“He’s going to be fine, Em.” He could see her knuckles turning white even as color rose to her cheeks.
“This was a horrible idea,” she muttered, turning her head to stare out onto Main Street as if she couldn’t stand to meet his gaze another second. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess.”
Jase took a step toward her. It was stupid and self-destructive and a bad idea for both of them, but the truth was he didn’t care if Emily was a mess. He wanted her to be his mess.
* * *
Emily felt the tips of Jase’s fingers on the back of her hand. She couldn’t look at him after everything she’d said. All of the shattered pieces of herself she’d just revealed.
But her fingers loosened at his touch, and she wanted to sway into him. Somehow he grounded her and just maybe...
The front door to the office opened, a rush of fresh mountain air breezing over her heated skin. “Jase, you’re late.”
Emily whirled around to see a short, curvy woman in an ill-fitting silk blouse and shapeless skirt staring at her.
“Sorry,” the woman said quickly, glancing between Emily and Jase as she adjusted the bulky purse on her arm. “I didn’t realize you had a meeting or...”
“It’s fine,” Jase told her, stepping away from Emily. “I’ll grab my keys, and I’m ready. The Crimson Valley Hiker’s Club today, right?”
The woman nodded. “If you’re busy—”
He shook his head. “Mari, this is Emily Whitaker. She’s Noah’s sister and just got back to town. Em, Mari Simpson. Mari works at the library in town but has been kind enough to help keep me on track with my campaign.” He gave Mari a warm smile, and Emily’s throat tightened. Jase could smile at whomever he wanted. It didn’t matter only...
“He’ll be a great mayor,” Mari chirped with a bright smile of her own. While the woman wasn’t classically pretty, the smile softened her features in a way that made her beautiful. “I’m happy to do whatever I can.” Her face was sweet and hopeful. The face of a woman who would make a perfect wife. Emily forced herself not to growl in response.
“Keys,” Jase said again and disappeared into his office.
Mari continued to smile but it looked forced. “So you’re Noah’s sister?”
“I am.”
“You moved back from Boston, right?”
A simple question but Emily knew it meant that although Mari Simpson wasn’t a Crimson native, she’d been downloaded on Emily’s past and reputation in town. “Yes,” she answered, forcing herself to stay cordial. This was new Emily.
Emily 2.0. Nice Emily.
“It’s good to be close to my family and friends again.”
Mari tapped a finger to her cheek. “I think I saw your name on the application list for our reference desk opening.”
Emily nodded. “I applied at the library.”
“Too bad we filled the position already,” Mari said a little too sweetly. “Lots of talented people want a chance to live in such a great little town. We only hire people with at least an undergraduate degree. I’m sure you’ll find something.”
Emily 2.0.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she said through clenched teeth. “I think—”
“Emily’s going to work for me,” Jase said, pocketing his phone and keys as he came back into the room. He kept his gaze trained on Mari.
Her jaw dropped and Emily was pretty sure her own reaction was the same.
“Here? But I’ve heard... I thought...she’s—”
“Organized and hardworking,” Jase said, repeating Emily’s words from earlier. “Just what I need to get the office back on track.” He patted the tiny woman on the shoulder. “It’ll be easier for you, too, Mari. You won’t have to keep tabs on me all the time.”
She gave a small nod but muttered, “I don’t mind.”
Finally Jase turned to Emily. “Does tomorrow work for an official start date? I can be here by eight. We’ll keep your hours flexible until Davey starts school.” For once his eyes didn’t reveal any of his feelings. It was as if he hadn’t said no and she hadn’t broken down in an emotional rant. As if he wasn’t offering her this job out of pity.
He held out his hand, palm up. On it sat a shiny gold key. “Just in case you’re here before me.” He flashed a self-deprecating smile. “Punctuality isn’t one of my best qualities.”
No, Emily thought, he didn’t need to be on time. Jase had more important traits—like the ability to rescue distressed women with a single key.
She should walk away. He knew too much about her now. If there was one thing Emily hated, it was appearing weak. She’d learned to be strong watching her father lose his battle with cancer. She’d married a man who valued power over everything else in his life.
During her divorce she hadn’t revealed how scared she’d felt. She’d been strong for Davey. Even when she’d been nothing more than a puddle of uncertainty balled up on the cool tile of the bathroom floor. Every time she got dressed, Emily put her mask into place the same way she pulled on a T-shirt.
But she’d kissed Jase like she wanted to crawl inside his body, then pleaded for a job as if he was her only hope in the world.
When she’d left behind her life in Boston, she’d promised herself she would never depend on a man again. She’d create a life standing on her own two feet, strong and sure.
But maybe strong and sure came after the first wobbly baby step. Maybe...
Forget the self-reflection. Right now she needed a job.
Her pause had been too long, and Jase pulled back his hand, his brown eyes shuttering. She snatched the key at the last moment and squeezed her fingers around it. The metal was warm from his skin and she clutched it to her stomach. “I’ll be here in the morning,” she told him and with a quick nod to Mari, ducked out of the office before he could change his mind.
A job. She had a job.
She took a deep breath of the sweet pine air. The smell of the forest surrounding Crimson always made her think of her childhood. But now as she walked down the sidewalk crowded with tourists, the town seemed a little brighter than it had been when she’d first returned.
A text came through from her mother, telling her Davey had fallen asleep on the couch so Emily should take her time returning home. What would she do without her mom? She hated asking for help when Meg had recently come through her own health scare, but her mother insisted she loved spending time with her grandson.
Baby steps. A job. Davey starting kindergarten. After things were settled, Emily could think about finding a place of her own. Jase hadn’t mentioned a salary, and she didn’t care. The job was enough.
The weather was perfect, brilliant blue skies, bright sun and a warm breeze blowing wisps of hair across her cheek. She shrugged out of the suit jacket and folded it over her arm. Just as she walked by a small café, her stomach grumbled.
When was the last time she’d eaten at a restaurant? Not since leaving Boston and then it was always for some law firm party or campaign event. She and Henry hadn’t gone on a proper date since their honeymoon. Here in Crimson, Davey liked the quiet and routine of her mother’s