By the time they’d finished their meals, Emma’s head was spinning, and part of her—that nagging insecure part—wished she didn’t have to face the decision that was before her.
They declined dessert but each ordered a coffee. When Arlene lapsed into silence, Emma sensed she was looking for some sort of response from her. An indication of what she was thinking. Suddenly, Emma felt the lunch was a big mistake. She didn’t know if she could accept the offer, but her doubts had nothing to do with her belief in her own capabilities this time. They had to do with what she wanted out of life, where she wanted to live and, most importantly, what was between her and Josh.
Finally, Emma thanked Arlene and assured her that she’d give the matter serious consideration and get back to her as soon as possible.
After they said goodbye, Emma climbed into her X5 and her first thought was of Josh.
They had a lot to discuss.
CHAPTER TWENTY
JOSH HAD ALSO spent the day in New York City. He purposely picked the same day Emma had her meeting with Arlene Greenberg, so she wouldn’t know he wasn’t in Sanctuary Cove. He had Sherri reschedule all his appointments and take care of all three dogs, so he could have a full day. He wanted to ensure Emma had no knowledge of what he was up to. He was nervous enough about what she’d think, without her being aware of it in advance.
It hadn’t taken much to get his sister, Angie, to be his accomplice. A day of shopping in NYC and the added inducement of Josh buying her lunch had sealed the deal as far as Angie was concerned.
Having accomplished what he’d set out to do, Josh dropped off Angie at her apartment in Westchester on his way back to Sanctuary Cove.
“Thanks again, Ange,” he said as he gave her a hug. “Don’t know how I would’ve done it without you. I’m grateful that I didn’t have to find out.”
“I’m glad you asked.” Her eyes misted. “I’m so happy for you, Josh. I haven’t spent much time with Emma, but I look forward to doing so in the future. From what I’ve seen, you’re perfect for each other.”
He grinned. “Let’s hope the lady agrees.”
Angie chuckled. “She’s a bright girl. How could she not? Mom and Dad will be thrilled.”
“Hey, remember you promised not to say anything until I’ve had a chance to break the news to them,” he reminded her. “Don’t say anything to Ross, either,” he said, referring to their brother. “Promise?”
She rolled her eyes. “It won’t be easy but, yes, I promise.”
Josh thanked Angie once more and waited as she let herself into her building.
He climbed back into his Yukon and started the engine. He pulled the small silver box out of his pocket. Flipping the lid open, he grinned at the sparkling brilliant-cut, one-carat diamond. He lifted the ring out of the box to have a closer look.
The exquisite diamond was simply set in a thin, white-gold band encrusted with smaller diamonds.
Classic, not elaborate or ostentatious. He was glad he’d had the benefit of Angie’s input, as he’d been thinking of something quite different. After looking at what must have been a hundred engagement rings, with Angie’s guidance he had easily decided on the ring he now held. And it was exactly right for Emma. He replaced the ring, closed the lid of the box and slipped it back into his pocket.
Now all he had to do was put the wheels in motion for the rest of his plan to get the ring on Emma’s finger. As he headed north on Interstate 87, he contemplated how best to do it.
He decided to start those wheels turning that night.
* * *
“HOW DID YOUR meeting with Arlene go?” Josh asked Emma as soon as he arrived at her cottage.
“Oh, good. Great. I guess.”
He looked at her carefully, trying to gauge her mood. She didn’t seem upset, but she didn’t seem overly excited, either. Reserved was the best way he could think to describe her demeanor. He didn’t know what to make of it. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Oh, I want to discuss it with you. Get your opinion, but let me think about it a little first.”
“Okay. But know that I believe in you and want what you want.”
She gave him a weak smile. “I appreciate it.”
It wasn’t until after dinner that Josh decided to start working on his plan. “It occurred to me it’s been quite a while since I’ve taken any time off,” Josh said casually as he and Emma were loading the dishwasher. “I’ve been thinking it’s time to take a break from the clinic and get away from Sanctuary Cove for a few days.”
“Oh?” Emma looked disappointed and he tried not to be happy about it, as he took it as an indication that she’d miss him if he went on his own. “Where are you thinking of going?” she asked.
He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. “Not me. Us. If you’re willing. I’d like to take you away for a few days. A mini-holiday of sorts, before we have too much snow to contend with.”
The smile that spread across her face warmed his heart. “That sounds nice. What do you have in mind?”
He’d thought of and quickly rejected the idea of going to New York City. While it would have been a great place to spoil her with a five-star hotel and a variety of restaurants, he understood that the city held painful memories for her. He wanted a place all their own, with no history for either of them, where they could make their own memories. “There’s a wonderful place, the Seacliffe Hotel, in Newport, Rhode Island. It has an excellent restaurant and a full-service spa, if you like that sort of thing, and the area offers a lot to do. We could go hiking, shopping, snowshoeing—weather permitting. Whatever you like. How does that sound?”
Emma threw her arms around Josh’s neck and gave him an enthusiastic kiss. “It sounds wonderful! What about the dogs?”
