Page 38 of Mine to Hold
Once inside, he turned to face her with longing in his dark eyes. Without a word, he reached out and traced the line of her jaw with his fingertips, sending shivers down her spine. She letout a shaky breath as he leaned in to capture her lips in another searing kiss. No man had ever treated her with such tenderness. Such love. And she barely knew him.
She tried to remind herself that they were ships passing in the night. That he understood she had no intention of making this sleepy little town her home, but that did nothing to ease her soul.
Or her heart.
Their hands roamed each other's bodies, seeking solace and connection in the heat of the moment. Clothes were shed in a frenzy of desire until they were both consumed by the raw need for each other.
In that intimate space, stripped bare of pretense and barriers, they found comfort and passion in each other's arms. She couldn’t help but wonder if he only needed a body and she was the closest one around. He’d been through so much in the last couple of days.
But what about her and what she’d been through? He knew nothing of her struggle. He knew so little of her past and what brought her to Lighthouse Cove to begin with. But that was her plight, not his. It was her burden to carry and he had enough on his plate. She could absorb his for one night.
As they made love, she couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and shame. She knew that he deserved better, and she had to admit that she was not the one to give him what he truly needed—a life partner, someone who could share his joys and sorrows, someone who understood the weight of his responsibilities and the countless lives depending on him.
But for now, she clung to the moment, the warmth of his skin, the rhythm of his breath, the beating of their hearts as they merged into one. She hoped that this one night of connection would be enough to help them both forget the pain that wascreeping up on them, the shadows of their pasts, and the uncertainty of their futures.
Afterward, they lay entwined, their breaths mingling, their bodies still pulsating with the aftermath of their passion. He whispered softly in her ear, "Thank you. That was… something special."
She smiled, tracing his lips with her finger. "You're welcome."
They lay there in silence for a few minutes, savoring the warmth and intimacy they'd shared. But eventually, reality began to seep in and she knew soon enough it would be time to face the music. Time to leave. Time to break his heart.
Emmerson cupped her cheek in his hand, his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and sadness. "I know you have a wandering soul," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I understand. I just hope you’ll stay in my town for a long time. I like you.”
“I like you, too.” She wrapped her arms around his strong body and closed her eyes. But she wouldn’t stay. Not long anyway. Her days were numbered. She didn’t know how long. She couldn’t pack and leave with the investigation going on. That wouldn’t look good and the last thing she needed was to be hunted down by the police.
God, as much as she couldn’t look at Emmerson and call him a mistake, staying would be.
8
Rumor leaned against the counter. The lunch crowd had dwindled down to almost nothing. She glanced at her watch. Thirty minutes before her shift was over. She’d heard nothing from Emmerson all day. The fact that he’d slipped from the bed without her knowing or saying goodbye bothered her.
It shouldn’t. But it did.
She had no claim to him and last night was a fleeting moment. Two people who needed a connection. She had worried he might read more into it, but she wondered if she hadn’t meant anything at all, and that was troubling for a different reason.
She felt a little better when she made her way to his kitchen and found a note. She pulled it from her apron and unfolded it.
Rumor,
Sorry I had to sneak out. Duty calls. I’ll be in touch later. Help yourself to coffee, breakfast. Anything you need. Here is a set of keys. Please lock up when you leave. I’ll be in touch later.
Emmerson.
The front door to the café dinged and two women strolled in. She tucked the note back in her pocket. She stiffened her spine,smoothing down the front of her apron. “Welcome to the Safe Harbor Café.”
One of the women smiled as she looked Rumor up and down with a narrowed stare. “You’re new.” What an odd thing to say.
“I am. Just the two of you today?” Rumor asked.
“Yes. And we’d like that booth over there.” The woman pointed to the corner booth.
“Not a problem.” Rumor snagged two menus and showed the women to the table. “I’ll be right over with?—”
“We want two waters. No ice. With lemon. We also want two of Phil’s special lemon drops. Thank you,” the woman said as she eased into the booth. She had long blond hair, styled with big curls. She wore way too much makeup, but it went with her pricey shoes and designer clothes.
“Sure thing. Coming right up.” Rumor set the menus on the table and turned. She paused a few paces away and smiled. Though that quickly turned into a frown when she realized Emmerson was in uniform and he didn’t appear to be all that happy. “What are you doing here?”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek, letting his glorious lips linger for longer than what would be deemed appropriate. “I need food and coffee.”
