Josh and Emma made their way along the driveway to its crest before turning back to walk along the snow-covered clearing. When Josh called Emma from behind her, she spun around and a soft ball of snow struck her squarely on her chest.
The dogs got into the spirit as Josh and Emma tossed snowballs at each other, or for them to chase. Emma’s aim was accurate, and she was hitting Josh as much as he was hitting her. He must have decided he had had enough snow down the collar of his coat as he seemed determined to put an end to the fight—by tackling her in a patch of fresh snow.
They were both breathless and laughing as she lay sprawled across him. After a long kiss that made Emma’s head spin, they brushed themselves off and headed back to the cottage.
When they reached the large granite rock that was Emma’s favorite vantage point, she stopped. The stark tree branches and the near black water were in sharp contrast to the blanket of white. In the still air, the dogs’ playful yips and barks were the only sounds to be heard.
This spot always made her pensive and it reminded her that she owed Josh an answer about Arlene Greenberg’s offer. Since their dinner in Newport, neither of them had spoken of it, but she understood it was on Josh’s mind as much as hers.
Emma had considered whether it would be possible for her to continue to live in Sanctuary Cove, and stay in the city a couple of days a week, even if she didn’t know how she’d work out the logistics of that with the dogs. It would be a lot of commuting. But she needed income and, right now, Elite Consulting seemed to be the only viable, steady source. But to leave Sanctuary Cove behind for weekends only again? In a few short months, it had become home. More so than the house she’d occupied in the city, or her condo before that.
And a lot of that feeling of home—of belonging—had to do with Josh. How could she leave him behind? Her heart ached at the mere prospect of it.
It wasn’t an easy decision.
Emma turned to look at Josh, needing to feel the connection.
He smiled down at her and drew her into his arms. “You look pensive. Want to tell me what’s on your mind?”
“Oh, the offer from Elite Consulting.” She saw his eyes shutter. Clearly, she’d been correct in her assumption that she wasn’t the only one struggling with the decision she had to make. But if she didn’t accept, what would she do for income? Would she be able to get more freelance work, sufficient to keep her solvent? And if she was honest with herself, Arlene’s offer presented an opportunity for her to prove that she wasn’t a failure. She could do the job. And maybe that was even more compelling than the financial aspect.
Josh gave her a gentle kiss, but Emma felt the distance between them and wished she hadn’t said anything about the offer.
They walked back to the cottage, the dogs, happy and exhausted, following them.
While Josh stoked the fires and Emma was making hot chocolate, the phone rang. Emma glanced at the call display.
“It’s Daniel,” she informed Josh. “I better take it.”
Daniel didn’t waste any time.
“Because of the fatality, the AFM executives are going to be hit with additional charges.”
“Oh...” Emma glanced at Josh. He went to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Emma, you need to be careful.” Daniel’s voice was emphatic.
She thought of the empty envelope and of Max being injured. Of not going into the forest alone any longer. “I have been and I’ve also made the local police aware.”
“That’s good. I was going to suggest you do just that. We’ve experienced some other strange occurrences and I know I’m being followed. The police are taking it seriously now, too. Emma, they don’t think it’s Morgan. After Private Laurence’s funeral and the scene with his father, they think it might be him. Mr. Laurence has called me a couple of times. Left garbled and threatening messages, and the police in his hometown have some reports of recent violent behavior. The death of his son—his only child—might have unhinged him.”
“That’s terrible, Daniel. It makes it even more tragic if Mr. Laurence is doing it. Do you agree with the police?”
“I don’t know. The fact that it’s happening at all is bad enough, but to think that not only has Mr. Laurence lost his son, it’s driven him over the edge... Emma, please be careful,” he repeated. “Have your local police contact the NYPD again if they need verification of what we’ve reported.”
“All right, Daniel. I appreciate the heads-up.”
Emma felt the keen edge of despondency as she hung up the phone.
Her sigh was audible and prolonged. Josh simply took her into his arms.
“Daniel’s call was to warn me again to be careful. He’s certain he’s being watched. The police now think so, and they suspect it could be Private Laurence’s father,” she told him.
“We’ll update Chad. Do you want me to stay with you for the time being?”
She thought about it for a moment, but she didn’t want to believe there was any great risk to her. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m okay for now.” She glanced at the dogs. “Besides, I have Max and Theo. They might not be watchdogs, but they’re an effective early warning system.”
“Okay, but keep your cell phone with you at all times, please. If anything strikes you as being out of the ordinary, promise to call me or Chad immediately?”
Emma nodded, and let out another huge breath. “This is so much bigger than I ever thought it would be. It’s so beyond me.”
Josh slipped a finger under her chin, lifted her face to his and lowered his lips to hers. “Just know that you’re not in this alone. I’m here for you.”
* * *
MORE SNOW FELL OVERNIGHT. With everything that had been going on, Emma had barely thought of Christmas, but it was fast approaching.
