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“Yes! We totally should.”
As the conversation wrapped up, Emma joined the others in cleaning the kennels and feeding the animals. It was always a humbling experience for her to see the resilience of these animals who had been abandoned or abused. They still had so much love to give, and she felt privileged to be a part of their journey in finding a forever home.
After a few hours of hard work, it was time for a break. Emma grabbed a bottle of water and sat in the courtyard, where Liam and Charlotte were walking some of the dogs.
While she sipped her water, Liam’s words from the car ride replayed in her mind: Life has a mysterious way of bringing people together when we least expect it.
She thought back to her lunch with Luke and how the honest sparkle in his eyes and the softness in his voice made her momentarily forget the outside world. Their conversation had, at times, drifted beyond mere small talk, making her wonder about life’s what-ifs.
Emma closed her eyes, letting the sun kiss her face as those what-ifs swirled like falling leaves. She felt an unsettling mix of nostalgia, longing, and caution course through her—remnants of her history with Chad. Yet her heart whispered truths her mind dared not voice: she couldn’t ignore the undeniable connection between her and Luke.
She shook her head, clearing away the thoughts. It was simpler to label what they had as just two lives intersecting briefly in a small town. Friends, nothing more.
But as the sunlight played with the shadows, in the quiet corners of her heart, perhaps there was a wish for something more.
12
Luke
Checking his watch, Luke called up the stairs. “Jer, come on—we’ve got to go!”
“Be right there!” Jeremiah’s voice resonated through the house as he descended the staircase.
“Didn’t mean to yell,” Luke explained, opening and shutting the front door. “Just want you to be on time for your first day at the rescue. That’s all.”
On the drive over, Jeremiah didn’t speak a word. Luke suspected he wasn’t excited about doing community service but hoped this experience might change his mind.
As they pulled up to the animal rescue, they were greeted by a chorus of eager barks and the chirping of birds in a nearby tree. Luke’s eyes traced the charming outlines of the building: the bold red door and the pristine white trim framing the stories of many rescued souls. The architecture was reminiscent of a small cottage, with a pitched roof and small windows accented with flower boxes. A polished brass sign hanging above the entrance featured a silhouette of a cat and a dog—it had been engraved with Second Chance Animal Rescue.
When Luke got out of the car, he saw the girl from the sheriff’s station standing a couple of yards away. He glanced over at Jeremiah, thinking he would be thrilled to work with her, especially after he had protected her from her ex-boyfriend. Instead, Jeremiah’s face turned red and he lowered his head, walking over to Luke.
“I changed my mind. I’d rather do the roadside cleanup,” Jeremiah whispered.
Luke raised a brow. “What? Why?”
Jeremiah shrugged, avoiding eye contact. “It’s no big deal. I think it might be better for me.”
“You’re here now. Give it a shot, son,“ Luke urged gently.
Jeremiah stormed off, brushing past him.
Luke shook his head as he grabbed the community service form from the center console and went inside.
“Here,” Luke said, holding out the form to Jeremiah. “Don’t forget you need them to sign it after you’re finished.”
Jeremiah snatched it from his hand and handed it to the woman behind the desk.
She looked surprised to see him. “Hey, I think I remember you. From the sheriff’s office, right?” the woman said, looking at Jeremiah.
“Yeah, that was me,” Jeremiah murmured.
“Thanks again for what you did for my daughter. I’m Kara, by the way. I’ll give you a tour of the rescue, and then we’ll get you started,” she said, leading the way to the kennels.
Luke flashed a smile at Kara and then directed his attention to Jeremiah. “I’ll pick you up in a few hours, okay?”
Jeremiah didn’t reply, ignoring him completely.
Luke let out a sigh then made his way back to the parking lot. As he swung the door open, a sudden rush of warmth and the soft scent of a familiar perfume hit him before he realized he’d knocked into Emma and an older man entering from the opposite direction.
