometimes fight like cats and dogs when we get together, but we love each other. I’d be lost without them,” Nora said. “Speaking of which… I know I haven’t worked here long, but could I take a weekend off next month? My sister Angie is pregnant, and it’s her baby shower. Obviously, I want to go to the baby shower, but I also want to help her decorate and stuff the day before it.”

“Of course,” Emma said. “Just put in your time off request, and I’ll approve it.”

“Awesome, thank you! Hazel at the coffee shop already approved my time off, so it looks like I’ll be hanging streamers and filling diapers with chocolate bars.”

Emma laughed, and Nora grinned at her. “Have fun with my brother and Eva on Sunday, okay? And remember, if you change your mind, I guarantee my brother will say yes if you ask him out.”

A customer walked in, and Nora hurried off to help them before Emma could reply. She continued to sort the knitting needles Nora had left behind. She knew Nora had no reason to lie to her about James, but she still couldn’t wrap her head around someone as good looking as him being into her.

Lucas is better looking than James, and he’s into you.

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