Page 26 of Inevitable
I was right the morning I’d left that beach house.
Thoughts of Emmahadhaunted me for a very long time.
I’d had my share of regrets about the way things had ended between us.
I’d often wondered exactly what would have happened if we had stayed in touch.
Probably nothing.
I’d changed after my injury, and I’d spent a long time recovering.
I’d pushed everyone away so I could wallow in my misery alone.
No doubt I would have pushed Emma away, too.
Over the years, I’d decided that the way things had ended between Emma and me had been for the best.
“We’re going to keep in touch this time,” Emma said in a stubborn voice.
“We will,” I assured her. “I plan on being your assigned advisor after this is over. Last Hope never just cuts our victims loose after a kidnapping. Your confinement was short, but issues could pop up well after this is over. Even the bravest of captives suffer some PTSD. We have people who can help with that if you need it. I’m going to be there for you, Emma.”
“I’m going to be there for you, too,” she insisted. “I don’t just want to keep in touch with some kind of advisor. I want to be your friend, Colin.”
This time, I did smile.
A little.
As much as a guy like me was capable of smiling.
Emma was probably the most obstinate woman I’d ever known. When she got something into her head, she didn’t let go.
Would it really hurt to go along with her plan?
Nope.
Truth was, I wanted to keep her in my life, too.
Screw my attraction to her.
I’d have to live with it because there was no way that Emma was going to feel that kind of attraction toward me.
I’d have to get the fuck over it if I wanted to keep her in my life.
“Agreed,” I said.
“Can you stay with me for a little while once we get back to Cherry Cove?” she asked hesitantly.
The vulnerability in her voice got to me.
My immediate reaction would usually be to get back to San Diego and my headquarters as soon as possible.
That was my life.
I could do my contracting job anywhere as long as I had my computer.
Last Hope was another story.
I needed to be in our high-tech operations center.
