Chapter 32

Kent

A few nights later, I'm navigating a sea of tuxedos and evening gowns, the ballroom abuzz with the whisper of Emma Blaze's presence. I find Griffin, his smile as bright as the chandeliers above us.

"Emma Blaze is here," he informs me, and there's pride in his voice. "She's launching a new line of chocolates for Divine Delights. It's going to benefit Hospitals Across Canada."

That's an organization that makes arrangements with specialists and flies patients where they need to go throughout the country at no cost. They've even sent patients out of the country when there's a rare ailment involved.

"Good cause," I comment, though my voice feels distant, disengaged.

"Come on, I'll introduce you," Griffin insists, gesturing toward the gathered crowd. I nod, trailing behind him, trying to muster enthusiasm.

When he notices I'm lagging behind, Griffin puts a hand on my shoulder, guiding me through clusters of conversation. As we approach, Tricia Standing Martin, Griffin's sister-in-law and the CEO of Divine Delights, extends a warm greeting. I manage a smile, a quick handshake, but then my gaze snags. There she is.

"Amelia…" The word slips from my lips before I can catch it. Her head turns, that same cascading hair, those eyes, familiar yet distant. The air between us is taut with things unsaid. "How…"

"I'm…fine, Kent. Working," she says, her tone polite but cool, professional. I nod, feeling the weight of eyes on us, their curiosity palpable.

"Can we talk later?" I ask, trying to sound casual despite the hammering in my chest.

She hesitates, assessing the request, our audience. Finally, Amelia nods, a tiny concession. "Sure, when I'm free."

I'm not going to let her out of my sight. The rest of the evening stretches out like a slow, torturous dance. My focus drifts back to Amelia time and again. She moves gracefully around the room, clearly at the top of her professional game, but still, she seems different. She has lost weight, and that worries me.

"Isn't she stunning?" Tricia sidles up beside me, unknowingly turning the screws. "I was going to introduce you two tonight."

"Amelia and I…" I swallow hard. "We have history."

"Ah." Tricia's face softens with understanding. "Old flames die hard, huh?"

"Something like that. She broke my heart," I confess, not sure why I've said that aloud. But it's out now, floating between us.

A shadow crosses Tricia's face as she looks past me, and I turn to see Amelia's reaction. She heard me. There's a furrow in her brow, a slight downturn at her lips. Whether it's regret or annoyance, I can't tell. But I laid my cards on the table, for better or worse.

But then it's showtime. Amelia checks her watch and directs Tricia to the stage, where she introduces her new line of chocolates, Sensations éclat.

"My father was the last to create a new chocolate candy for Divine Delights, and it will be hard to top the beloved Georgia Browns with their crunchy pecans, gooey caramel, and just the right amount of chocolate. And let's not forget my grandfather's favorite, the chocolate truffle Hedgehogs. But this will be something totally new, and I'm so excited to be bringing you fantastic artisanal chocolates. New varieties with special ingredients will highlight the different seasons."

The crowd applauds. "So much for my waistline," a man yells from the crowd.

"Mayor, I would never…" Tricia grasps her heart with a grin. "The best news is that we will donate part of the proceeds of the sales of these chocolates. For the first batch, we're pleased to partner with Hospitals Across Canada. And to help with this endeavor, Emma Blaze will be our ambassador."

The crowd goes crazy as Emma takes the stage. "I'm so excited to be here in my hometown of Vancouver," she says with a bright smile. "As you leave, be sure to get your sample of four chocolates. These will be delivered to Divine Delights stores and available for purchase worldwide beginning tomorrow." She lowers her voice. "And I have to tell you, they're the best I've ever tasted." She turns toward the mayor in the audience. "Worth every millimeter added to our waistlines."

I watch Amelia working in the background, the consummate pro. She'll be exhausted by the end of the night, but even if I can just get her to unblock my number, that will be a step toward convincing her I'm worth taking a risk with.

The evening winds down, a resounding success, and I continue stealing glances at Amelia across the room, her presence like a lighthouse, guiding my every move. Emma Blaze comes to stand beside Tricia to bid everyone goodnight, and a frenzy of camera flashes ensues.

I take this as my cue, cutting through the throng of well-dressed patrons to make my way to Amelia. She's alone now, just for a moment, and that's all I need.

"You look stunning tonight," I tell her when she looks up.

"Thank you," she replies, her voice polite but distant.

"I see you landed a new job with Divine Delights. Excellent company."

"Actually, I work for their ad agency, Amplify Brands."

"That's fantastic. Much more exciting than a public hospital."

"Yes. I also work on two smaller accounts, but I really like Tricia. She's amazing."

"You're amazing." I say the quiet part out loud.

She smiles and turns slightly as if to signal the end of our interaction, but something within me refuses to let this chance slip away.

"Amelia, wait." I reach out but let my hand fall at my side. Touching her would be too much. "No one has ever… No one has left me quite like you did." The admission feels like shedding armor. "Recently, Leah told me she wanted more from our relationship, to change what we had. But I knew immediately that it wasn't right because she wasn't you. I'm sorry for everything."

Her eyes search mine, a hint of surprise—or is it recognition?—passing over her features.

"Kent, I—" she starts, but I cut her off, pouring out words I've rehearsed in my mind a thousand times.

"Please give me another chance. Let me make things right between us."

She hesitates, her gaze dropping to the floor before meeting mine again. There's a softness there, a reluctant yielding. "I'm exhausted tonight. Getting ready for this has been two weeks of nonstop long hours. Can we meet for lunch tomorrow?"

"Absolutely." My heart surges with a rush of hope. "How about back to our favorite? Joey's at noon?"

The corners of her mouth turn up. "That's your favorite." She reaches for my arm. "But, Kent, no promises," she cautions, her voice firm yet not unkind.

"None expected," I assure her, though inside, I'm planning for forever.

With a nod, she blends back into the crowd, but I stand there a moment longer, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. I'm buoyant, elated, floating on the very air that fills the room. Tomorrow, I'll pull out all the stops. Amelia will see—I'll make sure of it—that I am worth a second look, a second chance. I am determined to rewrite our ending, starting with lunch under the midday sun.