by Nomi Summers
“I’m not sure yet,” Chase said.
“Well, it’s good to see you back home,” Carter said, and then held up his glass to indicate to Rylee that he’d like another scotch. Carter seemed to have lightened up on Chase, but his entitlement was still intact. The fact that he expected someone to wait on him at a barbecue was typical Carter Knox for you.
Rylee brought Carter a fresh scotch, and she and Hunter joined the table, which was a relief to Chase. That was the end of the interrogation as the conversation shifted to lighter topics and small talk.
Chase was pleasantly surprised with how well the reunion with his father had gone, even though he still held hurt and resentment toward him and he’d never forget the things his father said to him. But after his father nearly died last month, it had put things into perspective for Chase, and he wanted to at least leave things on good terms. Doesn’t mean they had to have a relationship, but the way things were left had hung over Chase for the past eight years, and this felt better. His father was actually treating him like a man, and if he didn’t know better, he’d think Carter was happy to see him. They might never have the conversation that needed to be had, so Chase could receive the apology he’d likely never get, but he’d take this for now. Heck, maybe he would stick around for a while.
It wasn’t long before it was time to eat and afterwards the air was starting to cool as the sun was getting low earlier and earlier these days.
“How about I build us a fire on the beach?” Shane asked.
“We’d better get going,” Valerie said to Carter, eyeing his empty scotch glass. Chase remembered how Carter’s lips would get loose and his temper would flare with too much scotch, and he was relieved to find Valerie seemed to have a grip on it.
Carter and Valerie rose from the table and said their goodbyes. There was no hug between Chase and his father, and Chase was fine with it. He wasn’t ready to let everything go just yet, and he was secretly relieved when they left.
The three couples made their way through the seagrass and out to the shoreline where Shane had built a fire in Hunter’s firepit. They stayed out there for a few hours after the sun dipped into the lake, and the brothers reminisced and told stories from when they were kids as the girls caught up with one another. Shane had brought his guitar and sang a song every so often. It was the perfect end to the evening, and Chase couldn’t have been happier to be spending time with his brothers. All that fear that they wouldn’t accept him was all for nothing.
Rylee was the first to leave. “I need to get home to Liam,” she said. Chase knew Rylee was close friends with Emma and Avery, but he’d just today learned that she was a single mother to a seven-year-old boy and owned a ballet studio in town. She and Hunter had recently gotten engaged and were planning a summer wedding for the following year. Chase was happy that Hunter had Rylee and Liam in his life. It seemed to have humbled him.
“We should go, too,” Avery added. “We have to be at the resort early tomorrow. They’re installing the last of the solar panels in the morning.”
“Solar panels?” Chase asked.
“Yeah, we are doing our best to turn Arbor Shores Resort green.”
“That’s great,” Chase told them.
“Yeah, Shane and Avery are doing big things for the resort. It was just featured on Traverse City Today.”
“Good for you guys.” Chase was happy to learn that his brother had a project to work on with Avery. Something to keep him home and off the music tour for a while.
“I’m going to walk everyone out and then head to bed,” Hunter said. “Why don’t you two enjoy this last log on the fire.” He nodded at Chase. “Stay as long as you’d like. Don’t forget Rylee and I are having an engagement party at the resort on Saturday.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Chase told him before Hunter headed back toward the house, leaving him alone with Emma on the beach.
When everyone was gone, Chase noticed Emma’s bare arms. She looked cold, so he took off his leather jacket and put it around her shoulders.
She looked up at him and met his gaze with a smile. “Thank you.”
He took the seat next to her. The sky was dark and dusted with stars, and the sound of gentle waves lapping the shore mixed with the crackle of the fire. An amber glow from the flames illuminated Emma’s face, and Chase again felt an overwhelming desire to kiss her.
“Thank you for coming with me today,” Chase said. Emma looked up at him and noticed the glow from the fire had put a twinkle in his eye. Something about being out here alone with him—the fire, the water, the stars above—was romantic.
“Of course. I think it went well, don’t you?” she asked.
“Better than expected, actually.”
“I was surprised that Valerie suggested you stick around and help me reopen Hemlock House,” she said. She decided to bring it up and feel Chase out on the idea. She wasn’t sure if she would seriously consider reopening it, and she certainly couldn’t do it on her own, but she was curious what Chase had thought of the idea, and that curiosity got the best of her. More than anything, she wanted to know if he would ever consider staying in Arbor Shores.
“Yeah, me too.”
Emma cleared her throat and straightened her back. “Is that something you’d consider?”
“You mean, you are thinking about reopening Hemlock House?”
“To be honest, I hadn’t until today. It was never an option because I could never do it on my own. But if you wanted to stick around, we could do it together. Be business partners even.”
Chase stared at her, as if in disbelief. He looked like he was contemplating her offer, and the anticipation of his response was making her heart race. Was it even an option for him?
