by Nomi Summers
“You have to trust me, or this is never going to work,” he whispered in her ear.
“I trust you. I just don’t want to lose you. And I don’t want to reopen Hemlock House if there is any chance you are going to leave again.”
Chase stepped back and cupped her face gently with both hands, looking deep into her eyes. “Em, I love you. Did you know that?”
“You do?”
“Of course, I do. And that means I’m not going anywhere. Ever. You’re the only one in the world for me. And there’s nothing I’d rather do than grow old in this big ole house with you.”
His words stole the breath from her lungs, so she shook her head yes to indicate that she believed him, relief rippling through her body.
“Is that it?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I told you I love you. Don’t you have anything else to say?” he teased, but she could tell he was waiting for her response.
A smile spread across her face. “Of course. I love you, too.”
Chapter 14
Hearing Emma’s words caused Chase’s heart to swell with pride. Finally, he’d put any lingering hesitations she had to rest, and he had the love of his dream girl.
They finished breakfast and then headed into the city to get the new bedding for the rooms. That was the last of the final touches that needed to be made before they could reopen Hemlock House. Now, all they needed to do was finalize their agreement; Emma was meeting with Aaron tomorrow to get the paperwork.
Of course, Chase would have Hunter look over the paperwork as well, just to make sure Aaron hadn’t pulled anything, but then he planned to sign it, and as long as all their permits were in place, they would be ready to open doors on their B&B by the following weekend. But there was still a thought niggling at Chase’s brain. He wasn’t exactly sure how building permits worked, but what if Aaron had to do a background check to secure the licensing and permits they needed? If Emma ever found out about his past and what he’d been hiding, surely she’d never want to go into business with him. A wave of guilt washed over him. Didn’t she have a right to know anyway? He couldn’t carry this secret any longer. Tomorrow night, before they sat down to sign the papers, he would tell her the truth. He’d made up his mind.
Problem was, they’d already made plans for a grand opening party, yet they hadn’t begun accepting reservations just yet. Mainly because they’d spent so much on renovations, and there wasn’t much left for website development or the online reservation system they needed. In the meantime, they’d have to rely on word of mouth and the good old fashioned phone system until they could afford a proper reservation system. Then, they could begin advertising.
Now, it was time to meet Carter and Valerie for dinner, and although things were going well between him and his father, the thought of sitting through an entire meal while being drilled by Carter about their business plan had his stomach in knots. Chase was just happy to have Emma by his side. Somehow, she made everyday life easier. Actually, she made everything easier.
Pulling into the Arbor Shores Yacht Club in Emma’s old pickup truck, Chase decided to skip valet and self-park. Not that they had any reason to be ashamed, but it was clear he didn’t belong in his father’s world and he didn’t need another reminder how “less than” he was from Carter Knox.
Chase held out his arm to Emma, and she looped hers through his as he escorted her inside. The hostess informed them that Carter and Valerie were already seated in the lounge, and they followed her to a corner table—his father’s self-proclaimed table for as far back as Chase could remember. Growing up, his father frequented the yacht club several nights per week, and they had dinner there as a family on most Sundays before their parents had divorced. Once Valerie came into the picture, they stopped doing things as a family altogether.
Approaching the table, Valerie stood to greet them, but Carter stayed seated. He was already sipping his scotch, and something about that caused a nervous energy to charge through Chase’s system. His father was walking a fine line each time he drank the stuff, and Chase didn’t ever want to see him cross that line again. Hopefully they were beyond those days—he prayed he’d never have to experience the wrath of his father’s temper again.
After the server came over and took their drink order, Valerie started, “So, what are your plans for Hemlock House? When will you reopen?”
“Chase has really outdone himself. He spent the entire week fixing up the place. We’d like to open next weekend,” Emma said.
“That soon?” Carter asked, leaning back in his chair, his glass of scotch glued to his hand.
“Yeah, it’s ready to go.” Chase looked at Emma and smiled. She met his smile with her own.
