I want Emmett here.
Iwanthim to like me.
Three pairs of eyes slide to me, waiting for my answer.
“Because I’m still trying to shake one complication, and Emmett Slate feels like a whole different kind of trouble.”
“I like trouble.”
“You’re married to trouble,” I remind her before I add, “We can just be friends. It doesn’t need to be more.”
It’s the safest bet. He gets to recover, there’s no drama, no blurred lines. No one walking away with more than they bargained for.
In theory.
“If you say so,” Briar says, teasing but filled with love.
“I do.” This time, I make it sound like I believe it.
Just as long as he keeps his damn shirt on.
“This always goes too fast,” Briar says, checking her phone. “Time to get back to the shop.”
We head back toward Summit Street, the four of us falling into step like we always do. As we walk, though, my head is a mess.
Normally, talking to my girls helps.
Not this time.
The more I try to make sense of what’s happening between Emmett and me, the more tangled it gets.
And I hate not having a handle on things.
Then I see him.
The man throwing me for a loop is sitting on the bench outside of the General Store, bags piled at his feet.
He’s not alone.
Atlas Kane, Harlowe’s boyfriend and Timberline Peak’s favorite veterinarian, stands next to him, one hand braced on the back of the bench like he’s mid-conversation.
“Baby, what are you doing here?” Harlowe asks, sliding under Atlas’s arm.
“Picking up a few things for the office. I recognized this guy from the paper and thought I’d help. It’s the least I could do.”
“What a waste of paper,” Emmett grumbles. “Should’ve been about Harlowe and the crew.”
“Aren’t small towns fun?” Harlowe says.
“Be glad they used a flattering picture,” I add. “And that Becky wouldn’t let them in to interview you.”
He frowns up at me.
“They tried.”
“Wonderful,” Emmett says.
“You look better than the last time I saw you,” Harlowe tells him.