“Wow, Em. I never dreamed you’d ask me that.”
“Well, I was just thinking. You’re an amazing cook. You could do the breakfast and the maintenance. I could do any baking we’d need down at NovelTea and bring it over. And if the B&B did well, I could even afford to hire another employee at NovelTea to free up some of my time for the B&B.” Emma felt hope bubbling up inside of her as the words came out of her mouth. She felt just as surprised at the idea as Chase looked, and as crazy as it was, the two of them together could make it work.
The thought of reopening Hemlock House someday had never drifted far from her mind, she just always thought it wouldn’t be feasible—she could never do it alone. But she loved that old house and all it represented in Arbor Shores. Plus, in some way, she wanted to do right by it. To make her parents proud even if they were no longer here to see her run it. They had left it to her, after all, so they must’ve had hopes that she’d keep it open.
Not to mention, the thought of having Chase stay in Arbor Shores was breathing excitement into her—a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“I don’t know what to say.” He looked perplexed, and Emma worried she may be asking too much of him.
“Well, you don’t have to answer me today. Why don’t you think about it?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to run a business with you, and I’m flattered that you’d even ask. I just hadn’t thought about staying here permanently. I just need to make sure that’s what I’m ready to do, you know? It wouldn’t be fair to open the B&B, and then leave you with it. I’d have to make this my permanent home.”
“Yeah, I would need a commitment from you before I’d consider it myself. But I sure would love it if you stayed.”
“You know I’d love to stay here with you, Em,” he told her, placing his hand on her knee, causing ever nerve ending in her body to come alive. “Just let me sleep on it, okay?”
“Take your time,” she told him with a smile, and laid her head on his shoulder.
They sat there in silence and watched the last remaining log smolder on the fire until it was time to head back home.
Chapter 10
Chase awoke before his alarm the next morning. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever actually fal
len asleep. He’d tossed and turned most the night, contemplating Emma’s offer. The thought of staying and becoming her business partner was a great opportunity. Plus, he loved Hemlock House. Some of his greatest childhood memories happened right inside its walls with Emma and her parents. In a strange way, he felt an obligation to it, just as he was sure Emma did.
The reunion with his father had gone well, and his brothers seemed happy he was home. Being back in Arbor Shores with Emma and his family was going far better than he ever could have imagined, and Chase was starting to think this was where he belonged. Could he give Emma the commitment she deserved? It was not only an opportunity to own a business and make something of himself, but it was also a way to ensure he had Emma in his life forever. But would he be able to handle being business partners and maintain a platonic friendship with her with these feelings that were building inside of him? Should he tell her his true feelings before he accepted her offer? It was the right thing to do, but there was so much at stake. Admitting how he felt could break their friendship apart, and ruin his chance of becoming Emma’s partner.
Still, he knew what he had to do.
Chase got a quick shower and then made his way into the main house to begin working. Letting himself in through the backdoor, there was no sign of Emma yet in the kitchen. He decided to put on a pot of coffee for her, and then head to the parlor to get started on the floors.
“Good morning,” he finally heard Emma announce behind him.
He turned around to an angel leaning against the doorway, cupping a mug of coffee. “Hey, Em.” He paused to take a moment and look at her. The mere sight of her pulled the air from his lungs.
“Thank you for putting on the coffee.”
“Anything for you.” He winked and stood up off the floor.
“I usually drink it on the porch in the morning. Care to take a break and join me?”
“Sure.” Chase dusted his hands on his pants and followed Emma and Zeke outside. He and Emma took their spot on the swinging bench while Zeke made his way down the stairs of the porch to greet the morning walkers.
“So, what’s on the agenda for today?” she asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
“Well, for one, I’m sanding down that staircase railing. No more splinters for you.” He flashed her a grin. “And I plan to finish the floors today.”
“I can’t tell you how good it feels to finally get this place fixed up.”
“Well, I’m enjoying it,” he told her. “In fact, I’ve given your offer some thought, a lot of thought, actually, and I want to take you up on it. I want to stay here and run Hemlock House with you.”
“You do?” She shifted on the bench to face him, excitement lighting up her face.
He turned his body to face her. He needed to be honest with her, and it was now or never. “Yes, but there’s something you should know before you accept. There’s something I need to tell you.”
Emma took another drink of her coffee, the excitement in her face moving to concern. “Go on.”
Chase took Emma’s hand in his. “Em, I have to be honest with you about something. It’s only fair that you know if we’re going to run a business together. I don’t want our partnership to be awkward.”
“What is it? You can tell me anything.” She put her mug down on the table beside the bench, giving Chase her full attention.
Having Emma stare at him in anticipation caused his pulse to race. He just needed to come out with it. He pushed off the bench and began pacing the patio, fighting to find the right words. Emma waited patiently until he made his way back to her and took a seat again.
“Okay, here it goes.” He took a deep breath and blew it out before continuing, “I started developing feelings for you in high school, and I never told you.”