The snow finally slowed by midafternoon. Emma shoveled her walkways and stopped to chat with the man who plowed her driveway. She was just about to strip off the old jeans and sweater she was wearing to take a long, hot bath, when she was startled by a knock on the door. It was much too early for Josh to be stopping by and she wasn’t expecting anyone. The dogs’ behavior indicated they didn’t know whoever was there.
The knock sounded again. She grabbed the phone, just in case she needed it, and glanced out the front window. There was a courier truck parked in her driveway. She rushed to the front door and opened it to the uniform-clad man holding an envelope.
“Ms. Meadows?” he inquired.
“Yes. That’s me,” she confirmed.
“Quite a place you’ve got here,” he noted, glancing around. “You must be in a big rush to get this,” he said, handing her the envelope with the Elite Consulting logo on the top left corner. “We don’t usually deliver to such remote locations. There must’ve been a hefty tab associated with this delivery.”
“Uh-huh,” Emma agreed, only half listening, wondering what Arlene would be sending her. She felt a pang of guilt over not having gotten back to Arlene with an answer. She’d been procrastinating, pure and simple.
Emma took the envelope into the great room and tore it open. She drew out a letter. Appended to it was a draft contract. She read the letter quickly and scanned the agreement. “Oh, my God!” Apparently, Arlene wanted to nudge her along, because she’d sweetened the offer. Arlene was offering her a partnership! In addition, the base salary and the incentive plan were far more generous than what she’d had at Tyson, Myers and Smith.
She was terrified and elated all at the same time. She could be a partner!
The job itself sounded like everything Emma had dreamed of when she’d been climbing the corporate ladder at her former employer.
She needed to see Josh.
She slid the papers back into the envelope, called the dogs, grabbed her coat and keys and headed out the door and to her
X5.
Emma was surprised to see no cars in front of the clinic when she arrived at Josh’s, considering the time. Not even Sherri’s, meaning he must have closed the clinic early. Without thought, she rushed into his house, the dogs at her heels, the envelope clutched in her hand, excitement and nervous energy radiating from her.
“Josh! Josh, you’ll never believe what just happened!” she called out as she dashed into his living room—and came to a sudden halt. Max and Theo also slid to a stop beside her.
A lovely middle-aged woman, with dark brown hair and bright green eyes, sat on the sofa. She wore a smoke-gray silk pantsuit and held a martini glass in one hand. A tall man, with shortly cropped black hair, elegantly peppered with gray, stood casually by the fireplace. He wore navy pants and a steel-blue sweater over white button-downs. He swirled the amber liquid in his snifter as he watched Emma with amusement dancing in warm brown eyes.
“Oh. I’m sorry to intrude.” Emma felt awkward and wished she’d changed out of the worn jeans she’d been wearing to shovel snow. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror over the sofa, she noted with dismay that her hair was tousled and, of course, she hadn’t bothered with makeup.
Winston trotted up to greet her and his pals, and she tried to gain strength from the little pack surrounding her. “I didn’t know Josh was expecting company,” she stammered.
When the man gave her a bemused smile, recognition dawned. She was looking at an older but equally attractive version of Josh. These people weren’t merely company, and suddenly she wished she could simply vanish.
Oh, my God. Why didn’t Josh tell me his parents were visiting?
The man placed his drink on the mantel, stepped forward and extended a hand. “I’m Steven. Josh’s father,” he said, confirming what she’d already surmised. “This—” he cast an affectionate glance toward the woman on the sofa “—is my wife, Elizabeth.”
Emma shook his hand.
“And you are?” he prompted.
“I’m Emma. Emma Meadows.” At his inquiring look, she added, “Um...a friend of Josh’s.”
Elizabeth rose to join them. “It’s lovely to meet you, Emma.”
“Josh had to walk over to his clinic,” Steven explained. “One of his patients had an emergency while on vacation and the vet treating the dog needed to verify some of his history. Josh’ll be right back. Will you join us for a drink?”
All sorts of excuses ran through Emma’s mind. She chastised herself for being a coward. She was good with people. She knew she wouldn’t have had a problem meeting Josh’s parents if she’d not been taken unawares, and if she’d considered herself presentable. If she was serious about Josh—which seemed to be the case more and more each day—she would have to do her best, regardless of the circumstances. “Yes, that would be nice, thank you,” she replied, and ran her palms nervously across the fabric of her jeans.
Steven took a step toward the kitchen.
“It’s all right. I’ll get it,” she said hurriedly. “Can I freshen up your drinks?”
They both declined, and Emma escaped the room with the dogs trailing behind her.
In the privacy of the kitchen, she finger-combed her hair to bring it to some semblance of order. She shrugged out of her coat, folded it over the envelope and left both on a chair. After pouring herself a glass of wine, she took a moment to tuck the shirt under her sweater more snugly in her waistband and straighten the collar. Resigned that it was the best she could do, she took her wine and rejoined the elder Dr. Whitmore and his wife in the living room.
* * *
JOSH DEALT WITH the emergency consult. He locked the clinic door behind him and, turning, sighted Emma’s SUV in his drive.
“Damn.” With his parents’ unannounced visit upon their return from Europe and then the emergency call, he hadn’t had a chance to let Emma know they were visiting. Since he had picked them up from the train station after they’d called him upon their arrival, there was no car in the driveway to alert her that he wasn’t alone.
