Page 95 of Beautiful Harmony

“What?” she asked.

He grinned. “Now’s where I admit I’m horrible because I like that you get jealous when another woman touches me. It makes me feel better about how close I was to punching James that night in my office.”

“James didn’t touch me,” she said.

“His shoulder did,” Lucas said.

Her small laugh made that knot in his stomach finally untwist.

“Are you sure you want me to stay for dinner with your family?” she asked. “If you need more time, I can make an excuse and leave.”

“I’m positive,” he said. “I want you to stay. Besides, my mom wasn’t kidding when she said her pot roast is amazing.”

“Okay.” She climbed out of the car, and Lucas did the same. Despite their talk, she still looked sad and upset. He met her at the front of the car and took her hand, pulling her to a stop.

“Emma, it’s good between us again, okay? I know you don’t want me to apologize, but I am. I was an ass that night.”

“You weren’t,” she said. “But I appreciate your willingness to forgive me.”

Her smile was a little more natural, but it killed him that he couldn’t hold her or hug her right now.

Fuck it. He had to touch her. He pulled her into his arms, pressing his mouth against hers. He expected her to protest, but her body softened against him, and she slid her arms around his shoulders, holding him tightly as they kissed.

He locked his hands at the small of her back, kissing her repeatedly. Fuck, he’d missed her so much.

They pulled back to take in twin shuddering breaths, and he rested his forehead against hers. “I probably should apologize for kissing you in public, but in my defense, we’re in Willington, not Harmony Falls.”

She gave him another soft kiss. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. We’re never fighting again,” he said.

“Deal,” she said. “We should get the groceries before your mom files a missing person report.”

He reluctantly let her go, shoving his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t try to hold hers. She was smiling softly, and he said, “What?”

“I’ve never made out in a parking lot before,” she said. “It was kind of fun.”

He laughed. “Next, you’ll ask me to have sex in a public bathroom.”

“Ew,” she said, making him laugh again. “There isn’t enough hand sanitizer in the world for me to bang you in a public bathroom, Lucas Wright.”

“Noted, Emma Richardson,” he said. “C’mon, let’s get those buns.”

CHAPTER25

Emma took a couple of steps back and studied the spinning rack of knitting and crochet patterns. They looked better than before she’d started reorganizing them, but they still felt messy, and the rack took up valuable floor space. She needed to look at ordering a new display stand for them. Something that could go against the wall.

She could hear whispering behind her, and she turned. Two women, one of them looked vaguely familiar - Emma thought she might work at the laundromat in Falls Square - stood behind her near the yarn display Cora had set up yesterday.

They both held yarn in their hands but gawked at her. Keeping a smile on her face, Emma said, “Can I help you find something today?”

“No,” the woman on the right said, her gaze glued to her birthmark. “We’re good.”

“Okay.” Emma returned to the magazine rack, gritting her teeth when the whispering started again.

It’s just a mark.

Emma walked away, heading down the aisle toward the front of the store. A woman wearing a puffy jacket and holding an empty shopping basket wasn’t even bothering to pretend to shop. She stood silently, staring at Emma with frank curiosity.

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