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A smile tugged at the corners of Emma’s mouth. “A drink sounds tempting, but right now, I just need to sit.”
Emma walked out to the living room and sank into the couch, letting out a long sigh. Luke settled beside her, and Riley hopped onto his lap.
“Well, I missed you too, boy,” Luke said, patting him gently.
“Riley, get down,” Emma said with a sharpness in her tone. “Sometimes he forgets how big he is.” Riley looked up at her and whined, then did as he was told. A second later, he lay across Luke’s feet.
Emma and Luke laughed. “He really does like you,” Emma said. “Maybe even more than me.”
Luke arched an eyebrow and let out a small chuckle. “I doubt that.”
Emma’s eyes held Luke’s a moment longer, her lip caught gently between her teeth. Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on her knees, drawing slightly closer. “I want to thank you. I know it was you who got my treats into those stores.”
A soft knowing smile spread across Luke’s face. “It was me. I believe in you and your dreams. I had to help, somehow.”
“That means everything to me, Luke.” Emma felt an urge to reach out and touch his hand, but she held back. Her heart was full, yet a part of her remained cautious. She leaned back, folding her hands in her lap.
A silence fell as Emma absorbed the depth of his actions and words. She exhaled a deep breath, clasping her hands. “So, tell me about this job offer in New York. You going to take it?”
“I thought I would,” Luke said, his gaze never leaving hers. “Until I saw you again today.”
He leaned in, bridging the gap between them. “After we broke up, there was really nothing left for me here. But the thought of being so far away from you doesn’t sit well with me. And Jeremiah’s not too excited about it. I think this place has grown on him.”
As he spoke, the distance between them closed inch by inch. The subtle scent of his cologne reached Emma, a smell she remembered all too well. Her fingers tingled and heart thrummed as she anticipated his next words.
Luke paused and the room fell silent, with only the faint sounds of their breathing filling the air.
He took Emma’s hand, lacing his fingers with hers. “I’m still in love with you. I haven’t stopped thinking of you since the day we met. You’ve brought a joy to me I never thought I’d have again.”
Emma’s eyes welled and her breath caught in her throat. “Jeremiah mentioned the job. It sounds great and all...” She squeezed his hand and glanced away for a moment. “But I don’t want you to move there. I know that sounds selfish, but that’s how I feel. You said there was nothing left for you here, and that’s not true.”
Luke tilted his head. “It’s not?”
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away. You’ve made me so happy. I love you, Luke. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Emma, I never wanted it to end. In some ways, it never did. I love you with everything I am. And always will.”
His words lingered between them, seeping into her skin, where she could feel every syllable in her bones.
They said it, confessed it, and she wanted to hear it again. “Luke, I love you.”
He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I love you too, Emma.”
There was a moment of stillness, where the world seemed to hold its breath. And then, driven by passion long held back, Luke leaned in, sealing his lips to hers in a collision that felt like a thousand unspoken words. Her fingers clenched his upper arms as her breath quickened, their heartbeats dancing together in a way only they could understand.
It felt as if every heartache had led her to this singular moment where she discovered the kind of love she’d always dreamed of.
The kind of love that feels like coming home.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
Emma unlocked the shop door, soaking in the moment.
Who would have thought she’d ever make enough money to open a store in Hadley Cove?
She remembered how nervous she’d been, presenting in front of the town’s council. But Mayor Williams, with her kind demeanor, had eased her anxiety with a reassuring nod and a soft-spoken, “We believe in you, Emma.”
