to ease the bite of winter. Emilia adjusted her scarf before tucking the ends into her coat.
Bennett’s gaze swept the parking lot. He tugged her closer to his side, and Emilia stiffened slightly. She surveyed the building surrounding them. There was no sign of danger, yet the threat lingered. Emilia had brief moments of normality, like inside church, but that was all. Stolen moments.
Bennett escorted her down the church steps, past the congregants gathered in small groups chitchatting. More than one head turned their way, including several pretty women.
Emilia leaned closer to Bennett and whispered, “It probably wasn’t such a great idea for me to sit with you and your family during service.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you hear all the breaking hearts when we walked in? You’re going to have to do damage control next week with your admirers.”
A flush crept across his cheeks. “I’m not interested in doing damage control. In fact, you may have saved me weeks of matchmaking. Everyone on this side of the Mason-Dixon line is trying to fix me up.”
Emilia knew Bennett was divorced. He didn’t talk about it much and she’d always sensed it was a painful topic. “You don’t want to get married again?”
“I don’t think about it. My life is busy with work, and my first marriage didn’t end well. I’m not good at being a husband.”
“I find that incredibly hard to believe. You’re kind, hardworking, considerate. And you have an amazing family. I don’t blame any of those women for trying to land you. You’re a catch, Bennett.”
He snorted. “If I’m such a catch, why didn’t you try to land me?”
Emilia’s heart clenched. A tangle of emotions warred within her, stealing her breath and her words.
Bennett seemed to realize exactly what he’d said because his flush deepened. “Never mind. Sorry, Emilia. We just got our friendship back on track and I’m mucking it up. Forget I said that.”
He hurried a few steps ahead of her to open the passenger-side door of his truck. Embarrassment radiated off his movements. It would be smarter to leave the conversation there, but Emilia couldn’t. It wasn’t fair.
She circled the open door and stopped in front of him. “You are a catch, Bennett. And I’ve thought about trying to land you.”
His gaze shot up and met hers. Emilia’s breath stalled. This close every one of the gold flecks buried in Bennett’s eyes was visible. One step more and she’d be in his arms. It took everything in her to resist.
She fiddled with her scarf. “The problem is me. My parents weren’t a good example of a functioning marriage. My dad was in and out of jail; my mom was an addict. They fought all the time. There was abuse and anger. Foster care left me bouncing from house to house. Love was a luxury I didn’t have. Somewhere along the way, I guess, I lost my faith in it. At least…for myself.”
Bennett was quiet for a long moment. He took Emilia’s hand in his, running his thumb over her knuckles. Warmth spread up her arm.
“My wife left me the day before our wedding anniversary,” Bennett said. “I had no idea she was unhappy in our marriage. Or maybe, Julie didn’t want me to know. It took me a long time to realize we had different views on marriage. Our divorce was painful. I didn’t think I’d be capable of risking my heart again. I’d also lost my faith in love.”
“What changed your mind?”
“I met you.” His lips curved into a smile. “You swept into town and blew me away with your brains and strength. Not to mention your beauty. For the first time since my divorce, I started thinking about a different future.”
She sucked in a breath. No one had ever said such beautiful things to her. “Bennett, even if I could get past my family history…”
Derrick’s attack had changed things. She was plagued by memories and haunted by nightmares. The last year had been a constant struggle to put one foot in front of the other. Therapy had helped, but she still didn’t feel normal. Emilia feared she never would.
Bennett released her hand. “Don’t worry, Emilia. I know it’s impossible. Serial killers and near-death experiences aren’t part of your average love story.”
No, they weren’t. Emilia didn’t know how to reconcile her feelings for Bennett with the horrors she’d endured. The threat against her wasn’t even over. It was better to stick to their friendship and leave the rest behind.
“Are you sorry I said something?” Emilia asked.
“Not a bit,