AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When Emma unlatched the door and pulled it open, Riley’s tail kicked into overdrive, wagging frantically as if he sensed a familiar presence.
Emma stretched and yawned. “Lisa? You’re up early.”
With one hand holding Tupperware, Lisa reached down to give Riley a scratch behind the ears. “You always know how to make someone feel welcome, don’t you boy?” Straightening up, she looked at Emma. “You’re gonna love what I brought.”
“What’d you bring?” Emma followed Lisa as she breezed by into the kitchen, with Riley trailing behind.
Lisa set the container on the table and lifted the lid. “Your favorite—blueberry pancakes!”
Emma’s mind flooded with the nostalgia of childhood mornings at her grandma’s house. Even as an adult, blueberry pancakes always brought her back to those cherished times. “You didn’t!” Her mouth dropped. “So, to what do I owe this early morning pancake delivery?” she asked, still marveling at the surprise as she moved to grab plates and utensils.
Lisa shrugged, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “I just thought it would be a nice way to start the day. Besides, it’s been a while since we caught up.”
“That it has,” Emma said, setting a plate in front of Lisa and another for herself. Riley watched intently as she began serving the pancakes, perhaps hopeful one would fall his way.
As the aroma of fresh blueberry pancakes filled the air, Emma felt grateful for the simple joys that made life sweeter—even if it meant starting her day a bit earlier than planned.
After grabbing the syrup, Emma took to the coffeemaker, preparing a brew, then fetched two mugs from the shelf above the sink. Turning, she noticed Lisa’s fingers tapping against the smooth surface of the table.
“So, anything new happening lately?” Lisa asked.
Emma sat down and picked up her fork. “Not really. Business is good, and my summer tutoring sessions are starting back up soon.”
“Is that really it?”
Emma took a bite of her pancake, shaking her head. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to tell you.”
“Are you telling me you don’t know what everyone’s saying?”
“No, I don’t.” Emma scrunched her forehead.
“The word around town is that you’re seeing Hadley Cove’s most eligible bachelor. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me first!”
Emma’s fork danced around her plate, picking up another piece of pancake. Before responding, she enjoyed another mouthful, savoring its warmth and syrupy goodness. “I’m not following.”
“Tall, dark, and handsome. A butt that looks great in jeans...new in town? I’m quoting your old neighbor,” Lisa said, wiping her face with a napkin. “She told me you went over to his house.”
Emma paused. A faint blush crept up her cheeks when she realized whom Lisa was referring to. “Yeah, I went to Luke’s to pick up Riley.”
“Well, apparently everyone in town is talking about the date y’all had at Phil’s.”
Emma rolled her eyes and leaned back. “Date? It was just lunch. And everyone in town? Really?”
“Mm-hmm.” A devilish grin spread across Lisa’s face as she rose to pour the coffee. “So, I’m gonna ask you again, why didn’t you tell me first?”
Emma turned back to her pancakes, shaking her head and chuckling. The Hadley Cove grapevine was nothing short of astounding. The speed and scale at which misinformation could be circulated was mind-boggling.
“Are you denying it?” Lisa teased. “Because I can always tell when you’re lying.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” Emma set down her utensils and made eye contact with Lisa. “And no, I’m not lying. Do you really think I’d keep something like that from you?”
“Maybe. But only to make me suffer.” Lisa pouted with a playful frown.
While Lisa’s words were lighthearted, a deeper urgency pulsed beneath Emma’s need to set things straight. “I went over to his house and picked up Riley. He asked me a few things about the house, and I left. Then I saw him the next day on the beach, and we had lunch together...as friends. That’s all that happened.”
“So, you think you’ll run into him again anytime soon?”
Emma raised her shoulders in a slight shrug. “Probably. Easy to do that here. But just because we may bump into each other occasionally doesn’t mean I’m seeing him. We just met.”
