Legend said that the natural minerals in Haven’s hot springs could calm your soul. Emma’s soul didn’t generally need calming, but these last few months were a different story. She’d been tied up in knots ever since the night Ryan had given her a ride home from The Drunken Bear. The night her friends had dared her to shake things up, and boy had she ever.
* * *
Spring in Haven segued into summer in a frantic rush. Artful Blooms always saw a surge in business once the weather warmed up, and although Lucas and Mary would be retiring in just a few months, business hadn’t yet started to taper off. The memorial had been installed last week, and Emma spent most mornings working on the gardens that would surround it. It would officially be unveiled on July first, just over two weeks away.
She’d barely seen Ryan this week either; he was so busy at Off-the-Grid. Busy was good, though, for both of them. Busy kept her mind off things, including the fact that she’d put a deposit on an apartment outside Atlanta last week. Leaving Haven felt so bittersweet, but she was a believer that everything happened for a reason. Hopefully, in this case, it meant big things were waiting for her in Georgia.
As for Ryan? He couldn’t leave Haven, not now that he had Off-the-Grid here. She’d be more than willing to try a long-distance relationship, but only if he was ready to make a commitment. She wasn’t going to let him rip her heart slowly to shreds by coming home to Haven over school vacations so that they could have casual sex.
Nope. She needed a commitment or a clean break.
She sank her hands into the warm earth, pressing into place one of the many dazzling red poppies she’d selected for the memorial gardens. She scooped fresh potting soil over the roots and sat back, dirty hands on her knees. She still had dozens of poppies to go, but already she could see her vision starting to unfold, and it wasperfect.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Ryan said from behind her.
She looked over her shoulder, surprised to see him standing there, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. “What are you doing here?”
“Saw you as I was driving home. Thought I’d stop by and see how the memorial was coming along.”
“It’ll be finished this week.”
He came to stand beside her. “These red flowers remind me of your tattoo.”
“They’re the same. Red poppies.”
“You told me they represent fallen troops.”
“Yes.” She touched the flower she’d just finished planting. “Derek’s birthday is next week. I haven’t been to visit him in a while. Thought I might go.”
“His grave?”
She nodded. She visited Arlington National Cemetery every few years. It was a special honor that he was buried there, but sometimes she wished he were here in Haven, beside their mom, where she could visit him more often. Of course, that wouldn’t matter soon anyway…
“I haven’t been in a while either,” Ryan said. “Mind if I tag along?”
“I’d like that.” She stood and let him pull her into his arms. “I know he would, too.”
Ryan’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t say anything.
Stubborn man.“He would. You know that, right?”
* * *
No, Ryan wasn’t so sure about that at all. He had a good idea Derek might turn over in his grave if he caught Ryan and Emma fooling around together in DC. But it had been too long since he’d visited his friend’s grave. He could clear his schedule at Off-the-Grid for a few days next week and go with Emma. He owed his old buddy that.
“You got plans tonight?” he asked.
Emma nodded. “Girls’ night.”
“In that case, I’ll see if I can convince Trent to stay home from the club and hang out with his boring big brother.” He cracked a grin.
She laughed. “Who’d have thought anyone would ever call you boring?”
“Not me.”
“You’re settling down,” she said.
It’s what he’d come home to Haven for. He’d wanted to leave his nomadic, hell-raising lifestyle behind. But to hear Emma say it? While she was looking at him with those big, blue eyes that seemed to see right into his soul? He had the sudden, irrational need to take off on his bike, go in some seedy bar somewhere for a cheap beer and…no. Even in his imagination, he couldn’t fathom picking up some random chick and sleeping with her the way he used to. “I’m the same guy, Emma.”
