Elle,” the front desk receptionist’s voice rang through her small office.

“Yes, Lorelei?”

“You have a visitor.”

“Visitor?” she asked. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She’d been caught up in studying the marketing reports she was supposed to review with her father later that day. Nothing at work had been easy since she’d met with Emmett. Her mind constantly wondered back to their short conversation. You did it first.

Instead of having her head in her job, she had been thinking of how she might talk to Emmett again, and more importantly, what she would say if he agreed to see her.

“Yes, ma’am. A Mr. Emmett Sumner.”

Elle drew in a ragged breath and her body stiffened. It seemed she didn’t need to figure out a way to get to see him, after all. But was she ready for this?

At one time, Emmett Sumner had been her world. Going through her cancer treatments without him had been difficult but a decision she didn’t regret. Until now. Because she had a feeling, he wouldn’t understand her reasoning.

“Have Kensey show him back, please.” Normally Elle would retrieve her own guests, but she felt more confident in her office. She didn’t want to give up the comfort of having her desk to hide behind. Besides, taking him to the bar last time had been a mistake. She didn’t need an audience.

“Yes, ma’am.” The line went dead.

Elle yanked open a desk drawer and pulled out a small makeup bag, digging to retrieve a mirror and lip gloss. She glanced at her reflection, not pleased at the image staring back. It was late in the afternoon and it had been a busy day, so most of her eye makeup had worn off. It would take Emmett and Kensey less than a minute to make their way back to her office.

She fussed with her short hair, running her fingers through the tufts to perk it up a little then wiped away the smudged eye makeup under her eyes. She twisted the cap on the lip gloss and smeared on a coat before dropping everything back in her drawer and slamming it shut. That would have to do.

“Elle?” Kensey called, knocking on the door frame. “Emmett Sumner is here. Is it okay?” She raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows. Kensey was beautiful and she had a heart of gold. She worked hard to protect Elle.

“Yes, thank you, Kensey. I’ve got it.”

Kensey moved out of the way and held out an arm, ushering Emmett into Elle’s office.

Emmett filled the doorway. He’d always been big, but today she saw him with fresh eyes. There was no doubt he was gorgeous. Tall and strong, with muscles that stretched the confines of his shirt just enough to make you think they might break through. Correction. Enough to make you wish they would break through so you could get a closer look.

His hair was darker now, but still had that slightly messy look that made her want to reach out and straighten those locks with her fingers. He looked a lot like his actor brother Grant, and women all over the world swooned over that man’s hair. Elle rolled her eyes, remembering it had been Grant at their graduation party making out with Kristen Keller, not Emmett as she’d thought.

“Something wrong?” Emmett asked, no doubt catching her eye roll.

Elle focused on his hazel green eyes, feeling his scrutiny. “No, just wondering why you’re here.” Oh God, was that defensiveness in her voice? She hadn’t meant it. She stood. “I’m sorry. Please, come in.” She motioned to an empty chair in front of her desk.

Emmett glanced out her large window. He studied the mountain, watching as skiers made their way to the base of the resort.

“Nice view,” he finally said, walking around a side chair to sit down.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” She needed to get over this feeling that she needed to protect herself from him somehow. She was just so damned nervous.

“No.”

She smoothed her skirt and slipped back into her chair. They sat in silence.

For years they could be together for long periods of time without saying a single word. They’d never needed to speak to communicate, never felt the pressure to fill empty air with needless words. Their connection was fragmented now, and Elle felt a pang of regret.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

“What?” Emmett furrowed his brow.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered it this time.

“For what?”

She studied the ceiling for several moments before returning her gaze to Emmett. “For a lot of stuff.”

“In New York,” he said, “you just…” His light brown eyes searched her face as if he would find the right words to continue. “You just…left,” he finally pushed out in a huff.

“Emmett,” she paused, drawing in a deep breath, mustering more confidence than she knew she had. “There’s so much I want to tell you, need to tell you, but not here.”

He stared, studying her as if she were a stranger. She returned his gaze, trying to remain open. If anyone had ever been able to read Elle, it was Emmett Sumner. And there was a time she’d been able to read him, too. But he was closed off to her now, unable, or unwilling to let her in.