“What’s the arrangement between the two of you? Do you think you’ll be married?” Valerie asked.
Chase nearly choked on the sip of water he had just taken. Even though the thought of having Emma for his wife was something that he could get used to, he’d never expected anyone to ask that question so soon. They’d only officially been together a week. How would he answer?
“Uh, we are entering as official business partners.” Chase decided to ignore the question altogether, and wondered if his answer was hurtful to Emma or a relief.
“You realize the risks involved in going into business together while dating. What if it doesn’t work out? What if you split up?” Carter had a condescending tone that was causing a fire to ignite inside Chase.
“That’s not going to happen.” Chase was quick to respond. “And if it did—hypothetically—then we’d remain friends. We’d still be able to be business partners.”
“Well, you need to be sure to address that in the agreement.” Carter leaned forward and set his scotch down, but not before taking another sip.
“It will be addressed,” Emma spoke up to reassure him, her admission a shock to Chase. That was essentially what the agreement was for, but thinking of her discussing that with Aaron outside of Chase’s presence didn’t sit well with him.
The server delivered a charcuterie board, and the conversation finally shifted—a relief to Chase. He was already feeling hot around the collar with the questions being fired at them, and he just wished he could fast forward through this evening and be back at Hemlock House, alone with Emma.
By the time they were finished with the main course, Chase was feeling a bit more relaxed. Emma was winning over Valerie with talks about how her parents had run Hemlock House and what they planned to keep the same and what all they planned to do differently. His father was quiet most of the time, but Chase knew he was taking it all in.
When the server delivered a round of dessert and coffee to the table, Carter pushed his to the side and held up his empty glass, indicating that he wanted another scotch. Chase had counted three, so this would be number four, and if memory served, that was the tipping point. Chase knew it was time for he and Emma to make their exit.
“Well, we should probably get going soon. Emma has to be up early in the morning to open NovelTea.”
“Nonsense, you just got your dessert,” Carter said, shooting Chase a look—one that Chase still found intimidating and that still managed to make him feel small, even after all this time.
“Carter, dear, do you want to tell them what we discussed on the way over?” Valerie gave him a pointed look. Chase sucked in a deep breath and held it. There was no telling what was about to come out of his father’s mouth.
“Ah, yes,” Carter began and sat up straight in his chair for the first time all night. Clasping his hands in front of him on the table, he said, “Knox Enterprises would like to offer Hemlock House a business development grant. Just a small chunk of money to get you two started and off on the right foot.”
This time, Chase did begin to choke. Had he heard his father right? He wanted to give them funding for their business? As much as they could use it, there was no way Chase was accepting a handout from his father. This was the first business he’d
ever started, and he wouldn’t allow his father to have a hand in it. Chase had something to prove, and it was important to him that he and Emma did this on their own.
He glanced over at Emma, and although she wasn’t one to take handouts, she was looking at Chase with hopeful eyes. A grant would offer them the money for a website and social media advertising campaign that would get the word out downstate to the travelers that liked to travel north on the weekends. It would also allow Emma to hire someone for NovelTea sooner rather than later so she could pitch in and help Chase at Hemlock House.
“That’s a kind offer, thank you, but we can do this on our own,” Chase said.
“Chase, dear, you should take the grant.” Valerie leaned over and placed her hand on his. “Knox Enterprises is known for offering funding to small businesses in town. It could really help you get the B&B off the ground quickly.”
“Thank you for the generous offer, Carter,” Emma spoke up. “We’ll discuss it.”
Chase could tell she wanted to entertain the idea, and even though he had no plan of accepting the grant, it wouldn’t be fair not to hear her out. They were partners, after all, and she deserved an opinion in the matter.
“Thank you for the offer. We’ll discuss it tonight,” Chase told his father.