“Sherri would be happy to dog sit while we’re gone. She could stay here or at my place with them, whichever you prefer.”
“When do we leave?” she asked excitedly.
* * *
EMMA HADN’T SAID anything further to Josh about her meeting with Arlene. Josh assumed she’d talk to him about it when she was ready. For his part, he was eager to give Emma the ring and making that happen was his focus. He was able to arrange the trip sooner than expected. Based on his schedule at the clinic and Sherri’s availability, they settled on a four-day trip at the end of the following week. They left in the morning. The early December air was crisp, and snowflakes were lazily drifting to the ground.
The small silver box was nestled inside Josh’s coat pocket.
The three-and-a-half-hour drive went quickly and they arrived in Newport before noon. They entered the gorgeous, fifteen-acre grounds of the Seacliffe Hotel. As they made their way around a bend in the drive, the main building came into view. It was clad in stone and surrounded by rolling lawns, mature trees and generous garden beds. As a backdrop, there was a spectacular ocean view. In addition to the main hotel, the property was dotted with a handful of small, self-contained cottages that Josh had briefly considered. He concluded that both he and Emma had enough seclusion living in Sanctuary Cove. He’d wanted something different. Something special. He’d settled on the two-bedroom penthouse suite in the main building.
A uniformed doorman greeted them as they pulled up to the front entrance. He arranged to have their car parked and their bags seen to, and a bellboy escorted them to their suite.
Josh loved seeing the glow of pleasure on Emma’s face, as she took it all in. She stood in the middle of the room and turned in a slow circle, smiling hugely. Delighted by her reaction, Josh knew he’d made the right choice.
The room was decorated in warm, neutral shades with the occasional splash of brilliant color in the form of a throw pillow or a painting. The ceiling was high and vaulted, nearly a story and a half, creating an airy expanse of space. There were two enormou
s picture windows flanking a stone fireplace. The stonework for the chimney rose from floor to ceiling, the windows on either side soaring up alongside, affording unobstructed views of the grounds and the ocean.
Beyond the windows was a wide terrace overlooking the coastline.
A well-stuffed sofa and armchairs were arranged conversation-style facing the fireplace and view. To the left of the living room was a cozy dining area and an archway leading to an efficiency kitchen. To the right was a small work space with a desk, chair and lamp, and a corridor leading to the bedrooms and main bathroom.
“This is wonderful! Thank you for bringing me here,” Emma exclaimed.
Josh circled Emma’s waist with his arms and dropped an affectionate kiss on top of her nose. “I’m glad you like it. What do you want to do?”
“I can’t decide if I’d rather go out and explore Newport or stay here and enjoy the suite.”
He brushed his lips over hers. “Let’s make time for both.”
Bundled in warm clothes, they walked along Ocean Drive to Main Street. They held hands as they strolled past quaintly decorated shops and charming cafés. Many of the stores were already getting into the Christmas spirit. Occasionally they would stop to window-shop or enter a store and browse.
Josh bought Emma a silly knit hat in the likeness of a pink mouse. She bought him a large ceramic St. Bernard with a small first-aid kit attached to his collar. They stopped at a pizzeria for lunch and shared a large pepperoni pizza. Midafternoon, they headed back to the hotel, happy and tired.
Emma took a bubble bath in the enormous tub of the ensuite of her bedroom. When she joined Josh in the living area, bundled in one of the hotel’s thick and luxurious bathrobes, he’d already started a fire and had a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket. They sipped their drinks as they sat on the sofa and watched the lightly falling snow outside.
To Josh, this time together was the prelude to what he’d planned for that evening. He’d been giving how he’d propose to Emma a lot of thought since he’d bought the ring.
He’d made reservations at a French restaurant. He’d order champagne and would devise a ruse to have her go to the ladies’ room. Maybe tell her she had a smudge on her nose. While she was gone, he’d place the diamond in her champagne flute and then hope she’d notice it rather than drink it! He’d then tell her he loved her, wanted to spend his life with her and ask her to make him the happiest man in the world by agreeing to marry him.
They both dressed warmly, as they’d decided to walk rather than drive to the restaurant. Josh fingered the small silver box in his jacket pocket as they left the hotel room.
In no hurry, they strolled along Ocean Drive again with Emma comfortably tucked under his arm, her head resting against his shoulder. Although his pulse was racing with anticipation, he felt a wonderful sense of contentment, knowing that Emma was the love of his life. As they neared the shops and restaurants, the lights, activity and noise intensified. Downtown Newport was a popular place on a Friday night, and they weren’t the only couple choosing to stroll to their destination.
Josh smiled as they passed a young couple so thoroughly immersed in each other and clearly in love, they were oblivious to everything around them. An elderly pair, probably in their seventies, followed, holding hands and as comfortable with each other as their many years together warranted.
Had he ever noticed couples in love before?
Josh had never considered himself the sentimental sort. It had taken falling in love with Emma to see the whole world in a different way.
