Page 32 of Right Where You Left Me
“Probably really great things.” I deadpan.
She laughs and I can feel the ice inside me melt even more. We chat more about our friends from college. I guess she still speaks to a few of them which makes me a little mad, since she cut me out of her life back then. But, I have to remember that sheexplained why. And her reason, even if it did hurt like hell, was valid.
“Sage, I’m sorry again. For how I handled things back then.” She says softly. Her fork messing with a swirl of pasta on her plate. “I feel really guilty about it still.”
“It’s okay.” I watch her fidget and decide in this moment that I can try to let it all go. I don’t want her to feel guilty anymore. I reach over and still the hand that’s messing with her fork and squeeze it slightly. “I forgive you.”
Her eyes well up and I squeeze a little more. “Now, finish up your dinner because I want dessert.” Her wet laugh makes my chest feel tight. Fuck me, I do have it bad. River is going to give me so much shit about this when I tell him about what is absolutely a fucking date. We joke around and the conversation never dies down as we finish our food and when the waiter comes to ask if we want dessert we both say an enthusiastic yes. She orders tiramisu and I ask for cannolis.
The little moan she lets out at her first bite should be illegal to hear in public. Good Lord. I can feel my cheeks heating, among other places, from just that small sound. I clear my throat. “So, why desserts?”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “It’s more than desserts, as you well know. You help me stock the pastry case at the cafe. But to answer your question, I’ve always loved baking. It’s the one thing that has always made me feel at peace and confident in my abilities. It’s… calming. I love the science to it, that everything has to be exact or things won’t turn out properly. But that there is also a lot of wiggle room when it comes to flavors. I think that’s my favorite part of all, trying new combinations of things to create unique flavors, and having people I love try them. It’s sharing my heart with as many people as I can in a way.” She shrugs as if that isn’t the sweetest thing I have ever fucking heard.
“Well,” I say with a flourish. “I love a cupcake. I am hopeless when it comes to making them, but I sure can eat them. You should teach me.” I wink and internally fist pump when her cheeks turn that cute pink again.
Emma laughs, her eyes sparkling. “I can teach you how to make whatever you want, Sage.”
This is it. If I thought I had any chance at keeping my distance from this woman, that is shot to hell now. How did I think I ever had the strength to in the first place? Emma is like a warm hug inside and out. Those piercing eyes see straight into your soul and I don’t think it’s possible to actually hate her. And I’m finding that Piper may have been right after all, I don’t think I ever actually did.
“You ready to get out of here?” I ask softly, our desserts gone now.
She nods. “I’ll grab the check.”
I scoff. “The fuck you will.” She stares at me for a second before she tries to argue. I shake my head and flag our waiter down, handing him my card before Emma can even try to pay.
“Sage!”
I shrug. “If you actually wanted to pay for it, you would have moved quicker.”
She grumbles under her breath while we wait for him to come back.Adorable.I make sure to tip well and guide Emma with a hand on her lower back as we make our way out to the parking lot. Neither of us saying anything until we reach Emma’s car. She hesitates, her hand on her car door handle, before she turns to face me. “Sage?”
I cock a brow. “Yeah?”
“I want to do something before I go.”
“Um. Okay? Do you want to go—” My words are cut off by the softest lips I’ve ever had the pleasure of feeling. My arms instinctively wrap around her, pulling her in closer. God, she’sso fucking soft. My hand snakes up into her thick hair and I tug lightly, pulling her head back so I can deepen our kiss. My tongue teases the seam of her mouth. She lets out one of those little moans like she did inside and I almost lose it right here in the parking lot ofGiovanni’s. I force myself to pull back and when I do the air is knocked out of my lungs, because Emma is grinning at me with hazy, heavy lidded eyes.
She looks so fucking beautiful.
“I’ll, um, see you at the cafe tomorrow?” She asks softly.
“Uh, yeah. Yes. I will be there.” I manage to rasp out.
She leans in and gives me one last small kiss before turning and getting in her car. “See you tomorrow, Sage.”
I wave dumbly as she drives away.
Holy shit. I kissed Emma Newton. And I want to do it again.
CHAPTER 13
Emma
“Arthur.” I watch as the old man takes his plate of cinnamon rolls from Piper. “Just because they’re sugar free doesn’t mean you can have a plate full of those. I’m pretty confident your wife would want me to take at least two of those back from you.”
“You made them forme,and what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” He grumbles, glaring at me before winking.
“She will if I tell her.” Piper chirps. “And you aren’t the only diabetic in this town, Arthur.”
