Page 68 of Speak from the Heart

“Did he say that? Say not to love Katie?”

“Yes.”

Tricia stares at me, blinking rapidly. “I . . . I’ll never understand men. What an idiot.” She chuckles as she shakes her head in disbelief. “I’m going to tell you something about my brother even though I probably shouldn’t. He won’t shut up about you. From the moment you entered town, it’s been Emily this and Emily that. First, you were always pissing him off, and that’s because he didn’t know what to do with you. Said you were always showing up wherever he was. When Katie took an interest in you, it just confused him more. Then his tune shifted, and he started acting like you’re some miracle worker by introducing Katie to sign language and the communication app. Then he sang more praises about you and smiled more often and started sneaking off to see you. He’s included you in every family function lately, which he has never ever done with a woman, and he’s . . . he’s fucking happy . . . so I do not understand. If that’s not an interested man, I don’t know what is.”

I quietly retort, “There are those lies we wish were truths.”

+ + +

After returning to Nana’s, I couldn’t seem to concentrate on any one task, so I gave up. With a beach bag over my shoulder and sunglasses on my face, I decide I deserve some beach time before I leave Elk Lake City. I exit Nana’s through the screened-in porch and walk around the house to find Jess sitting on the front porch steps. He’s wearing board shorts, a T-shirt, and dark aviator sunglasses over his eyes. He’s a beach boy dream today, and I marvel at the many variations of Jess Carter.

“What are you doing?”

“I knocked, but you didn’t answer.”

“I was upstairs, I guess.” How did I not hear him? He reaches beside him and holds up a Styrofoam container. “I brought you lunch. It’s the Rotary Club’s famous barbecue chicken and coleslaw.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Tricia said she couldn’t convince you to come to the tent.”

“Was she supposed to?” I question. She hadn’t mentioned lunch.

“My family is sending in reinforcements because apparently, I’m an idiot.” He pauses and gazes out at my yard. He avoids looking directly at me. “They aren’t wrong. I’m always apologizing to you.”

He shifts his attention and glances up at me from behind his sunglasses.

“I can’t believe I accused you of wanting Gabe when I know you’re too smart for a man like him. And I shouldn’t have blurted out to the entire fucking bar his indiscretion with my wife. I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing I still held it against him.”

“It’s a pretty big thing, though,” I admit as I recall my own surprise at his forgiveness.

“I knew if I told everyone, it wouldn’t be him who looked like an ass, but me. I’m the one who failed so much at my own marriage that another man took my place in our bed.” He sits straighter and exhales. “Only I didn’t fail Deb. She failed me. We had vows and promises, and we should have sought therapy. Hell, we probably should have never been married, but I can’t undo the past. I can only live in the present.”

Live for now.

I step up the few treads and take a seat next to him on the porch. My stomach rumbles, and he turns to me.

“Eat. That’s the best chicken ever.”

I open the lid, ripping away the top to better balance the square container on my lap. Jess makes no movement to leave, so I unwrap the plastic utensils before cutting into the meat. I take my first bite and groan at the delicious flavor.

“Can’t blame a man like Gabe for wanting you.” He sighs, and I feel the weight of his eyes on the side of my face. His glance falls to my lips after I finish another bite. “You’re sort of perfect.”

I swallow the remaining piece in my mouth before teasing him in return. “Only sort of?”

“I wasted a night,” he whispers. His voice is full of regret. “Actually, two.” I immediately recall all the touches and kisses over the past week. The way he caresses my body, outlines my form, and touches my skin sets me ablaze. I’m a live wire near him, always waiting to connect with something and spark.

He glances out at the street and watches as a family, laden with beach gear, walks past the house. The couple waves, and Jess lifts a hand in recognition.

“Where’s Katie?” I ask before I stick my fork into the tender poultry once more.

“My mom has her at the beach. I need to get there soon for the sandcastle building competition. Champion designer right here,” he teases, patting at his light gray tee-covered chest. “Come with me. Forgive me again, if you can. Spend the day with us.”

“Your stubbornness is unnerving,” I mock, bumping his shoulder with mine to let him know I’m teasing him. However, the back and forth is a little unsettling, and my emotions are all over the place.

“And you’re pushy,” he retorts as he wraps an arm over my shoulder and tugs me to him. His lips meet mine briefly. “But I like it when you push me. You unnerve me.”

There’s a compliment in his voice, but like so many things about this man, I can’t get a solid read on it.