Page 17 of Here With You

She tried to keep a straight face, but a giggle escaped, leading to a full laugh. Miles always made her laugh.

“It’s nice to see you haven’t lost your ability to enjoy a moment, Emmaline.”

She got herself under control, which was hard, given that she was standing there staring at his bare chest and wondering if the hair there was as coarse as it looked or was it soft to the touch. Way back when they were together, he only had a few hairs. She had to pull a stray hair or two from places they didn’t belong on her, so maybe his chest hair was simply a sign of age and maturity. Oh, who was she kidding? That hair was pure male virility. It took everything in her to drag her eyes from his body and lift them to look at his face.

“Did you need something?” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “I thought I was off after I finished your list, but if you need me to do something else…”

“No. You’re fine.” He was fine. Damn fine, but that wasn’t the point. “I’m here to let you know that you’ll be working with Margot tomorrow.”

His eyes widened. “You must really hate me.”

She took a deep breath. “Of course … not. I’m just doing my job to ensure you’re trained to do yours.”

“No to-do list?”

“No. Where are you off to?”

He nodded toward the water. “I heard the dock needs barnacle removal.”

“I took that off the list.”

He winked. “Only because your friends made you.”

She shrugged. “True, but it’s unnecessary.”

“And yet, I’d do it if you asked.”

“You would?”

He nodded. “There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for you, Emmaline.”

“Except stay all those years ago.”

He walked past her. “I would have stayed if you’d asked. If you had decided you wanted me in your life.” He tapped his leg, and Ollie followed him down the walk toward The Kessler dock.

He had a point. Those who don’t ask never get. She supposed the worst answer would have been no had she asked him to stay. Maybe that’s why she didn’t ask. It was easier to accept Miles’s betrayal rather than his rejection. The betrayal was his fault, but the rejection meant something was lacking in her. Hadn’t that always been the case?

She returned to her empty charcuterie board and a half-full glass of wine and stared at the sun as it sank into the ocean.

“Nice view,” Tilly said from behind.

Miles set his phone on the dock’s rail and pet Ollie before diving into the water. “It sure is.”

CHAPTEREIGHT

Miles walked out his door at five minutes to eight for his shift at the front desk. He half-expected to find a honey-do list taped to his door. Carter had warned him there might be one, but nothing was there. He glanced toward The Brown Resort, hoping to glimpse Emmaline, but she was nowhere in sight either. The only sign of life from The Brown staff, and it was questionable whether there was life, was an older man shoveling ashes from the beach’s fire pit to a wheelbarrow. He strained to see the man because he looked familiar. Could that be Hugh? If so, he had to be a hundred years old.

He had three minutes until his shift started, and he debated whether to go inside or confirm his suspicions. Curiosity got the better of him.

“Let’s go, Ollie.” He tapped his leg and half-jogged to where the man struggled to lift the shovel. When he got there, he reached for it. “Let me help you.”

The older man turned to face him. “Eh?” he yelled and pointed to his ear. “Can’t hear ya.”

With ears that size, he should have been able to hear him from across the lake. Miles took the shovel and stepped closer. “Let me help you,” he said, loud enough for Cricket in the diner to hear. “Hugh, right?”

“Miles?” The old geezer tilted his head left and right and smiled. “Is that you?”

“Yes, sir.” In a few scoops, he had the ashes in the wheelbarrow. “Where does this go?”

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