Page 41 of Holding Ground

“Yes, of course. I’ll see what I can do. I spoke to the town council members last week, but they’re going to take input from the citizens. What the townspeople think matters to them.”

She listens to the person on the other line again.

“I’d like to put those protections into place. I think it will go a long way toward getting everyone on board. At least consider it.”

She’s quiet again, for longer this time. Her boss, I’m assuming, isn’t agreeing.

“Yes, sir. I’ll have my next report for you next week. Have a good weekend.” She must hang up because I hear her blow out a breath, then she grumbles something I can’t make out.

That was not what I expected. Not at all. It almost sounded as though she was on my side. That she genuinely wants what’s best for Echo Lake.

Is it possible Emelia isn’t the underhanded, corporate mercenary I thought she was? Was I wrong about her?

It’s an uncomfortable truth that settles like a splinter in my chest. Because all those reasons I had to keep her at arm’s length despite my attraction now feel null and void, except for one—she’s leaving.

For the first time, it feels as if maybe I’m actually seeing her for who she is, and now it feels dangerous.

I hear the chair on the deck scrape back, and I blink, coming back to myself. I quickly pull some groceries from the bag on the counter, and by the time she walks into the kitchen through the sliding door, I’m already washing the potatoes in the sink.

“Hey, I’m just getting started on dinner. You in?”

“If that’s okay with you.”

I clear my throat. “Of course. I’d never hear the end of it from Baylor if I said anything otherwise.” I keep my voice light and casual, even if my mind is playing its own war.

She offers me a small smile. “I’m going to go say hello to her. I assume she’s in her room?”

I nod and turn my attention back to the sink, listening to her footsteps growing farther and farther away.

Once I hear her go into Baylor’s room, I can breathe again.

After I’ve gotten Baylor to sleep, I throw on a hoodie, grab a beer, and head out onto the dock to relax. There aren’t many nights left before it will be too cold to do this, so I like to enjoy them while I can.

It seems Emelia had the same idea because she’s snuggled up in one of the Adirondack chairs with a blanket and a glass of wine. A couple of weeks ago, I probably would have turned around the moment I saw her, but now the urge to retreat doesn’t come.

“Hey, mind if I join you?”

She must’ve heard me coming because she doesn’t startle at my voice. “’Course not.”

I could sit in one of the loungers on the other side of the deck. Instead, I sit in the Adirondack chair beside her.

Neither of us says anything at first. Emelia’s chin tilts up, face turned toward the stars, taking in the dark blanket of sparkles covering the sky, while I take in the curve of her neck and imagine pressing my lips there.

None of these are good signs.

I consider bringing up her conversation with what must have been her boss earlier but think better of it.

In the end, Emelia is the first to speak. “Baylor is really great, Elliott. She’s quite something.” She rolls her head and meets my gaze in the dark.

“She is, though I’m not sure how much credit I can take. I think she’s just built that way.” I take a pull from my beer.

Emelia shrugs. “I think you’re selling yourself short. I come from a big family with a lot of kids, and they don’t come out of the womb like her.”

We laugh quietly, and it grows quiet again for just long enough to feel a little awkward.

“Can I ask you something?” she asks. “And if you don’t want to talk about it, just say so, and I’ll drop the subject.”

My stomach twists because I think I might know where this conversation is headed. “Sure.”