Page 39 of Forget me Knot
I tidy up the counter, my mind racing. Emily is upstairs, probably scared out of her wits, and here I am, worrying about alpha drama and how to get my wandering thoughts off Sam Knightley.Get a grip, Lily.
“I’m going to check on Emily.”
Jack nods. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. We don’t want her to have second thoughts and be planning her escape. I’ll hold down the fort.”
Nodding and worrying about the state of my shop when I return, I head upstairs and open the front door. “Emily? It’s just me. Are you okay?”
There’s a shuffling sound, and then Emily’s voice comes from the kitchen. “Yeah, I’m okay.” I’m delighted to see she has a sandwich in her hand that she seems to be enjoying. “Any news?”
“Not yet. Sam’s gone to chat with his and George’s family about taking you in for a while,” I explain.
Emily’s eyes widen and her cheeks flush at the mention of George. “Do you think they’ll be okay with taking in a stranger? One that might bring danger to their door?”
Sighing, I give her an honest answer. “I’m not sure. I don’t know them personally, but Jack does, and Sam is a town hero. Only good people could have raised him. Is that okay? We can look elsewhere if you’re not comfortable.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m becoming a burden, and I hate that.”
“Hey,” I say, going to her and placing my hand on her shoulder. “You are not a burden. None of this is your fault.”
“Thanks,” she mutters. “I’m scared.”
“I know. But I trust Jack with my life. He was the one who helped rescue me. He wouldn’t steer us wrong about this. If he thinks Sam and George’s family are safe, then I trust him.”
“Okay,” she says, but I can see the worry still lingering. I don’t blame her. I just wish I could keep her here. But right now, that isn’t an option for either one of us.
“Thanks, Lily. For everything.”
I give her a reassuring smile, but inside, I’m a mess. I need to figure out what I want out of Jack and possibly Sam and, by proxy,Max, insert eye roll, before my heat hits. This is getting way too complicated for my liking, but I know Jack and I can’t go on like this. It isn’t fair to either of us.
As I head back downstairs, I catch Jack waiting for me. “How is she?”
“Scared. Don’t shout at me, but can we really trust Sam’s family pack with her?”
He gives me a soft stare. “Yes. I wouldn’t have said if I knew otherwise or didn’t know at all.”
Our eyes meet, and for a moment, I forget about everything else for just a second before he clears his throat and steps back.
“Right,” he says. “Back to work, I suppose.”
“Yeah.”
The rest of the afternoon drags on. I serve customers, arrange bouquets, and try to act like everything’s normal. But my eyes keep darting to the door, half-expecting Nigel to barge in at any moment.
Jack helps around the shop, pretending to water plants or rearrange displays. It’s comforting, but also a bit distracting. Every time he brushes past me, I get a whiff of his scent, and it sends my stomach into knots.
“Any word from Sam?” I ask, breaking the silence that’s fallen between us.
Jack checks his phone. “Not yet. But no news is good news, right?”
I’m not so sure, but I nod anyway. “Yeah, suppose so.”
As closing time approaches, I start to feel antsy. The street outside is quieting down, paving the way for idiot enforcers to try their luck.
“I might as well lock up,” I murmur, trying to control my nervousness.
Jack looks up from his place behind a bunch of carnations. “Might as well. I’ll do a quick sweep outside first, make sure the coast is clear.”
He slips out the door. I chew my lip until he comes back inside, locking the door behind him.
