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“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Emma asked, her breathing labored and body slumped over with hands on her knees.
Luke shook his head and leaned against the wall, massaging a cramp out of his leg. “No, not at all.”
Emma grinned. “Well, it’s not over yet.”
When they finally reached the top, Emma pushed open the door, and took Luke’s hand, pulling him outside onto the balcony.
“Should we take a picture?” Luke suggested.
Emma grinned as she adjusted her hair. “My hair isn’t too crazy, is it?”
Luke shook his head and held up his phone. “Not at all. You look perfect.”
Emma giggled as he snapped a few photos of them.
Luke turned his attention to the view below, marveling at the sight. “Wow, is that all of Hadley Cove down there?”
Emma’s gaze swept across the panoramic view, her face beaming as she nodded. “It almost looks magical from this viewpoint, don’t you think? The beach, Main Street with its shops and businesses, and all of those tiny houses dotted here and there.”
He drew closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “It really does look magical. A storybook type of town, especially with all the places along the water too.”
She pointed down to the beach, tracing her finger along the coastline. “Do you see how the beach curves? There’s The Point, and then if you go down a little further, there’s my cottage. And past there is where the marsh begins.” She gestured across the cove to a spot a little inland.” And of course, there’s my old house, or your new one rather.”
Luke followed her eyes, taking in the distance between the two houses. “I didn’t realize they were so far away. It’s amazing that Riley traveled all that way back to his old house.”
Emma glanced up at him. “That house is special, and Riley knows it.”
A smile lit up Luke’s face. “You’re probably right, but what’s even more special than the house is you, Emma.”
The butterflies in Emma’s stomach started fluttering again, and she felt a warm blush rising up her cheeks. She was grateful for the darkness that concealed the redness on her face.
“Is that right?” Emma asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Luke turned toward her, his hand reaching out to take hers. “Yes, Emma, you are very special to me.”
Anticipation pulsed through Emma’s heart as she turned toward him. Her eyes met his, and in that moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. She couldn’t help but catch her breath as a hot tingle spread across her face.
Then, as if in a dream, she felt his hand come up to gently cup her cheek. There was a tenderness in his touch that spoke volumes, and as she looked into his eyes, she knew nothing else mattered except for the two of them.
“Emma.” Luke whispered her name, tilting her face upward, and kissed her softly.
Every inch of her body was electrified with desire, her heart racing and her senses heightened as their lips locked together. She was completely consumed by the intoxicating sensation, unable to think of anything else but him. As Emma wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck, he deepened the kiss, his fingers tangling in her soft auburn curls. It felt as if this night was always meant to happen. This was a moment that would stay with her forever, a memory to be cherished in the days and years to come.
Kisses had never felt like this with Chad, where desire had been absent, and passion had waned. With Luke, she found a depth of connection that she had never known was possible, and it consumed her with an intensity that she couldn’t resist.
“Wow,” Luke whispered against her lips.
“Yeah,” Emma replied, still a bit dazed. “What you said.”
They both chuckled as he pulled her in even closer, holding her tight as if he never wanted to let go.
“Should we go back?” he asked. “I don’t even know what time it is.”
“Yeah, I suppose we should.” Emma nodded in agreement, and they switched on their phone flashlights to make their way down the lighthouse stairs. A smile remained plastered on her face during the entire descent. When they emerged outside, they walked through the woods back to the parking lot, where the Treehouse Café was about to close and only a few cars remained.
“Thank you for dinner,” Emma said, her voice soft and warm as she turned to face Luke. The air was crisp and cool around them, the moon casting a gentle glow on the surroundings.
Luke smiled, his eyes meeting hers. “Thank you for the lighthouse tour.”
