He rocked her gently, murmuring into her hair, soft soothing nonsense.
Minutes passed. Maybe more. Time blurred.
When her tears slowed and the hiccups faded, he eased away just enough to see her face, offering a gentle smile, but his eyes were wary, as if he expected her to fall apart again. “Baby,” he said softly, “you’re a mess.”
“I’m an ugly crier. Always have been.” She swiped her cheeks and nose with her sleeve, but satin made a lousy Kleenex, smearing tears instead of drying them.
“There’s nothing about you that isn’t beautiful.” He came to her rescue, dabbing her face with the hem of his T-shirt despite her weak protests.“That was a monsoon of tears. Feel better?”
She sniffled and let out a hitching laugh. “I guess that’s one thing that hasn’t changed.”
“What’s that?”
“Me. Basket case Emily.” Her sad attempt at a joke fell flat.
“You feel deeply. Nothing wrong with that.” His tone shifted, becoming firm though not unkind. “What’s wrong is ghosting someone who loves you.”
Warmth bloomed in her chest. She dared to hope. But after what she’d done, didn’t believe it possible. “Do you still?” she asked, barely above a whisper.
“Of course, I do.” Both his hands framed her face, thumbs stroking gently. “We meant something to each other. I miss you. I want you in my life.”
His honesty hit harder than any reprimand.
“I miss you too. But I’m scared.”
“I know.” He rested his forehead against hers, breath mingling with hers. “But running and hiding isn’t living. There are no guarantees. It sucks, but we go on, trying to live life to the fullest—one day at a time.” He glanced around at her shabby-chic, garage-sale décor. “Don’t take this wrong, sweetheart, but this isn’t anywhere near the fullest.”
She shifted, looking anywhere but at him. Embarrassed, because it was true, but stubbornly defensive, because that was all she had. “I do okay.”
“By okay, do you mean working two jobs and barely scraping by?” Alec’s phone dinged. He dug it out of his back pocket and frowned at the screen. “I’ve got a case this afternoon, and you need to get some sleep. How about we continue this over dinner?”
She hesitated.
“You’re not working, are you?”
It was the perfect excuse. She didn’t take it, though. She’d be lying to him and herself. All the years she’d shut him, and pretty much everyone else, out hadn’t brought comfort, just loneliness. Now, with Alec close enough to touch, to breath in, even with the awkwardness, she wanted to reach for a sliver of happiness she’d once run from.
He used his shirt again and wiped away the remnants of tears. He wouldn’t let her look away. Her shield and her undoing, all at once.
“This isn’t the life you dreamed of. I’m not living mine either. Not once did I imagine a future that didn’t include you.”
“Alec,” she breathed, heart aching and full at the same time.
He squeezed her hands. “Let’s start over. Dinner tonight is a good place to begin.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding, before fear could claw its way in again.
He grinned—dazzling white, confident, completely Alec. “That’s my girl. There’s just one last piece of business before I go.”
The room tilted—so did she—when abruptly, he flipped her facedown across his lap. A shocked breath escaped, but instinct, not fear, tightened her belly.
She didn’t react until he lifted the hem of her robe and cool air kissed her bare skin. Her pulse tripped—half indignation, half instinctive heat curling low in her belly.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, though she already knew.
“Delivering a spanking that’s eight years overdue.”
His palm landed with a firm crack on her right cheek. Startled more than hurt, she wriggled, but his arm tightened around her waist—securely, unyielding.
