ChapterNineteen
Emma bither lip as Tyler’s thumbs flew across the screen of his phone. “Sent.”
“A rooftop suite?” she hissed. “What is Troy thinking?”
Tyler dropped his phone in his lap. “He’s thinking, ‘My son has an amazing girlfriend, and I’m about to die, so I’m going to send them on a romantic trip to Canmore.’”
That shut Emma up. Right. Troy thought they were together and clearly in love since Tyler’s longest relationships were typically shorter than the gestation of a chicken egg. This was his fault.And hers.She fell back against the seat and ran both hands through her hair.
Tyler’s phone buzzed.
Emma jolted. “What did he say?”
Tyler held out the screen for her to read Troy’s texts.
I’m sorry I didn’t give you a heads-up, but I wanted it to be a surprise
You two have something special
Enjoy tonight
Emma pursed her lips, staring at the two emojis at the end of his message. “How does your almost seventy-year-old dad know about eggplant and peach emojis?”
Tyler coughed a laugh. “He’s only sixty-four.”
Emma groaned and dropped back to stare out the skylight. The Canmore Cascade wasthehotel. Only twelve rooms and over a thousand dollars a night for lower-level accommodations. She knew because she’d looked at it for her parents’ anniversary last year in November. They’d opted for the Prince of Wales in Waterton because Kelty had a corporate discount. She didn’t even want to know how much Troy paid for the rooftop.
“I can tell the driver to turn around,” Tyler murmured.
Theyshouldtell the driver to turn around. They definitelyshould notcontinue the last twenty minutes into Canmore and stay the night in a romantic rooftop suite when they weren’t even together.
But that little voice clawed at the back of Emma’s consciousness.What if he wants this? What if he wants you?
“Or . . . we could go.” Emma swallowed hard. “Not as—just as friends, I mean. I’ve heard the hotel is incredible, and I don’t have plans tomorrow. If you do, then—”
“No, I don’t have plans.” He twisted the cap to his water bottle. “I assume they have a gym there.”
Emma scoffed. “Spending a night at the Cascade, and you’re thinking about the gym?”
Tyler didn’t answer, and Emma couldn’t make out his expression in the low light. Whatwashe thinking about?
Emma played with the zipper of her coat. At some point tonight, she would talk to him. Tell him how she felt. Preferably before her rabbit heart gave out.
* * *
Emma couldn't help but stare wide-eyed at the gorgeous building nestled against the backdrop of the majestic Rockies. The sight was straight out of a fairytale—the way the moonlight glinted off the stone walls, the elegant archways sure to be framed with lush greenery in summer, and the warm glow spilling from the vast windows.
Vaughn had raved about this place purely from pictures he’d seen online, but witnessing it in person was on a whole other level. Emma turned and pulled her bag from the car as Tyler closed his door and rounded the vehicle.
Her heart danced like butterflies in a mason jar as he approached, his sweater open, his dark hair curling over his ears. She didn’t have any toiletries. No toothbrush—
“Welcome to the Cascade.”
Emma turned to see a young man dressed in a tailored suit with a name tag that said, “Quinn” atop an Australian flag.
“I’ll take your bags if you’d like.” Quinn held out a hand as their car pulled away from the curb.This was happening.Tyler was standing next to her, and their only escape route was vanishing up the manicured drive.
Emma looped the strap over her shoulder. “No need. This is all we have.”
