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“I’m going to look at the settings,” he told her, swiping through her phone. “Ah, here’s the problem.”
Emma leaned over and looked down. “What is it?”
“You have two wireless networks here,” Paul explained. “The camera and the app were on separate ones. I’ve synced them, so the video should work now.”
He handed the phone back to Emma and showed her a crystal-clear view of Riley nosing through the tall beach grass.
“Thanks. Had no idea it was that simple.”
Paul chuckled, stepping out onto the porch. “Glad to help. Let me get out of your hair. Call me if you have any trouble at all, okay?”
Emma smiled. “I will.” She cupped her hands over her mouth and called out, “Riley, come on. Let’s go.”
The following morning, Emma was packaging a case of dog treats to take to a store in Bridwell Bay when there was a knock at the door. She opened her camera app, and her breath caught when she saw who was standing on the front steps.
Why is he here?
She approached and opened the door slightly, making sure Riley didn’t escape. Emma exhaled. “Hey, I’m swamped right now. This isn’t the best time—“
“Wait.” Jeremiah held up his hands. “Please, I need to talk to you.”
Emma opened the door a little more and leaned against it. “Okay. What is it? I’ve got some deliveries to make, so you need to be quick.”
“I’m sorry about what I did. I thought my dad was choosing you over me and my mom. But I was wrong.” Jeremiah’s voice wavered. “And I was wrong to call you those names. I don’t think you are—what I said you were. I’m really sorry.”
She reached over and put her hand on his arm. “Jeremiah, it was very sweet of you to come all this way and apologize, but I forgave you ages ago. The last thing I want is to come between y’all.”
“But that’s the thing,” Jeremiah said. “My dad needs you. He’s miserable without you. When you were dating him, he was the happiest I’ve seen him—ever. And he’s about to take some job in New York City because he thinks that it’s over between you two and there’s nothing left for him here.”
Emma’s chest tightened at the mention of Luke taking a job an entire world away.
“Thanks for the apology.” She grabbed the box of treats that she’d left by the door. “But I really have to get these deliveries out, so if you don’t mind.”
Riley wiggled his way through the door and ran outside, leaving the front yard and heading for the road.“Riley! Get back here!” she called out.
Jeremiah grabbed a bag of treats sticking out from the box and took off after Riley. “Riley! Hey boy! Lookey what I have here! Come on, come back!”
Jeremiah opened the bag of treats and pulled a few out, holding them in his hand. Riley turned toward him, and Jeremiah, bending down, fed him the treats and grabbed his collar.
Emma breathed a sigh of relief as Jeremiah walked Riley back over to the porch. “Jeremiah, thank you. Got my hands full. Can you put him in the house and lock the door?”
As Emma walked over to her car to put the box of treats in her trunk, she paused and looked out toward the water, taking in a deep breath of salty sea air. The light breeze and gentle warmth of the sun kissed her face.
When Emma closed her trunk, an obnoxiously loud sports car came tearing down the road, kicking up dust and stopping in front of her house. The engine still rumbled as an all-too-familiar figure emerged from the driver’s seat. Emma froze as he approached her.
“Why haven’t you been answering my texts?”
The boom in his voice deafened the thump in her chest. She glanced toward the house and wished Jeremiah had left already. He didn’t need to see this.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you!”
Although she was afraid, she turned away and walked toward her car. In the past, he had never taken no for an answer. But she wasn’t going to let him control her anymore.
Not today. Not ever again. She was just going to get in her car and leave.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Chad walked over and yanked her arm, sending the box of treats falling to the ground.
Jeremiah yelled from the porch as he tried to wrangle Riley inside. “Hey! Don’t touch her.”
