in the future, especially if we continued the way we had been.
Wednesday evening Greg phoned. I saw his number on caller ID and closed my eyes before answering.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi.”
He hesitated and I figured that wasn’t a good sign.
“I’ve done a lot of thinking in the last few days.”
I bit into my lower lip. “I figured as much.”
“It’s been over three years since Julie died and, Jo Marie, I haven’t felt anything for another woman the way I feel about you. I’m sorry if I overreacted on Sunday and I’m hoping you’ll give me another chance.”
I exhaled a lengthy sigh. “I’d like that, Greg.”
“So would I,” he said.
Two weeks had passed since I’d twisted my ankle and I was able to walk just fine. Other than the one visit when I’d made an excuse not to talk to Nick, I hadn’t heard from him again. It was for the best, especially since he now knew the truth about me. Logically, I knew that, but it still hurt. As best I could, I put him out of my mind, not that I had much success.
I hadn’t gone back to running, telling myself I needed to give the ankle a rest for fear of straining it again. The truth was I wanted to avoid any chance encounter with Nick.
As summer was winding down and I still hadn’t found a house to purchase, I figured in the interim my best bet was to look for an apartment or a rental house. I enjoyed living with Jo Marie, but she’d agreed to let me stay only for the summer.
Rather than feeling rushed into making a regrettable decision, I located an apartment complex close to Cedar Ridge Elementary and signed a six-month lease starting September first. That way the pressure was off. I could take my time looking for property and refused to settle for less than what I wanted.
Dana, the real estate agent I’d been working with, had exhausted all the available homes for sale in my price range in the Cedar Cove area, and we’d decided to extend our search south to Gig Harbor and north to Silverdale. If I found what I wanted there, then eventually I’d need to transfer to another school in one of those districts rather than commute. There was nothing tying me to Cedar Cove. Sure, I enjoyed the town and the few friends I’d made, but I’d do just as well in either of the other communities Dana had mentioned.
I was getting ready to meet her when Jo Marie announced I had company. She wore a big smile, and I should have guessed who it was from that alone.
When I came into the foyer, I found Nick, holding a bag of cookies. I blinked and my heart took off for another time zone at a speed that made me breathless.
“Hey,” he said in the typical way he greeted me.
I shouldn’t have been this happy, but holding back a smile would have been impossible. My heart slammed repeatedly against my ribs to the point I was sure he would notice. “You brought me cookies,” I said once I found my voice.
“They’re store-bought.”
My smile grew even bigger.
His smile faded and his eyes grew serious. “I figured it was time you and I talked.”
I glanced at my watch and sighed with disappointment. “I’d like that, Nick, I really would. Unfortunately, I’ve got an appointment.”
“You can’t make it for another time?”
“Sorry, no. I canceled the last appointment with Dana when I twisted my ankle.”
“And Dana is?” He raised his brow with the question.
“My real estate agent.”
“That’s right, you mentioned you’re buying property; I’d forgotten.”
“I haven’t had much success.”
“Where are you looking?”
“We’re going to Silverdale this afternoon.”
He frowned. “I thought you said you have a job here in Cedar Cove.”
“I do, but if I find a house I like in Silverdale I’ll find a position in the Central Kitsap School District next year.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Well, because I wouldn’t need to make the commute.” Certainly he could appreciate that.
His forehead creased with a frown. “I thought you liked Cedar Cove. I don’t want you to move.”
I didn’t want to move, either, but it was what it was.
“I’m serious, Emily. Please, don’t move.”
The doorbell rang then, and before I could answer, Nick took it upon himself to open the door. Dana stood on the other side and blinked back her surprise when she saw Nick.
His eyes widened. “I know you,” he announced. “You’re that agent who kept coming to the house.”