Page 40 of Starcrossed Colorado

We kept eating, but my eyes were doing thatthingagain. The one where I kept going back to Emma. Drawn by an irresistible force. My daughter had the right idea.

Emma was shiny. Way too shiny for me.

We were almost done eating when Piper showed up with Ollie. They pulled up a table to join ours. “Are you still pissed at Callum?” Piper asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Give me a break. Did somebody write an article in the local paper? Take out an ad? It’s not that big a deal.”

“I dropped by Grace’s a few minutes ago. I was bringing her a get-well-soon package.” Piper sipped her drink. “Callum was there too.”

“I’ll call him tomorrow,” I grumbled. “Just so he’ll stop whining to everyone.”

Piper snickered. She knew she was stirring up shit.

“Is Grace doing okay?” Emma asked.

Piper swiped a tot from our basket. “She has a bad cold. It was so sweet of you to step in and watch Maisie, Em. How did it go?” Piper eyed me as she said that. Probably watching my reaction.

She liked to claim she didn’t gossip, but everyone around here gossiped. It was a small-town rule. It sucked. Especially because my private business seemed to be the topic way too often.

I drank my shake while Piper and Emma chatted, and Maisie and Ollie petted Stella. Finally, the sun was going down, and I couldn’t fit another bite into my full stomach. “We should head out soon.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.” Emma got up to use the restroom.

“I have an idea,” Piper announced, once we were alone. “Maisie should come play with Ollie for a bit. He wanted to showher his new Lego set. And you can walk Emma back to her place. Feel free to take your time.”

I knew what was going on. This was a conspiracy.

She haddefinitelybeen talking to Callum.

“Stop meddling.”

“Who, me? I don’t meddle. Just trying to be a good friend. Tobothof you.”

I stood up, collecting our baskets and napkins. “For someone who claims she’s through with love, you seem pretty interested in other people’s love lives.”

Piper shrugged. “It’s a hobby of mine.”

“Set up Grace with someone instead.”

“Believe me, I’m working on it.”

I didn’t even want to know.

But I decided to take her up on her offer. Just so I could make sure Emma got home safe. I threw away our trash, returned the baskets, and met Emma when she emerged from the ladies’ room.

“If you’re heading home after this, I can walk you. Piper’s going to keep the kids for an hour or two.”

“Okay.” Emma smiled, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Thanks.”

I kept my hands in my pockets as we walked toward the Ponderosa Apartments. I didn’t need the temptation to touch her again. Even though I wanted to, and that urge kept getting stronger.

Damn my friends and family for meddling with my business. For being so obnoxious as to want me to be happy.

A summer fling wasn’t going to make me happy. It would be nothing more than a distraction. I couldn’t afford distractions. And Emma Jennings had already turned into a big one.

Besides, why would a beautiful woman in her twenties, with a sunshiny personality and her entire future laid out for her likea buffet, want to deal with me? I came pre-loaded with a shit-ton of baggage.

“Thank you for dinner,” Emma said, holding Stella’s leash as we made our way down the sidewalk. “I had fun tonight.”

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