“Have dinner with me,” she said.

Emmett tilted his head and remained silent, his eyes seemingly lost.

“Tonight,” Elle added. Wait, tonight? Did she even have anything at home to cook?

Emmett sat stock still, his expression giving nothing away. He’d always been one to think long before speaking. Today seemed to be no different.

“I don’t understand, Elle,” he finally spoke.

For a split second, she thought of bowing out.

She didn’t. She clenched her hands in her lap and plowed forward. “It’s pretty simple. Dinner, at my house.” She smiled hoping to ease the tension.

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about, Els.”

She did know. But he’d used her nickname, Els. That had to be a good sign, right?

“Why did you leave?” he asked, his tone flat and unyielding, so unlike the Emmett she’d grown up with.

And there it was, the question she’d known was coming but was too terrified to answer. How could she tell him all the fears she’d held that night when they’d made love? How could she express her desperate need for him that night? She’d needed to feel his skin caress hers, to hear his words of love and adoration but she didn’t know how to tell him that night. There was only one way to open up to him.

“Come to my house tonight,” Elle said, “and I’ll answer all the questions you have, Emmett. I promise. It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into it here.” She held her breath as he studied her like a stranger. “Please,” she whispered.

The silence between them was a palpable thing and Elle was sure her heart was about to leap out of her chest, it was beating so hard.

She took a small notepad and scribbled her cell phone number and home address, and pushed it across her desk.

Emmett read the square piece of paper before his gaze slowly met hers.

“Please, Em.” Elle knew she sounded pathetic but she didn’t care. She was desperate. She wanted Emmett to know everything. She wanted him back in her life, even if it was for a short time. She removed her hand and let the note sit between them on her desk.

He remained silent as he slowly stood, making no move to take the piece of paper.

This was all Elle could do. She couldn’t force Emmett to listen to her. He was stubborn, she knew that better than anyone.

Emmett turned to leave and Elle’s chest ached with disappointment. She closed her eyes for a heartbeat. He wasn’t going to give her a chance. She opened her eyes, and her mouth, hoping to find something to say to change his mind. Before she could speak, his hand swept across her desk, clutching the note.

Elle sighed a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding as he stalked toward the door.

Even from the back, he was gorgeous. Maybe even more so. She remembered every detail of his body from their night in New York. She would love to see it again, feel his hard skin under her fingers but she knew he would never return that desire. No man would. She was scarred, ugly—

“Elle,” Emmett called loudly.

He’d been talking, but she’d been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t heard him. “I’m sorry, what?”

“What time?”

“Would seven work for you?”

Emmett glanced down at his watch. He was going to back out, she could feel it. “Should I bring anything?”

His response shocked her. All she could do was shake her head, no.

She couldn’t believe he’d agreed. She would finally be able to explain to him what had happened almost five years ago.

Five years, she thought to herself. Such a huge milestone for her. And how fitting she would celebrate it with Emmett.

He glanced down at the note again, studying it before he raised his head. “This address is the resort’s. You live here?” Emmett pointed to her office.

“Well, not here.” She laughed. “My home is one of the condos on the property. We have forty-eight. Half we rent out, the others we sell. I own one of them.”

Emmett raised a skeptical brow.

She stood and walked around her desk, leaning on one of the side chairs. “What?”

“You own it?”

“What does that mean?” Now she was getting peeved. She wanted to explain things to Emmett but she wouldn’t be made to feel sorry for.

He shook his head. “Nothing,” he mumbled as he turned to leave. He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze holding hers. Where was that boy who had been her biggest fan, her staunchest supporter, her greatest advocate? His eyes darkened and his lids narrowed. She realized that boy was gone. She was different now, and obviously so was he. Too much had happened, too much time had passed.

“I’ll see you at seven,” she said, turning to walk back to her desk. As much as she wanted to open up to Emmett now, she knew she couldn’t show him how vulnerable she was. Not yet.

Elle rounded the corner and smoothed her skirt as she slid into her chair. She finally glanced up and saw her doorway empty. Emmett had given her the one thing she’d wanted almost more than her recovery from cancer—a chance to explain.