Page 98 of Beautiful Harmony

“In the kitchen.”

Her voice sounded okay, but he could see how upset she was when he stepped into the room. “Em, baby, it’s all right.”

“You heard, huh?”

She let him pull her into his embrace, but her body was stiff, and she looked so tired and sad that it made his chest tight.

“Connor called me as I was leaving the office. His last patient of the day told him.”

She sighed. “It’s all over town. Seo-Jun from the coffee shop was at the Whole Foods in Willington. She saw us kissing in the parking lot.”

“It’ll be okay,” he said, rubbing her back in gentle circles. “Who cares what people think? What matters is that - ”

“I’m selling the store,” she said abruptly.

He froze against her. “What?”

“I’ve made my decision. I’m meeting with Caroline on Tuesday night to sign the paperwork.”

Lucas’s stomach was somewhere in the fucking basement. He took a few steps back, leaning against the counter before he just fell over. “You’re selling the store.”

“Yes,” she said, staring at a spot over his shoulder. “I need a fresh start, Lucas. Selling the store and moving to New Cassel is the right decision.”

He wanted to ask her to stay. Hell, he wanted to beg her to stay. He wanted more than a friends with benefits relationship. He couldn’t lie to himself any more about that.

“Lucas?” Her gaze finally landed on him. “Say something.”

He opened his mouth to ask her to stay for him and then hesitated. He couldn’t do that. What if he did what he always did in relationships? What if he broke her heart in three months or six months, or a year because he sucked at relationships? He couldn’t ask Emma to give up what she wanted when there was the real possibility that he would break her heart later.

“Lucas?” She sounded nervous and on the verge of tears.

He forced a smile onto his face. “I think it’s great.”

“You do?” Her gorgeous blue eyes clouded over a bit.

Shit, he needed to be more convincing.

He slid his arms around her waist and kissed her. “I really do. Congratulations, Emma. I’m proud of you for doing what you want and what’s right for you. Not everyone has the courage to make such a monumental change in their life.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“When are you leaving?”

“I’m not sure yet. Probably not until the beginning of next year, but I’ll discuss that with Caroline. There’s a lot of work to do with selling the store, and then I’ll need to sell my house and find a place in New Cassel.”

“Well, I can help you with whatever you need,” he said. “I know a good real estate guy in New Cassel, and I’m happy to go to the city with you anytime you want. We can do a driving tour, and I’ll point out all the best neighbourhoods. Will you open a store in the city?”

“I don’t know,” she said softly. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

“Plenty of time!” Christ, did he sound as fake to Emma as he did to himself? “Oh, and I’m good with a long-distance friends with benefits, if you are?”

She gave him an uncomfortable look. “I was thinking that maybe we should cool things off between us. It’ll help the gossip die -”

“No,” he said. Panic made his arms tighten around her. “They already know we’re sleeping together. There’s no point in cooling things off now.”

“Lucas, I -”

He swallowed hard. “Emma, we only have a limited time together before you move, right? Don’t ask me to give you up until I have to. Please.”

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