Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

“The beginning is usually the best place,” Emma told Nash, unsure if she wanted to hear what he had to say.

Nash opened the soda, pouring it into her glass, the ice tinkling as the carbonated drink fizzled to the top of the glass.

“Right. So, I don’t know much about you and vice versa.” Nash appeared to struggle for the right words. “But I noticed you right away.”

Maybe this wasn’t the conversation Emma had been expecting.

Nash took a sip of her soda. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine.” After all, they’d kissed and swapped germs already.

“I’m having a hard time here. I hope you won’t think I’m off my rocker, but what the heck, I’m just going to go for it.” He took another drink of soda. “Emma, I think I’m falling in love.”

This definitely wasn’t what she expected to hear. How did he want her to respond? She’d never been in this situation—a guy she had a thing for telling her he was falling in love.

“Okay.” She swallowed, her throat dry. She took a sip from the glass.

“And?” Nash prompted.

Emma felt like she was drowning in emotions and couldn’t come up for air. Nash probably didn’t realize his words cut into her like a sharp knife. “Maybe I’m not the one you should tell this to, Nash.”

Dumbstruck, his face turned a deep red. “Damn. Emma, I thought you and I had a connection. I’m sorry.”

“Wait! Say that again.”

“I thought we had a connection.”

“So, this love thing . . .” Her throat was so dry, she had to take another drink. “Are you saying it’s me?”

“Of course. Who else would I . . . Emma, I’ve messed this up.” Nash shook his head. “Let me start over. I didn’t sleep much last night because I thought about you most of the night. Us, the entire evening. At least the good parts. I’ve never said this to any woman before, but I believe I’m falling for you. In love, Emma.”

“Oh,” she said. “I see.”

“Are you going to move? Call me a jerk? Please don’t keep me in suspense, Emma. If I’m wrong about this connection, please tell me now.”

She stood up, walked the short distance over to Nash’s chair, and stood in front of him. “Stand up.”

Nash did.

“Now kiss me.”

He placed his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. Nash looked at her as if she were the first woman he’d ever kissed. Their kiss was so slow and intimate that when his lips touched hers, their bodies melded into one. Nash traced his hand down the slope of her back, resting on her hip. She raised her arms, placing them around his neck, just barely able to reach him. She toyed with the ends of his hair.

A loud howling forced them apart.

“Penny,” Nash said.

Emma followed him into the condo’s spare room. Poor little Penny’s front paw was caught on the edge of the entrance to her whelping box. “Hey there.” Nash spoke softly as he removed her paw. “It’s okay.” She waddled back to her corner, where the pups slept on a blanket.

“My gosh, they’re so tiny,” Emma observed. She wanted to pet them, but knew now wasn’t the time. “Have you named them yet?”

Nash sat down beside the dogs. “No. I didn’t think I would be keeping them. I was going to let the new pet parents make that decision.”

“So you are going to keep all four?” Emma asked, a grin a mile wide on her face.

“Yeah, I think I will. Unless you want one?”

“I would love a puppy, but I don’t want to take one. If you keep them, I’ll help you care for them.”

“I’d like that,” Nash said. “You want to help me name them?”

“Sure.” She scooted closer to their whelping box. Inside, the puppies rested on top of a flowered blanket. “They look like little flower petals.”

“Flower girls,” Nash mused. “I like that.”

“How about Daisy, Rosie, Lily, and Ivy? All flowery names.”

“And how will I know which is which?”

“When they’re a little bigger, how about collars that match the color of the flower?”

“Good idea.”

“Nash, just for the record, I knew we had a connection that morning at Vittles. When we shook hands.”

“Yeah, I did too. You made me reconsider everything I ever believed concerning love.”

Emma nodded, still a bit unsure of all this. “How?”

“I was one of those guys who never believed in love at first sight, that sort of stuff. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I don’t want to start our relationship without being totally honest. I spoke with my mom this morning. She picked up on my lack of sleep. She told me that when I met someone special, I would know. She didn’t mention how, just that I would know.”

“She must be a wise woman,” Emma said.

“Very. She raised me, after all.” He laughed. “Dad passed away my first year of college. It was hard for her. First I left, then Dad. She’s a tough cookie. I want you to meet her, if you want to.”

“Of course. I’d like that, Nash. I don’t have any family.” She told him how her parents had died, something she rarely spoke about with others. It had been so tragic. Both had been riding their bicycles. They’d been home in Miami for two days, and Emma had planned to spend a little time with them before they left on their next business trip. Sadly, both of her parents were hit by a van. They didn’t suffer, but the shock of their loss lingered for years.

“That’s terrible, Emma. I’m so sorry for you,” Nash told her when she was done. Then his cell phone rang.

“Answer it,” Emma insisted.

Nash went into the hallway, returning a few minutes later with a big grin on his face. “That was Naomi from the vet clinic. She says Tiffany has voluntarily entered Willow House. It’s a mental health facility.”

“That’s great to hear. I’m happy for her.”

“According to Naomi, Tiffany’s father insisted, and she agreed. Sad, but she’s needed help for as long as I can remember. I think having you here in Pink Pearl Cove is changing many lives for the better. Especially mine.”