Page 27 of There’s Trouble Brewing

“I’m glad you came,” he told her, his eyes soft and warm as he stirred the sauce.

“Me too,” she replied, and it was the truth. The place was simple and comfortable, like him, and she could tell that he didn’t need much to make him happy. A refreshing change from most men her age.

“Hungry?” he asked as he added the noodles to the boiling water.

“Depends,” she teased. “Do you need me to help cook? I should warn you, I’m horrible at it.”

“So what you’re saying is that if I’m not careful, you might end up poisoning me,” he joked, handing her an apron. She liked the way he made everything feel like it was exactly what it should be. Nothing forced. Nothing rushed.

“I’m warning you, I’m really bad at this,” she admitted, trying to tie the apron and making a mess of it.

Mark laughed, moving behind her to assist. “Looks like you need some help.”

They moved around the kitchen together, Mark doing most of the work while Emily pretended to support him. She chopped vegetables with all the skill of someone whobarely knew what a kitchen was. They talked and laughed, the conversation flowing easily. She didn’t think she’d ever enjoyed cooking so much.

“How’s this?” she asked, holding up a sad-looking piece of cucumber for the salad.

“Perfect,” Mark said, grinning like it was the best thing he’d ever seen.

“Liar,” Emily accused, but she loved the way he looked at her; like she was more than what she could or couldn’t do.

Dinner came together faster than she expected, and they sat down to eat, the table set like it was a special occasion. Maybe it was. She felt something in the air, a sense of newness and promise. She didn’t want to put a name to it yet.

“This is amazing,” Emily said, savoring the first bite of the pasta in red sauce.

“I think we made a pretty good team making it,” Mark replied before taking a bite of the salad.

Emily felt herself relaxing, surprised at how much she liked being here with him. “So, this is what normal people do around Faith Valley? Dinner at home? No gossip, no crowds poking into their business?”

“Something like that,” he winked. “I thought you might like the change.”

“You thought right,” Emily nodded, and she meant it. Everything felt different and wonderful when it was just the two of them.

They talked through the meal, and the topics were light and funny. Mark told stories about the town, about the people she was starting to get to know, about how he used to be. She found herself opening up, too, sharing bits of herself she hadn’t planned to. It was like they werebuilding something intimate, piece by piece, and she didn’t even mind.

When they moved to the couch, Emily settled close to Mark. “What should we watch?”

“Nothing scary,” he promised, finding the remote and starting the movie.

“That’s good,” she said, half kidding, half not. “I’m not ready for any more excitement tonight.”

The light from the screen flickered against the walls, the room cozy and perfect as they laughed at the comedy. Emily nestled closer, feeling Mark’s solid presence beside her. Her heart raced, and she wondered if he could feel it, too.

When they kissed, she felt a surge of warmth and contentment, imagining a future where every night could be spent just like this, wrapped in his embrace. The world around them seemed to dissolve into a gentle blur, and she could feel herself getting lost in the comforting ease of the moment. For a brief second, she pulled back, her breath catching in her throat.

“You okay?” Mark asked, his voice gentle, his eyes searching hers.

“Better than,” Emily replied, letting her guard slip a little more. It was dangerous, this closeness, but thrilling, too. It was like a ride she didn’t want to end.

They continued to watch the movie, laughing at the jokes, and sharing looks that said more than their words ever could. Emily realized she was letting go in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to in a long time.

Mark stretched as he turned off the television, his arm brushing against her, and she loved the simple contact. “Should we call it a night?” he asked, his voice holding something she couldn’t quite name.

Emily nodded. “Yeah. Probably.”

Outside his apartment, the air was cool and clear, and Emily felt light and a little dizzy. It had been such a perfect night that she almost forgot they lived in a place where privacy was a rumor and everyone else knew the story before you did. Then she noticed, almost as if on cue, Birdie was across the street watering her grass, looming like an unwelcome guest at a party.

Emily stopped and inhaled sharply, grabbing Mark’s arm to keep him from moving. She saw Birdie’s eyes fix on them, a knowing smile spreading like a stain, and Emily braced herself for what was coming. “Looks like we have company.”

---