Page 59 of Flare
He didn’t bother responding to the texts. He tore off his woodworking apron and safety glasses and sprinted out the door in under thirty seconds.
Moments later, Ward spotted Emily. She sat at a small bistro table next to the Cinnamon + Sugar booth, nursing a hot drink. Her shoulders were tense, and her gaze kept flicking down the street, where a line of vendors’ booths sagged like deflated hot-air balloons.
Ward made a beeline for her.
∞∞∞
Ward dropped into the chair across from Emily, covered insawdust but still somehow making his sawdust-covered t-shirt and worn denim look like a GQ spread.
Her heart skipped a beat. Ofcoursesomeone—probably Maggie—had let him know about Andrew.
“Hey, stranger.” She put down her chai latte and did her best to make her voice sound normal.
“Just thought I’d drop by and see if there were any chocolate chunk cookies left.” Ward was aterribleliar.
Just like me, she thought fondly.
She raised an eyebrow, her voice dry.“You sure you’re not just checking to make sure I haven’t skipped town?”
Ward shrugged.“Your car’s still parked at my place. I’d have seen you leave.”
Emily laughed. The way he looked at her—steady, focused, like she was the most important thing in this chaotic town—made her feel anchored again.
Maggie came over with a plate of chocolate chunk cookies and a coffee for Ward.
There weren’t any customers at the moment, so Maggie dragged a chair from the next table over and sat.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Ward demanded.“And how the hell did Young Mitya and Malia let him get away?”
He listened, scowling, as they told him the story. When Maggie told him she planned to teach Emily to defend herself, he grunted in approval.“Great idea.”
A family passed them, then slowed down.“Ooh, cookies!” their oldest kid shouted.
They gathered in front of the booth. Break time was over. Maggie and Emily both got to their feet.
As Emily drained the last of her chai latte, Ward stood and reached into his pocket.“I’ve got something for you.”
He handed her a small tissue-wrapped bundle.
Emily unfolded the paper and gasped as she saw the carved wooden pendant: a grizzly bear, smoothed to a soft shine, strung on a simple leather cord.
“It’s black walnut,” Ward said, his voice low.“From the same tree I’m using for the table. I liked the idea of giving you something solid—something that’s been through a lot and still came out beautiful. Like, uh, you.”
His cheeks went red above his dark beard.
He thinks I’m beautiful?Emotion tightened her throat. She closed her fingers around the little bear, feeling its warmth.“Ward, this is… gorgeous.”
His voice lowered.“Thought maybe it’d help. On the hard days.”
“It’s going to be my lucky charm,” she said, clutching the pendant tightly.“A guardian bear, just like you.”
“Except the pendant’s better looking than my bear,” Ward joked with a self-deprecating smile.
She already felt safer. Was it because of the charm—or the man who’d made it for her?
Chapter 17
Conundrum