If someone had told him two weeks ago that he’d be in this position, he never would have believed them. Here he was, sitting at a table across from his father who was offering to fund his new business startup, with his dream girl and business partner on his right. Everything was going so well, he almost felt as if he was dreaming. For a moment, he thought nothing could bring him down. That is, until he caught a glimpse of Aaron Reynolds out of the corner of his eye, making his way toward their table, a manila envelope in his hand. Was it their agreement? Why couldn’t he wait until tomorrow like he and Emma had planned? Chase didn’t want his father seeing the agreement before he had a chance to look it over. His pulse began to quicken as Aaron drew near.
“Good evening, Carter, Valerie.” Aaron addressed the Knoxes as he approached the table.
Chase’s jaw clenched. Why was Aaron even here? Obviously, he was a member or he wouldn’t be able to get in. But how had he known they’d be there tonight?
“Well, good evening, Aaron,” Carter said. “Care to join us?”
“No, thank you. I don’t want to interrupt. This won’t take long.” Aaron fired a glare at Chase, and Chase’s fists instinctively balled at his sides below the table as he watched Aaron pull paperwork from the manila envelope and toss it on the center of the table.
Chase’s heart slammed against his chest when his eyes fell on the rap sheet before him. There it was, Chase’s mugshot staring back at him, and the charges that had been filed against him that fateful night in New York. A night that was beyond his control. A night he’d hoped to keep hidden.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to move forward with creating your agreement, Emma,” Aaron started. “It appears your new business partner here has been locked up for the past six months for grand theft. As the head of the Arbor Shores tourism board, I think I speak on behalf of the committee when I say we don’t want a convicted felon opening a B&B in Arbor Shores. Especially one who steals.”
All eyes darted to Chase. Carter picked up the paperwork, and the air was sucked out of Chase’s lungs as he watched his father peruse his criminal record.
“Is this true, Chase?” Emma asked, the look of disappointment on her face was like a knife to his chest.
Chase couldn’t breathe, much less respond. How would he ever make them understand?
“I’ll leave you four alone with that. It looks like you have a lot to discuss.” Aaron turned and headed back to the bar.
Carter slammed his fists on the table, causing the silverware to jump and the coffee to splash out of the cups and onto the white linen. “Out of the country, huh, Chase?”
Chase’s heart plummeted. He was called out on the only lie he’d ever told. He couldn’t look at Emma. He could feel her stare boring into him, along with everyone else’s in the room, and he just wanted nothing more than to disappear.
“It’s not what it looks like. I can explain,” Chase started, a mixture of panic and anger taking over him.
Carter rose to his feet. “I don’t need you to explain. It’s all right here in black and white.” Carter shook the papers in the air, causing quite the scene for the members around them. The whole room went silent, and Chase could see Aaron gloating from his barstool across the room.
“I’m telling you—” Chase started, but he was quickly cut off by his father’s scotch-induced rage.
“You good-for-nothing, sorry excuse for a son. Get out of here and get out of my life! I don’t raise thieves, and I don’t raise felons,” Carter spat through gritted teeth.
Chase rose from the table, throwing the fork down that he’d been gripping, causing a clanging sound to ripple through the room. He pushed his way past servers who’d stopped what they were doing to watch the scene unfold, and made his way toward the door, leaving Emma, Valerie and Carter at the table. He wanted as far away from his father as possible.
Humiliation flooded through him and he couldn’t get away fast enough. He’d never felt overcome by such embarrassment in all his life. Right now, he just wanted to get back to Hemlock House, pack his bags and get out of town. He was sure Emma wouldn’t want anything to do with him, and there was no way they could move forward with their business now. He’d heard Aaron; nobody wanted a convicted felon opening a business in town. Having his name tied to the business would ruin Hemlock House for Emma. The best thing to do would be to get out of her life once and for all.
He began running toward the road. He’d run the two miles back to town and get his stuff and be gone. His only hope was that he’d get out before he saw her.
He never wanted to have to face Emma again.
