Lacey’s shrewd eyes narrowed. “Good luck, sister. You’re going to need it.”
“Lacey, wait.”
The brunette turned back and put a hand on her hip.
“Michael and I…we didn’t go looking for this.”
“So itjust happened, as they say?”
“Well…”
“Let me tell you something. I don’t know what happened between you and Trent and, frankly, I couldn’t care less. I will, however, share what happened with me and Michael. I cheated on him with my ex, not because I felt anything for the man, but because he fulfilled a need. After being in a mind-numbing void with Michael, I needed tofeelsomething. Michael’s a good guy, I’ll give him that. I still care for him, more than I probably should, but he’s closed off when it comes to real emotions. He might blame our break up on other things, and he’d be partially right, but the fact is he never let me in. He keeps everyone at a distance, even more so since he stopped that man from blowing up the daycare. I would love for him to be able to move on from that day, but he’ll never do it until he confronts it. So enjoy your little fling, but if you want my advice, you’ll get out now.”
Even after Lacey walked away, her words hung heavy around Emily, like wet clothes, weighing her down.
He keeps everyone at a distance.
After Trent’s betrayal, the last thing Emily needed was a man who didn’t share his soul. Yes, it was early days, but she could tell her feelings for Michael ran deep and she knew he felt the same. Right now, his attentions made her feel giddy and desirable, but at some point they’d have to decide on whether or not they could have a future together. Could she love a man who refused to face his feelings?
He emerged from the other room, keeping his gaze level with her shoulders, but never her eyes. “I’m ready if you are.”
“I’ll just get my purse.”
“I’ll wait outside.”
As he walked away, Emily got the sense a space was opening between them, one of his own creation. It might turn into a chasm if she wasn’t careful. Although she knew it made little sense, the idea of losing Michael hurt even more than seeing Trent kiss Veronica. The more time she spent with Michael, the more Trent seemed to fade into the distance, like a worrisome cloud drifting into someone else’s horizon.
He followed her home in his truck, just as he said he would. Emily had snuck several peeks in the rearview mirror, but every time she spied the drawn lines on Michael’s face, she felt more and more helpless. When they arrived at her condo, she headed toward the underground parking and he circled toward the visitor parking lot. She parked her car and headed toward the entrance of the building where they agreed to meet.
Within a few minutes, he arrived at the door and she let him in. “You don’t have to come up. I’m fine.”
“With everything that’s been happening, I’d like to see you right to your door, if you don’t mind.”
“Okay.”
They were silent as they headed toward the elevator. Once in the elevator, the silence swarmed her and she wanted to babble, say anything, just to cut the tension. However, she took a moment to breathe and plan her words. A dull ache had materialized at the back of her head but she disregarded it.
When Emily opened her condo door, Michael entered first and turned on the lights, on his insistence. He was careful to check all the rooms. He returned to the living room and she greeted him with a sigh. “Thank you, but I’m sure there’s no need to look in the closets and under the bed.”
“Damn. I forgot to look under the bed.” He shrugged. “That was a joke, a bad one.”
She didn’t laugh.
“I get it, Em. I may have overreacted about the broken window, but I feel protective toward you.”
“I’ve never been the focus for any crazy stalkers.”
“I’d be willing to guess Jane Ashton thought the same thing.” He cast a final glance about the room. “I’m going to head home.”
“Michael, I’m not sure what you need from me.”
“I don’t need anything. Please don’t worry.”
“I want you to know I’m on your side. You do know that, right?”
“I do.”
“I just don’t want you to make any difficult decisions without seeing the full picture.”
