Page 8 of Emma's Element

She laughed. “That’s not too bad. I was expecting a much larger number.”

“Well, then there’s the motorcycle, the mountain bikes, the jet skis, the snowmobiles, the ATVs.” He stopped; his head tilted as if thinking of what else he owned. “Oh, and the Segway.”

“You own a Segway? In LA? Why would you possibly need that?”

He shrugged. “It looked like fun.”

She humphed before it occurred to her his “toys” had a theme. “You like things that get you outside, don’t you?”

He glanced at her briefly with one brow arched. “Absolutely. It’s my escape.”

She pondered why a man like him would need an escape during the drive to Jolene’s. Being in the public eye constantly would be stressful. Her own bout with that type of scrutiny still gave her nightmares. It was difficult when your every move was watched and photographed.

“Were you escaping when you had your accident?”

His hands tensed on the steering wheel. “Yeah, that didn’t work out so well for me.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m willing to bet had you not been injured, you would have climbed out of there in no time. You have a modicum of skill on the climbing wall,” she snarked.

“Just a small amount of proficiency, huh?” he complained.

Grinning, Emma held up her hand, thumb and forefinger showing a few centimeters of space between them. “Just a smidge.”

In actuality, Marcus had a decent amount of expertise. He was a natural, strong and athletic. He moved with confidence just as her father always had. It surprised her that he was so adept at the sport. Those muscles of his didn’t come from time spent just in a gym; they came from the intense training he participated in to gain the skills needed so he could do his own stunts. That tidbit he’d revealed about himself had shocked her. Maybe she’d judged him too fast.

He howled with laughter again, shaking his head at her, and Emma was pleased she could erase his glum thoughts with a smidgen of levity.

They spent the forty-minute car ride discussing the schedule for the week and what he could expect, classes he would attend, exercises they would run through, and simulations they would enact. She pulled up the calendar on her phone for the dates and times of the classes he was to attend, and texted it to him. She laughed at the British voice coming from the phone in his pocket. “Message for you, sir.”

“Monty Python? Really?” she teased.

“Of course. You can’t go wrong with a little Monty Python.” The rest of the drive was spent discussing their favorite skits from the British comedy team. It amazed her that they shared a lot of the same favorites.

“Pull around back,” she directed when they reached the parking lot at Jolene’s. He held her car door open and extended a hand to help her down, his warm fingers wrapped around hers. As soon as she was down, he let go, and she immediately felt the loss. She walked over to the back kitchen door and knocked. Jolene’s sous chef opened the door. “Hey, Bobby, is Jolene here?”

“Isn’t she always,” he answered. “Come on in. I’ll get her.”

“Emma?” Jolene called before Bobby had been able to fetch her. Jolene and Emma had been friends since college. She’d do anything for the boisterous redhead, and Jolene would reciprocate. After leaving the Coast Guard the way she had, Emma had been a little lost, not knowing what she’d wanted to do with the rest of her life and jaded by the hand she’d been dealt. Jolene had talked her into moving to Lake Haven and even offered to let her stay in her apartment until Emma could find her own place. And thanks to Jolene, Emma had found a second career that she could be truly proud of. “What are you doing back here?”

“We were hoping for your private room tonight,” Emma requested.

Jolene came closer and noticed Marcus. “Oh, Mr. Rayne. Of course. My best private room. Come with me,” she turned, leading the way down the hall.

“Please, call me Marcus,” he said when Jolene opened the door to her office.

“Here you go. The best room in the place,” she quipped.

“Thanks for this, JoJo. You’re the best,” Emma praised.

Jolene waved off the compliment. “Bless your heart,” she said in her thick southern drawl that she only pulled out when using certain phrases. “You want your usual, Emma?” She nodded. “And Marcus? I seem to recall you liked the mushroom swiss burger.”

“Good memory,” he answered.

“Coming right up.”

“Thank you, Jolene,” Emma called after her. “Is she not the best?” Moving to Lake Haven after the end of her Coast Guard career had been the best decision she’d ever made. Not only was it where her truest friend lived, but she’d also made several new friends.

Jolene returned while they waited for their food, and Marcus asked her about some of the photos she had on her walls. Most were of the two of them from their college days.

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