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Those last three words hang in the air. It’s the first time I’ve said them to a woman. I didn’t even mean to say them—they just tumbled out. They’re the truth, though. I do love her.

Emily swallows. A second goes by, then another, and another. She says nothing.

Eventually, she steps forward, closing the distance between us. Reaching out, she places a hand over my heart.

“Do you know what I think, Ally?” she says softly. “I think five years ago, when your parents died, you closed this off. You didn’t want to feel anymore. You closed your heart and sacrificed your dreams for the sake of your siblings. Now you’re finally opening your heart up, and that’s wonderful—but you’re scared. Scared of being hurt again.

“I’m not ready to tell you I love you, just as I can’t promise the hotel renovations will bring in a lot of new business, and just as I can’t be certain your and Aidan’s venture will turn a profit. These are all risks. Success and happiness are never guaranteed.

“The funny thing is, Ally, in some ways you’re a thrill-seeker. Every time you go down a river or scale a cliff, you put yourself in harm’s way. But in other aspects of your life, you’re so risk-averse! Can you be sure I’ll fall in love with you and will want to stay here forever?” She shakes her head. “No, you can’t. But it might happen, and isn’t that worth the risk? Aren’t you willing to gamble on me?”

“I . . .”

My head is spinning. It stings, of course, to have told someone I love them only to learn they don’t feel the same way about me. But there’s so much else going on in there. It hurts—my head actually hurts with all the worries and anxieties racing around it. I can’t think straight, can’t think what I’m supposed to say to her.

“I . . .” I try again. I rub my hands through my hair, resisting the temptation to scream. “I think . . . this was a mistake.”

“What do you mean?” Emily’s expression mirrors the gravity of her question. “What was a mistake?”

“Everything! I don’t think I can do this, Emily. Maybe you should just pack your bags and go. I . . . I need to go for a walk, to clear my head . . .”

Emily’s lips quiver. “You’re not being serious, are you? Tell me you’re not being serious.”

But I lurch for the door, yanking it open. “Just . . . go!”

I stumble out of the office, out of the hotel, not looking back once.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

EMILY

I half carry, half drag my suitcases along the hotel corridor, towards the stairs.

Lewis follows behind me, desperately trying to make me stop. “Whatever Ally said, I’m sure he didn’t mean it. Don’t go, Emily! Please don’t go!”

“I called Grace,” I say over my shoulder. “She and David were on their way south, but they turned around, and they’re coming back for me. They’ll be outside any minute. I’m leaving!”

After Ally told me to go then fled the hotel himself, I holed myself up in my room and made the call to my best friend. Then, ignoring Lewis’s and Jamie’s knocks on my door and their anxious questions about how I was doing, I packed up my things and paced nervously, trying to hold back tears, until I got a message from David saying he and Grace were approaching Bannock. That’s when I tried to make a quick and drama-free escape—only to discover Lewis sitting outside in the corridor.

“At least don’t go until Ally’s come back and you and him have had a chat!” Lewis is now following me down the stairs. “Please!”

“We had a chat, and Ally made it clear how he feels. That’s why I’m leaving!”

At the bottom of the stairs, Jamie is waiting for me. Jesus, are the pair of them trying to surround me?

“Emily, please don’t—”

“Stop! This situation is hard enough without the two of you making it harder. Ally told me to pack my bags and go, so that’s what I’m doing. I’ll miss you both, but things are over between me and Ally.”

It’s taking everything in me not to break down in front of them. When Harry jilted me, I fled through London in my wedding dress, crying freely. This time, I refuse to cry—at least not until I’m in the car with Grace and David and we’ve left Bannock behind us. Then I’ll let it all out, but for now, I’m determined to retain some dignity, although holding back the tears isn’t easy.

Navigating around Jamie, I haul my suitcases out of the hotel and onto the pavement, where Grace and David are just pulling up. I couldn’t have timed it better.

The boot is already full with their things, so I open the back door and squeeze my cases onto the far seat then climb in myself.

“Emily, please!” Lewis begs. He’s followed me outside. “Don’t do this!”

“Aye, stay!” Jamie has come out too.