Page 47 of Tempting Fate

Chapter Twenty

Emerson

I am out of control. I have been before, sure, but never quite like this.

I like Patch. I really, really do. And we might have only been on one date, but that doesn’t change how I feel about the connection between us.

But I don’t want to let go of Jamie, either. Not that I think spending more time with Patch will stop us from being friends or anything like that. It’s not just friendship I want from him. From either of them.

The constant circle of my thoughts puts me in a strange headspace, so that by the time I meet Patch on Monday afternoon, I’m second-guessing the whole thing. Hell, I’m even second-guessing the job. I haven’t seen the wolf again, though I’ve been back to the same area several times, but that hasn’t stopped me from staring at the footage I got for hours on end.

Cate has been watching it too. She’s called me about it more than once. She wants me to go back, and I can’t blame her. That wolf… I checked the news. Checked every social media site I could think of. No sign of one escaping, and that would have been reported, surely.

Patch grins when I get close. We’ve decided to spend today’s date at a park close to my house, and I’ve brought a little picnic lunch I hope he’ll enjoy. Now I’m having second thoughts about that, too. What if he hates it?

“Hey,” he says, jogging over to meet me. There’s more to him than just the physical, of course, but wow, he is handsome, and even more so for the way his face lights up when I smile back. He reaches out for the tote bag I have over one shoulder, but I dodge aside.

“I’ve got it, I’ve got it. Did you see anywhere good to sit?”

“Yeah, this way, come on.” He drops into step with me, so close that our hands brush with each movement. After a few seconds, I reach out and tangle our fingers together.

Patch grins at me, obviously pleased. Some of the spiky feelings from earlier soften. I like him. He likes me. He really doesn’t seem bothered about what happened with Jamie and me last week, and it’s not like I’m going to let it happen again.

I think back to Friday, to Jamie’s flushed giddiness as he told me about the job and the fact that he probably won’t have to move away. I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to be the one to initiate it this time, even though I know better, even though I hardly know him, just to let him know that I care and I’m proud of him and—

“Em?”

“Yeah, sorry?”

Patch gives me a quizzical look. “Here’s good. Right?”

We’re not far away from a pond, and I pause to take it in, breathing in the crisp afternoon air. “Yeah, here’s perfect.”

Patch doesn’t ask what had me not paying attention to him, instead helping me set out a blanket on the grass. His eyes widen as I pull food and drinks from the tote bag and my rucksack.

“Wow, Em, this—”

I flush and rub the back of my neck. “I overdid it, huh?”

“No! Fuck, no.” He grabs my hands, drawing me down onto the blanket. I have to be careful not to crush anything or knock anything over. “This is amazing. I just… I—”

“What is it?”

“I guess I feel like I should’ve done something as impressive last week.”

I squeeze his hands and then reach for one of the boxes, opening it to reveal tiny prosciutto sandwiches. “I had fun with you last week. That’s all I want.”

“Fun?”

“On our second date?” I manage a teasing grin. “Maybe it’ll be a little more fun than the first, huh?”

Patch’s eyes darken, and he leans in. I hold up the box of sandwiches before he can reach me, and he laughs, picking one from the pile. “All right. Tell me about your week, then.”

We talk about the dog again, a little, and Patch’s obvious concern makes my heart beat faster. I want to kiss him whenever he pauses to tell me how much he likes something I’ve made; I baked the scones myself, but I’m quick to let him know the rest was store-bought.

“Don’t care,” he says and leans over to brush his lips against my cheek. “It’s delicious. I’m going to have to step it up for date three, huh?”

“No.”