Emma let out a snort. “That’s what you needed to tell me?” Her face shone with amusement. “Chase, I had feelings for you in high school, too. Actually, I had feelings for you in middle school, as well, now that I think about it. We were kids; it’s only natural that we would be confused about our friendship. We were both filled with hormones.” She smiled and picked her coffee back up.
That was news to Chase. He had no idea she’d had the same feelings back then. Had he known, would he have left? He pushed the question aside. Of course he would have. He didn’t have a choice. Knowing only would have made leaving hurt worse.
Part of him was relieved to get that off his chest, and the other part of him was slightly hurt that she’d just laughed off his confession. He needed to finish. He’d come this far, so why not just come out with everything?
“But, that’s not all,” he continued, rubbing at the back of his neck with his hand. “Em, I think I still have those feelings for you.”
“You do?” She straightened her back and sat up on the bench.
There was no sense in stopping now. “Actually, I know I do. In fact, I’ve nearly kissed you a half dozen times in the last few days. I don’t know how you haven’t noticed.”
Warmth rushed to her cheeks. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, please say something, anything,” he told her, feeling foolish for confessing his true feelings. He should have known it would go this way. He should have known she didn’t feel the same.
Emma was stunned speechless by Chase’s revelation. He had been feeling it, too? Should she tell him she had been feeling the same way about him? And that she’d craved that kiss as much as he had? No, not if they were going to run Hemlock House together. If they were going to be business partners, they’d have to remain professional. But still, if she was ever going to tell him her true feelings, this was as good a time as any.
“Well, to be honest, I’ve been a little confused by these feelings I’ve been having for you as well.” There. She’d said it.
Chase cocked his head to the side. “You have?”
“Yes. In fact, I was dying for you to kiss me the other night in the guesthouse. I don’t know what came over me, but it’s been a confusing time for me as well. You’re not supposed to have feelings for your best friend.”
“Says who?” Chase asked, and Emma looked up at him.
“I don’t know. All I know is that you’re the most important person in my life right now. I finally have you back here, and you’re the closest thing to family that I’ve got. I don’t want to ruin that, you know?”
“I get that. That’s why I was hesitant to tell you. But I thought it was only fair. If we are going to be business partners then you have a right to know.”
Emma traced her finger along the rim of her coffee cup. “Well, I think if we are going to be business partners, we should probably try to keep things professional. That would only complicate things. Especially if it didn’t work out between us. What would happen then?”
“So, what are you saying?” Chase scrubbed at his face with his hand.
Emma took a deep breath and let it out before continuing. “I’m saying that I’d love to run Hemlock House with you, but I think we should try to push these feelings aside and just remain friends if we are going to move forward with this plan.” That sounded good in theory, but would she really be able to do that? She hadn’t been able to get Chase off her mind since the moment he’d stepped into NovelTea and scooped her off her feet. Literally.
“Okay,” Chase looked down at his hands. “I can respect that.”
She placed a hand on his. “Chase, look at me,” she whispered and waited until he met her gaze before continuing. “I care about you. Deeply. You’re my best friend, but you and I both know we can’t go down that road. I appreciate you being honest with me.” She died a little inside saying those words, but she knew it was the right thing to do.
He looked up at her and met her eyes with his. “Always.”
“So, does this mean you’re staying? We’re business partners?” She held out her hand to shake on their deal.
He took her hand in his and returned the shake. “Let’s do it, partner.”
Right now, she had to get to work.
Chapter 11
The week had flown by as Chase kept himself busy fixing up Hemlock House. He was motivated now more than ever so that he and Emma could finally reopen the doors.
By Friday, he had refinished the hardwood flooring along with the entire staircase, re-wallpapered the parlor and formal dining room, and painted all the trim on the windows. It was all starting to come together. He’d worked long hours all week to get it done, and now he was looking forward to an evening with Emma. They had plans to go out to dinner to celebrate the progress of Hemlock House when she got off work, so he put his tools away and went back to the guesthouse to get showered and ready for the evening.
When he was finished with his shower, he made his way back to the main house to meet Emma. To his surprise, she wasn’t home yet. He decided to make a snack to hold him over; Zeke stayed close to his side, Chase assumed in the hopes of scoring a bite of turkey.
“Hey, you,” he heard Emma announce.
He turned around. “Hey, I was starting to worry about you. I thought you’d be home an hour ago.” He took a big bite of his sandwich.
“I would have been,” she started as she made her way to the fridge. She opened it, grabbed the pitcher of lemonade and poured them each a glass. “I had to stop by Aaron’s office.”
It was a punch to the gut. She had plans with him but she’d been with Aaron while he was here waiting? Anger bubbled to the surface, but he’d have to keep his cool. They were just friends, so he couldn’t let his jealousy over Aaron shine through. This was something he was going to have to get used to.