He scrubbed his hand over his face. What did he have to say in order to make her understand that he was over her?
“Listen to me,” he began, his words measured. “I’ll always care about you, but we’re done. We’re no longer a couple, and we never will be again. What we had is in the past. Do you hear me? It’s over.Over!”
She stilled, and they studied each other for what felt like several moments.
Suddenly a devious smile overtook her lips. “That’s what you think.”
“What did you say?” he asked as a feeling of foreboding wafted over him.
But instead of answering, Claire climbed in her car, started the engine, and drove away.
The alarm clock blared next to Jake’s head. He groaned and rolled over. He’d slept in fits all night long. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Emily’s hurt expression at supper and then Claire’s deceptive smile.
His mind replayed Claire’s kiss over and over again. When herlips touched his, he’d felt nothing—nothing at all. No spark, no excitement, and no love.
But as Claire kissed him, he also realized that he did love one person—Emily.
He loved her wholly and completely with his entire heart. And while his ex was kissing him, all he could think was that he wanted to be with Emily and only Emily. Claire had done him a favor by making him realize just how much he loved Emily.
He loved her.Loved her.
And he wanted Emily in his life for the rest of it. He wanted her by his side forever. He just needed to find the right moment to tell her.
In the middle of the night, he’d considered going to his parents’ house and knocking on Emily’s bedroom door to tell her what had happened between him and Claire and also confess all the feelings in his heart. Twice he’d gotten out of bed, gotten dressed, and started for the door. But when he realized it was three in the morning, he changed his mind. He didn’t want to scare his parents or her, but he couldn’t wait to tell her how he felt. No matter what happened with the orchard—whether he had to sell it or the situation turned around—he wanted Emily by his side, and he prayed she felt the same way.
After a long, hot shower, Jake shaved and dressed before jogging out to the kitchen, where Dusty wove herself between his legs, meowing and purring for her morning meal.
“Hey, Dusty,” he sang while he filled her bowl with a fishy breakfast. “It’s a great day, girl. You know why? Because I’m going to tell Em that I love her. Do you think she’ll say she loves me too?” He set the bowl down, and the cat began inhaling the food. “Well, I’ll take that as a yes. See ya later, kitty.”
He grabbed his phone and headed out into the bright morning sun. The sky was blue and cloudless, but the late September air was cool. The perfect fall day.
While he walked toward his parents’ house, he opened his Instagram app and immediately found a post on the orchard’s page highlighting the grand opening and the anniversary celebration. He scrolled through the photos—and all of them were gorgeous views of the orchard. He smiled. Emily was the best at what she did. She was the best at everything. And she was his. He just had to make it permanent.
He checked the orchard’s other social media pages, and all of them had been updated with photos and new appeals for customers to join them for the celebration.
Pocketing his phone, Jake jogged up the steps and entered his parents’ house. He expected to find his parents and Emily in the kitchen, but only Mom and Dad were there. He waved to them as he entered the room.
“Morning,” Mom said.
“Mornin’.” Jake swiped a piece of bacon off a platter on the table. “Where’s Em?”
Mom pointed toward the door. “She was up and out of the house early. She left me a note saying that she’d eaten and would see me later.”
“Huh.” He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. It rang once before going straight to voicemail. Strange. Maybe her ringer was off. He picked up a toasted bagel. “Can I have this?”
“Sure,” Mom said.
He smothered it in cream cheese, placed it on a napkin, and then started for the door. “See ya later.”
He ate the bagel on the way to the barn, where he found thevendors setting up for the day. He waved to them. “Have you seen Emily?”
Mona shook her head. “Nope.”
He asked Warren, but the man had the same answer.
Jake traipsed out to the plein air area, where he found Emily’s easel and supplies set up, but no sign of his favorite artist. So odd. Where was she?
He headed over to the cashiers and spotted his girlfriend talking to Maddy and Sidney, and his heart skipped a beat. He was definitely becoming an old sap, but that realization made him grin. “Hey! I’ve been looking all over for you.”