He tightened his arm around her and felt a serenity seep through him as she snuggled closer. It was because of how near he was to her—how connected—that he felt her stiffen. Glancing down at her, he saw a wounded expression on her face as she stared across the street.
Following her gaze, he saw a man of about six feet with meticulously styled sandy-brown hair with a slim brunette on his arm laughing up at him as they walked out of a restaurant. Glancing back at Emma, he noted that her attention remained focused on the couple, her face tense and despondent.
Her emotional withdrawal was palpable.
He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Emma, what’s wrong?” He had to nudge her and repeat the question, but taking a closer look at the couple, even he could see the man’s strong resemblance to her ex-fiancé, Richard.
Emma gave her head a slight shake and looked up at Josh. “Nothing. Nothing, really. My mind was playing tricks on me.”
He saw a shimmer in her eyes. Not quite tears but close. “Emma...?” He couldn’t believe how much it hurt him to think that just looking at a man who resembled her ex-fiancé would affect her so deeply. Reading up on emotional abuse after his first discussion with Angie about it, he’d been astonished to discover the lasting hold abusers could have over their victims. He’d assumed Emma had moved beyond Richard. Her face pale, her eyes round and large, he had to wonder if she was truly over the guy.
He shifted his gaze back to the couple now strolling on the other side of the street, and cursed the fates for having just spoiled the moment for them.
Once they reached the restaurant, Emma had regained some of her animation, but the sparkle was absent from her eyes.
They were seated at a table in a small alcove overlooking the water. He had the perfect table, the perfect setting to propose to the woman he loved.
But with considerable regret, Josh decided to hold off on ordering the champagne...and hold off with the proposal. It no longer felt right. He didn’t want Emma to be preoccupied with her past when he asked her to share the future with him.
Over cocktails, Emma chattered on about the night sky, the boats in the harbor and many other topics—almost as if she feared silence. He placed his hand on top of hers and interrupted in a quiet but firm voice. “Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
She pulled her shoulders back and he could tell she was about to deny there was anything wrong, but then seemed to sag. She withdrew her hand from his, glanced down at her glass and sighed. “I... I’m sorry. I don’t want to ruin our evening. I don’t even know how to explain it.” She lifted her gaze to his. “Have you ever felt déjà vu?” At the shake of his head, she looked down again and continued. “Well, that’s what I felt on our way here. Just before I left New York City, I saw Richard with another woman.” She hesitated again. Swallowed hard. “It happened just a couple of weeks after we split. Granted, we were no longer together, but for him to have moved on so soon...”
When their appetizers were served, she remained silent and then continued. “A couple I saw on the street just now? It was like seeing Richard and that woman again. I truly thought it was them.”
“I’m sorry he hurt you, Emma.”
A strangled laugh escaped her. “Yeah. Me, too. I wouldn’t have expected it to still affect me the way it did. I’m really sorry, Josh.”
“You will heal,” he assured her. “But it takes time.” And as he said the words, he slid his hand in his jacket pocket and fingered the silver box again, with disappointment and more than a little frustration this time.
“You haven’t told me much about your lunch with Arlene Greenberg,” Josh prompted, wanting a change in topic.
A nervous smile flitted across her face, and she took a sip of her wine. “It went well.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? You were counting on her giving you steady work. Is that going to happen?”
“Oh, you could say it would be steady.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” It was like pulling teeth. She didn’t look happy. She looked uneasy, and he had no idea why. He prompted her again, and this time she explained to him what had happened.
“She presented you with a contract offer to be a client executive?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes.”
His first thought was that she’d have to move back to the city. There was no way she could do the job from Sanctuary Cove. His words about wanting for her what she wanted came back to taunt him. “Congratulations,” he said with forced cheer, as a fist grabbed hold of his heart and squeezed. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asked in a quiet voice. He had a sneaking suspicion why.
“Because—because I didn’t know what to do about it.”
“And now? Have you decided?”
“No, not yet.”
And with those words, Josh realized that it was probably for the best that circumstances unfolded as they had, and he hadn’t proposed to Emma. As much as he hated the thought of losing her, her decision about the client executive offer would be crucial to determining the direction of their future together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
AT HOME IN her own bed, Emma woke to the first significant snowfall of the season. Enormous, fluffy flakes drifted gently down. They melted as they hit the open water, but a glistening blanket of white covered the ground. She grinned at the sight.
Texting Josh, she asked that he come over with Winston as soon as he was finished at the clinic. When he arrived, there was already an accumulation of a good four inches of wet, heavy snow.
Barely giving Josh time to say hello, Emma put on her jacket, scarf, hat, gloves and boots. The dogs picked up on the easy sense of play and were also eager to get outside. Their excitement intensified as Josh reached into the vestibule closet and pulled out a rubber football. As soon as he opened the front door, the dogs streaked out.
The air was crisp but not bone-chillingly cold. The flakes clung to their hats, jackets and the dogs’ fur. The dogs ran in circles around them until Josh sent the football soaring. In a flurry of flying snow, they raced after it. With one dog or another catching the ball, they chased each other before the triumphant dog would finally return the ball to Josh to start the game all over again.