Emma stood, ready to head to the door and run after Chase. “I’m sorry about this, Mr. and Mrs. Knox. I had no idea.” She grabbed her purse off the back of the chair and excused herself from the table. “Thank you for dinner.”
Emma was seething inside, partly because Chase had lied to her, but more so at Aaron for airing Chase’s dirty laundry publicly in an attempt to ruin his reputation. Aaron not only destroyed any chance for them to reopen Hemlock House, but he’d exposed Chase at the yacht club of all places, which meant all of Arbor Shores would know by morning. The news could potentially put NovelTea’s reputation in jeopardy as well.
As soon as she made it to the front door of the yacht club, she began running toward her truck. She had to find Chase. As mad as she was at him, she didn’t want him walking home, and Pine Ridge Way was a dangerous road with many twists and turns and no sidewalks to keep him out of harm's way.
Emma took three quick lunges forward before feeling the heel of her pump lodge into something, causing her body to catapult through the air and land on all fours on the rough asphalt parking lot beyond the sidewalk.
“Emma!” Aaron yelled as he came out the door behind her, making his way toward her.
She was on her hands and knees, one shoe on, and when she managed to turn her head around, she noticed her right heel had gotten stuck between the cracks in the sidewalk. A sharp pain from her right ankle shot up her leg when she tried to put pressure on it to get up. “Ow!” she exclaimed, surrendering to the pavement and putting her foot back out behind her.
Aaron made his way to her side and picked her up, placing her down on the weight of her left foot while she held the other in the air like a wounded bird. He draped her arm over his shoulder as a crutch.
“Don’t touch me,” she hissed when she noticed it was Aaron who had helped her up.
“Emma, are you okay?” he asked, ignoring her question.
“I’m fine. I have to go. I have to get to Chase,” she told him as she attempted once again to put weight on her right foot. But the shooting pain traveling up her leg told her something was wrong. She
just prayed it wasn’t broken.
“You’re not fine, Emma. Something is wrong with your foot. I’m taking you to the hospital,” Aaron demanded, motioning for the valet to bring his car around.
“I’m not going anywhere with you after what you just did in there.”
“Well, you certainly can’t drive with your right foot the way it is. And it looks like your thief of a boyfriend left you. You’re coming with me to the hospital.”
She hated to get in the car with Aaron, but he was right. She couldn’t drive with her right foot. She couldn’t even move it. Right now, like it or not, she was at his mercy. She’d have to deal with this first and then talk to Chase when she got home.
It took Chase twenty-five minutes to jog back to town from the yacht club. Even though he wasn’t ready to face her, every time he heard a car coming from behind him, he expected it to be her. Yet, none of the four cars that passed him were hers. Perhaps, somehow, she’d passed him without him noticing?
But when he rounded the corner to Main Street and got a clear view of the empty driveway at Hemlock House, his heart sank. Things were definitely over between them. Emma hadn’t come after him, which meant she was either still at the yacht club discussing his business with the Knoxes, or worse, she had left with Aaron. That thought twisted at his heart.
He made his way inside the guesthouse and grabbed his duffel bag from the closet, pulling clothes from their hangers and stuffing them into the bag along with the rest of his belongings. When he’d finally packed what little he owned, he walked outside and paused. Should he go inside the main house to say goodbye to Zeke? Nah, that would be too painful. He’d grown attached to that dog. It would be better just to leave without having to see him again.
Same with Emma. He would’ve liked the opportunity to explain himself. But he was too embarrassed to see her, and plus, the fact that she’d stayed at the yacht club told him everything he needed to know about where they now stood. He wasn’t good enough for her, so it was only natural she would gravitate back to Aaron. What was Chase thinking to believe he could ever get a girl like Emma? The Chase she thought she was in love with turned out to be a liar and a felon. That thought punched at his heart as he straddled his bike and powered up the engine. The worst part was he’d planned to come clean with her tomorrow night. But Aaron had gotten to her before he had the chance, so she’d never believe Chase had intended to tell her the truth.