ELLIOT

Awakening with a jolt, I could see the sun streaming through the blinds covering my windows. I glanced at the clock as I tried to orient myself. I had been asleep for only an hour. My brain was still in a hazy fog.

Emily! I jumped out of bed and glanced around me. Then I realized I was alone. I was up most of the night writing after I had spied on her and her friends last night.

I grabbed my running shorts and a T-shirt, bouncing around the room on one foot then the other, trying to get dressed. I didn’t want to miss her this morning. Tying the laces on my shoes, I ran out the door and headed to the beach.

I was planning on running back and forth in front of the house until I saw her again. Pathetic, huh?

The first pass through, it was quiet. But the second time I ran by I saw a glimpse of movement. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her standing by the wall of the house, high up on the deck, a robe covering her, watching the beach. She seemed to be scanning back and forth, searching as she sipped something from a mug. I slowed my pace and watched her … hoping.

I knew the minute she spotted me. A current of electricity connected our hearts. It had always been like that between us. It was like a shock would zap me any time Emily was in close proximity. I could feel it now. I just prayed she did too. I slowed my pace, waiting for some kind of a sign. Maybe she didn’t know it was me. She didn’t seem to be moving at all. I kept watching her, moderating my movements even more.

Finally, I saw her lift a hand, almost like a wave to me. She saw me! She must have. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. Emily saw me.

Now I had to run back home and clean up. Get a few things organized and get myself ready, build up my courage to go get my woman. I would go back and ring that doorbell. I would come face-to-face with Emily Golden and get my life back on track.

It was just after noon when I walked back over to the house Emily was staying in. I was almost dancing as I walked, and I could not take the smile off my face if I tried. I was ecstatic. I was finally going to see Emily.

As I approached the house, I noticed the blinds over the sliding door were drawn closed. I stopped for a minute and glanced around. I didn’t see any of them down by the beach, so I walked up to the door and rang the bell. The sound of the door chimes echoed inside, but there was no other noise from within, only silence. I rang it again.

I jumped as a shadow suddenly appeared across the door and someone stepped up alongside me. It was Jake, my surfing friend.

“Looking for Linda?” he asked.

“Linda?” My expression was blank.

“Yeah, she lives here, although she has been away the last week. Some girlfriends of hers came up from Phoenix over the weekend to stay. She should be back Tuesday or Wednesday. I just check on the place for her when she’s gone or when her guests leave. Make sure everything is locked up and all.”

She had already left. I missed her! The shock I felt must have been apparent as Jake looked at me closely.

“Were you looking for one of the women that stayed here?”

I tried to speak. My mouth opened and closed several times but the words were not coming out, my mind raced with regret. I should’ve talked to her when the chance presented itself. There were so many chances all weekend long. Dammit! I blew it again!

Watching my reaction, somehow he guessed what I was not saying.

“She was here, wasn’t she? The one that has you so tied up in knots. Did you talk to her?”

I just shook my head. My heart felt like it was ripping apart. My mind was screaming all the “I should haves” that I’d been telling myself for years when Jake spoke again.

“Go after her, man. She lives in Phoenix, all the girls do. Ask Linda. She’ll help you. She’s a sucker for a good love story. I know. I’ve poured my heart out to her over a bit of alcohol a lot the last few years. Ask her. Whatever you do, don’t give up, man.”

I looked up at him. I wanted to say no, I couldn’t do it, but something stopped me.

“I know where she lives. I can find her.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Go after her if you want her. Go figure it out so you can get on with your life. If you love her, go to her, and let her know before you can’t. Quit waiting for the perfect time to approach her. Make the timing perfect yourself.”

With that, Jake walked back around the side of the house and away from me. He was right. I needed to go to Phoenix and I needed to go soon.

The excuse machine needed to stop. I had an excuse for every single time my fear stopped me from actually reaching out to Emily. It was getting ridiculous. I traveled the world over, I created a name for myself in the world of murder and mystery, and here I was, letting fear stop me from approaching a woman.

The worst thing that could happen was she would turn away, that she hated me. If it happened? Shit … I’d think of something. Steal her away to a lonely island in the middle of the Pacific … make her love me again, I don’t know … something … anything was better than this constant second-guessing myself. I needed a plan.