After Seth, Andi, and Vince left, he and Emily had eaten supper with his folks. He enjoyed watching her glow while she talked about the barn and all of their work. She’d even encouraged his parents to see it, and although his mother promised to come out tomorrow, his father had only grunted. But Jake had faith that Emily would convince his father too.
He and Emily had cleaned up the kitchen before she excused herself and disappeared to take a shower. He had expected her to join him and his folks in the den, but she’d been gone for more than an hour, which was why he headed to her room to check on her and tell her good night.
He knocked on the door and waited.
“Come in,” she called.
Jake pushed open the door and found her sitting at the desk working on her laptop, clad in a pair of shorts and a tank top. Her dark, wavy hair was styled in a thick knot on top of her head with wavy tendrils falling past her neck. His gaze meandered over her shapely legs, her bare neck, and a spot behind her ear. That strange hankering to touch and kiss her swelled inside him, along with a craving to get out a phone and snap a photo of her.
Get ahold of yourself, Jake!
She swiveled on the chair to face him. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering what you were up to since you didn’t come back downstairs.” He dropped onto the corner of the bed behind her chair.
“I’ll show you.” She typed on the keyboard, and a flyer advertising the grand opening of the market and the anniversary celebration filled the screen. “I was inspired during supper. What do you think?”
The document included a fall theme with the orchard’s logo and detailed their schedule. “It’s perfect.”
“Glad you like it. We can have a billion copies made and then distribute them all over.”
He nodded. “Sounds great.”
“Also, I was thinking about the website.” Emily typed on the keyboard, and the orchard’s homepage filled the small screen. “I need to update it, and I can add the flyer too.” She snapped her fingers. “And then social media too. We need to start promoting the grand opening and the anniversary celebration.”
“Go for it.” While Jake studied her, sadness washed over him. In less than a month, they would have their grand opening, and then Emily would go back to Charlotte.
How would he adjust to life without her again?
Okay. Something was up with him. Why was he suddenly so ridiculously sentimental? Maybe he was coming down with something.
Yup, that had to be it. It was definitely scarlet fever. He should call his doctor first thing tomorrow.
“I will.” She folded her legs under herself and studied him. “All right. You have a super-weird expression on your face.” She drew an imaginary circle in the air in front of his face. “What’s goin’ on in that head of yours?”
He brushed his knuckles over his sternum. “Have you considered moving back to Splendid Lake? Like, permanently?” he asked.
She sat up straight, and an unreadable expression flickered over her face. “I don’t know if I could since I don’t have a place here anymore.”
“But you said you haven’t touched the money your folks left you, or the money from the sale of the house.” He pointed in the direction of the lake. “You could buy any house you wanted.”
“But I don’t have anyone keeping me here anymore.”
He scoffed. “Really? Is that right?” He pointed to his chest. “So I’m chopped liver now?”
“No, no, no. I mean, I don’t havefamilyhere.” She counted off on her fingers. “My grandparents are gone, and my folks are gone. I have cousins out west somewhere, but I don’t know them. I don’t have anyone here.”
He frowned as an ache radiated from his gut. “Seriously? What about me and my folks? You said we were your family and being here felt like you were home, but now we suddenly don’t count?”
“Of course you count. But you have your own life here.”
“I do?” He couldn’t stop his sardonic smile. “I have a life, and that’s why I texted you and begged you to come home and help me because I have my own life?” He shook his head. “I obviously need you.” He hesitated. “And I miss you—a lot.”
Her golden eyes glistened. “I miss you too,” she whispered.
Silence stretched between them for several moments while they stared at each other, and the air seemed electrified. Jake held his breath as all of his feelings for Emily rose to the surface. He longed to reach for her, pull her against him, and beg her to stay in Splendid Lake.
But then suddenly she spun back toward her computer, and the moment was gone. “So I’ll finish up the flyer, and I’ll also work on the website and the Instagram page. I’ll add the flyer to both and also detail the schedule.”
