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Emma gave a lighthearted wave of her hand. “Oh, you know me—any excuse to put on a nice outfit.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Jeremiah observing her.
Did he know about her planned evening with Luke?
Emma forced a smile just as the hostess walked over to seat Jeremiah and Charlotte.
Charlotte nodded then waved. “Enjoy your dinner, Ms. Wright.”
“Will do, thanks!” Emma said, as she watched them vanish around a corner.
Turning on her heel, she quick-stepped to the parking lot and dialed Luke’s number.
“Hey, I’m almost there—“
“Luke. We need to go somewhere else.” Emma started pacing.
There was a pause. “Why? What do you mean?”
“Uh, your son is here with Charlotte. They already saw me all dressed up and started asking questions.”
“You’re all dressed up?”
Emma laughed. “Yes, but that’s not the point.”
“Sorry. So, what’s the new plan? I’m all ears.”
“Have you ever been to the Treehouse Café?”
“Nope. Never heard of it.”
“It’s just outside the city limits. The only time people go there is for a wedding anniversary or some other big occasion, and I doubt anyone in Hadley Cove is celebrating theirs on a Tuesday night.”
“Okay, let me pull over and put that into my GPS.” She waited a minute until he came back on the line. “This is on the other side of Hadley Cove, heading toward Bridwell Bay, right?”
She winced. “Yeah, it’s a bit of a drive, but they’re open late. I promise it’ll be worth it. Heading there now.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
Forty minutes later, Emma pulled up to the Treehouse Café, adjusted her dress, and made her way to the entrance. She went inside, her eyes darting around as she tried to find Luke, hoping she wouldn’t bump into anyone she knew.
A familiar voice rang out from behind her. “Hey there.”
Emma turned, finding Luke grinning at her.
“You did get dressed up,” he said, stepping back to look at her.
Shrugging, she scanned his suit and tie. “You did too.”
“You look beautiful, by the way,” he added with a playful wink.
“Thank you, sir. And you look rather dashing yourself.”
Luke grinned. “Thanks. Now, shall we sit down?”
“Did you already get a table?”
Luke gestured toward the seating area. “Right this way, ma’am.”
As they stepped into the grand atrium, Emma admired the stunning view of the high ceilings and tall glass windows, complemented by thick wood-paneled walls covered in heirloom paintings and hanging lanterns.
