Emily discussed the details of her plans for the website, but Jake was lost in his thoughts. What would life be like if Emily returned to Splendid Lake permanently? They could spend every weekend together. They would share everything with each other. They could possibly expand their friendship.
Take it to the next level?
His pulse pounded at the idea.
“Jake?” she asked, slamming him back to the present. “Are you okay?”
He sat up straight and cleared his throat. “Yeah. Sorry.” He pointed to the screen. “Everything sounds great. Thanks for doing it.” He stood. “I’m going to head home. I need to shower and feed Dusty. I haven’t been home since lunch, and she’s probably starving.”
“Okay.” She nodded, but her features pinched with concern. “See you tomorrow.”
He moved to the door and then tapped the knob. “You should think about staying. Seriously.” He headed down the stairs and tried to shove away the yearning that was building inside him.
But more than ever, he wanted to know if Emily cared for him the way he cared for her.
He planned to find out soon.
Chapter 11
The fire crackled and popped on Wednesday evening, sending its glowing red tentacles reaching toward the dark sky. Behind the flames, tiny waves lapped against the sandy beach while fiery reflections danced on the water in the cool mid-September night.
Emily and Jake, along with Seth, Andi, and Vince, had spent the past week tirelessly renovating the inside of the barn. They started by fixing the floor before moving to the walls. After painting the entire inside of the barn, they began to assemble the booths for the market, using movable shelves and walls to accommodate multiple vendors. The barn was actually starting to look like a market, and Emily couldn’t wait to see the final product on opening day. The entire project had gone so smoothly that she was convinced they’d be done by the end of the week.
Aside from working on the barn, Emily had also spent the last week contemplating her conversation with Jake in her bedroom. She couldn’t stop thinking about how he’d nearly begged her to stay in Splendid Lake. A lump expanded in her throat as sherecalled the mist in his blue eyes. He’d seemed wounded when she explained there was no family to keep her here anymore. There was something in his eyes that felt almost like...
Love.
No, no, no.
She had to be misinterpreting it all. If Jake truly loved her as more than a friend, then he could let go of Claire. Emily couldn’t bear the thought of staying in Splendid Lake and watching Jake and Claire get back together, let alone get married and start a family. It would rip her heart out. And that was why she was better off going back to Charlotte and working on getting her life together after the orchard was up and running.
But leaving this time would be more difficult than the last.
She shivered and hugged her arms to her waist.
“Cold?”
Jake shifted toward her, and she breathed in his aroma—laundry soap and sandalwood mixed with the fire. He shucked his sherpa-lined jean jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Here.”
“Thanks,” she said, pushing her arms into the sleeves and hugging the jacket against her body. She couldn’t help but press her nose against a sleeve to bask in his warm, comforting smell.
She snuck a glance at Jake and savored the view of him in the flickering firelight. He wore a gray-and-blue-plaid shirt, his signature worn blue jeans that fit him oh so well, and work boots, along with his Mets cap. She wanted to run her fingers against the blond scruff lining his jaw. And boy, did his blue eyes sparkle in the light of the bonfire.
The sound of his laughter at something Seth said broke her out of the spell for a moment. Emily shook her head. She needed to make sure no one knew she was mesmerized by this man.
At that moment, her fingers itched to grab her sketchbookand draw Jake looking so heart-stoppingly hot on this beautiful autumn night. It would be the perfect drawing. No, if she had her easel, it would be the perfectpainting—one she would cherish forever.
Emily felt someone watching her. When she turned toward Andi, her friend was smirking.
Great. Andi caught her mooning over Jake.
Oh well. Who could blame her? The man was drop-dead gorgeous!
“This is the best fire,” Andi announced. “And I didn’t manage to light up my shoe this time!”
Everyone laughed.
“That’s because Jake and I set up the fire, and you and Em didn’t, babe.” Seth drew his wife against him and kissed her before releasing her.
