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“Coming right up.” Margie said, walking back to the kitchen.
Emma turned back to her phone, checking her Riley posts again. Just then, Ada Harrison approached her table.
“Hello dear, how are you doing?”
Emma forced a smile. “I’m doing alright. How are you today?”
At that moment, the bell above the door chimed. Emma glanced over and saw a man she’d never seen before walk up to the counter. He was holding a bag of Barking Orders treats.
“Can I get two turkey wraps to go?” he asked Margie.
“Sure thing, Luke.” She smiled at him and walked to the back.
Ada followed Emma’s gaze and gasped when they saw who it was.
“Ah, Luke! You must come over and meet the former owner of your home,” Ada said, walking over and pulling him to the table.
As he approached, Emma got a better look at him and realized Ada hadn’t been embellishing when she said he was good looking.
He was tall with a chiseled figure and raven-black hair that framed his piercing blue eyes. His sculpted jawline contrasted with his full lips, making him even more handsome than Emma had expected.
“Emma, this is the new neighbor I’ve been going on and on about,” Ada said. “Luke Grayson, meet Emma Wright.”
Luke smiled, revealing a dazzling set of perfect white teeth. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Emma held out her hand and shook his, smiling back. “Nice to meet you too.”
“He comes all the way from Chicago!” Margie’s eyes widened with excitement as she spoke. “I only hope Hadley Cove has enough to offer to keep you here.”
Luke chuckled. “Well, I think the big city was what I was trying to get away from. Hadley Cove has a very nice, welcoming feel to it.”
Emma felt her cheeks flush at the compliment to her hometown. They continued their conversation as she stole glances up at him, watching his eyebrows raise in surprise as he responded to Ada’s nosy questions. He really was a handsome man and she already noticed several women staring in their direction, trying to be subtle about it.
Margie walked over and set her burger down, joining in the conversation and appreciation of Luke, who looked a little overwhelmed by all the praise and flirting they were doing. Emma decided to save him and pointed at the bag of treats in his hand.
“What’s your dog’s name?”
Luke looked back at Emma, an expression of relief on his face. “Oh, I don’t have a dog, actually. These are for a stray that I just found one day curled up on my porch. I’ve been taking care of him for about a week now.”
Emma felt a bloom of hope blossom in her chest. “This stray wouldn’t happen to be a golden retriever, would it?”
“Yeah. Sandy-colored male,” Luke confirmed. “He had a collar, but no tag. I made a post on the community Facebook page, but it said an admin hadn’t approved it yet.”
Emma pulled off the flier she had just taped on the window and handed it to Luke. “This wouldn’t be him?”
Luke looked down at the paper, just as surprised. “Yep, that’s him!”
Emma gasped. “Really? You have Riley?”
“I think so. When can you swing by to get him?” Luke asked, handing back the flier.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Margie cried out, running back into the kitchen to bring Phil out. A few other people turned and expressed their gladness for Emma.
Completely forgetting about her burger, Emma stood up and faced Luke. “Do you think I could come over now? Are you busy?”
“No, not at all. I just came in to grab some lunch for me and my son, and I’m heading home after that. You’re welcome to come and take him if you’d like.”
Emma nodded enthusiastically. “That would be wonderful.”
