Page 79 of The E.M.M.A. Effect
As we practically run to his truck in the players’ garage I can’t help but laugh. This—the excitement, the passion, the sheer joy of being with him—this is what I’d been afraid of?
Chapter Twenty-Six
The drive back to his place crackled with an electric tension, Harriet’s hand on his thigh sending sparks through his body. Gale loved the grip she used, the hint of her nails digging in just right. But beneath the physical desire, there was something deeper, a connection that went beyond the physical. Goddamn, he loved this woman—mind, body, and soul. Who she had been. Who she was now.
“You know,” Harriet said, her voice husky with anticipation, “I’ve been thinking about this all day.” Her fingers traced small circles on his leg, each movement igniting a new wave of longing. “Seeing you play. And now... going home with you.”
“All day, huh?” He chuckled, trying to keep his focus on the road. “Even during your busy day?”
“Especially then,” Harriet replied with a mischievous grin. “How else was I supposed to keep my cool while plotting on how to school the Chads on neural networks?”
“Oh? And what exactly were you thinking about, doc?” Gale asked, his voice rougher than usual.
She paused. “The way you make me feel safe enough to be completely myself. Like I don’t have to hide any part of who I am. With you, I’m not just the only woman in the world—I’m the best version of myself. I’m never too much for you.”
His heart swelled at her words. “You’d never be too much,” hesaid softly, stealing a glance at her. The streetlights painted her face in a soft glow, highlighting the curve of her cheek, the sparkle in her eyes. “You are just right.”
“Smooth talker,” she teased. “Is that what you say to all the girls who can code better than you?”
Gale grinned, playing along. “Um, I think that bar is too low. I can’t even come up with a tip without a calculator.”
As they pulled up to his house, Gale cut the engine and turned to face her fully. The cab crackled with electricity and he found himself hyperaware of every tiny movement she made—the subtle shift, the fidget with her bracelet, the press and grind of her knees.
“I love you,” he said, the words spilling out in a rush of emotion. “I love you.” His voice trembled slightly with the intensity of his feelings. “Goddamn it, Harriet, I love you so much that if I loved you less, I might be able to say more about it. The more I feel, the harder it becomes to put into words.”
Her eyes widened, a mix of surprise and joy flickering across her face. “Scared? You? Of a five-foot robotics scientist?”
“Terrified,” he admitted with a soft laugh.
“Good,” Harriet whispered, unbuckling her seat belt and crawling over. “Because you terrify me too. In the best possible way.”
Then she was in his arms, her lips searching out his lips in a kiss that went from tender to fire. When they finally broke apart, both a little breathless, she rested her forehead against his.
“I love you too,” she whispered. “More than I ever thought possible.”
“Even more than neural networks?” he couldn’t resist asking.
Harriet laughed, the sound filled with joy and affection. “Yes. But it’s a close call.”
“Well then,” Gale said, his eyes twinkling, “guess I’ll have to step up my game if that’s my competition.”
They got out of the truck and walked into his house, and Galefelt a sudden rush of nervousness. Tonight wasn’t just about celebration or passion. Tonight, he had something important to show Harriet.
Gale’s heart raced as he guided Harriet through the doorway, her hand warm in his. “Hey. Close your eyes,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt her fingers tighten around his, a mix of trust and anticipation in her touch.
“What are you up to?” Harriet’s voice rose with curiosity, but she obeyed, her eyelids fluttering shut.
He led her carefully across the room, his own eyes fixed on her face. He savored this moment of suspense, of possibility. Positioning her just so, he took a steadying breath. “Okay,” he said softly. “On the count of three. Actually, never mind. Just open them.”
Harriet blinked, adjusting to the light. He watched, breath held, as her gaze fell on the coffee table. For a heartbeat, there was only confusion in her eyes. Then, like the sun rising, recognition bloomed across her features.
“Oh wow,” she breathed, her hand flying to her mouth. “What did you do?”
There, bathed in the warm glow of the lamp, stood what was once her millefiori vase. The delicate porcelain, shattered by their make-out session, had been reborn. But not as it was before. Each fragment had been meticulously placed, creating a new form—a sculpture that captured light and shadow in ways the original never could.
He watched as she circled the table, drinking in every angle of the transformed vase. Flecks of gold caught the light where he had the artist fill in the cracks
“Are you...” Harriet breathed, her eyes wide as she took in the sculpture. “Is this really...?”