And he wanted very much for Emma and his parents to get along. Not just get along but like each other.
He was willing to bet that Emma wouldn’t be pleased about the impromptu meeting. Not only that, but he also hadn’t had an opportunity to tell his parents about Emma and his plans.
As a result, Josh was certain he would fare no better with his mother, as she’d be disappointed he hadn’t told her he was seeing Emma. He’d debated it in his own mind, but had decided it was too important a discussion to have over the telephone when they were an ocean away. “Too late to rectify it all now,” he mumbled under his breath as he shoved his hands in his pockets, hunched his shoulders and headed home to face the music.
Opening his front door, he was greeted by the sound of laughter, two soft and feminine voices, and a deeper rumbling one that he would know to be his father’s anywhere. Maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad after all, he thought optimistically as he walked into the living room. Then he saw Emma’s attire and knew without a doubt that it might be fine right now, but he would definitely hear about his oversight later. He liked her casual, but noting the dirt stains and tears on the jeans Emma was wearing, he knew she’d be uncomfortable.
He shrugged in resignation. He might as well make the most of the cheerful mood while it lasted.
All three dogs rose and raced over to greet him. And three pairs of eyes, each with a message to convey, turned toward him. Ruffling the dogs’ fur, he decided he might as well start from a position of strength. With a forced smile, he strode into the room. “I see you’ve met.”
He placed a brief kiss on Emma’s lips.
Cowardly, perhaps, but he retreated to what he knew would be safest ground—behind his father’s chair—and rested a hand on his father’s shoulder. There was a tickle at the base of his neck at the questioning look his mother sent him and Emma’s unfathomable one. He’d have felt better if Emma’s eyes had been flashing anger. At least he would’ve known where he stood.
“Yes, we have,” his mother responded.
“Your parents were sharing stories from your childhood,” Emma added, smiling.
Josh winced inwardly. He could only imagine the stories being told, as he readily acknowledged he hadn’t been an easy child. Hopeful that the anticipated storm wouldn’t materialize, he joined his mother on the sofa, taking a sip of her martini before handing the glass back to her.
To his relief, the conversation flowed, and Josh was entirely relaxed as it neared dinnertime.
“I’m taking my parents out to dinner. Why don’t you join us?” he asked Emma.
She glanced down at her clothing ruefully. “I appreciate the invitation, but the way I’m looking right now, your options of restaurants would be drastically limited.”
“Then we’ll stay in,” he said quickly.
“Or we’re more than happy to wait, if you’d like to change,” Elizabeth offered.
“I appreciate it. I really do, but I’m sure Josh would like some time alone with you after your lengthy absence.”
They tried to convince her otherwise, but ultimately she won out.
As she was getting ready to leave, Steven gave her a kiss on the cheek and Elizabeth embraced her warmly.
Emma retrieved her coat and the envelope from the kitchen. Now was not the time to share her news with Josh. He walked her out, and she rose to her toes and gave him a kiss. “They’re wonderful people, Josh. You’re a very lucky man to have such fantastic parents.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He brushed his lips across hers, stroked a thumb over her cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to warn you they were here.”
“I just wish I could’ve made a better first impression.”
“To put your mind at ease, they like you. I know my parents. My mother can speak volu
mes with a single glance.” Then a thought occurred to him. Christmas would be the ideal time to propose to Emma. Celebratory. Memorable. “Would you join us for our family Christmas celebration? I know my parents would love to have you with us. You’d get to see Angie again and meet the rest of the clan.”
“Ah, would your parents be okay with it?”
“Absolutely.” He could tell she was nervous. “You can think about it, if you want, but it would mean a lot to me...and to my parents. I’m glad you met them. Are you sure I can’t talk you into joining us for dinner?”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but no.”
He watched her SUV thoughtfully until it turned out of the driveway. He sure had it bad for Emma, he mused. He had been patient enough. He’d have to put that diamond ring he’d bought to use soon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
THE SNOW RESUMED OVERNIGHT, bringing the accumulation to nearly eighteen inches. Yet the morning dawned clear and bright. The warmth of the sun combined with the bite of the wind had caused a thin, glittering crust to form on top of the newly fallen layer of snow.
Emma padded downstairs in the yoga pants, T-shirt and heavy wool socks she’d slept in. She fed Max and Theo, and opened the door to let them out to play. She put the kettle on and stoked the fire to fend off the chill inside the cottage. With her first mug of coffee in her hand, she glanced out the kitchen window to check on the dogs.
Emma thought about Josh’s invitation to join him and his family for Christmas, and it appealed to her. She wanted to be with Josh. She knew he was giving Sherri time off over the holidays, and the clinic would be closed. With Christmas on her mind, Emma took the morning to put up some holiday decorations.
Midday, she decided to take a break and call Arlene. She owed her that much, even if she was still undecided. She didn’t want to seem any more unprofessional or nonresponsive as she already had. But what was it that she wanted? And how could she manage it without negatively affecting her and Josh.