The drive to Mobile goes smoother than I expected.

“I can’t believe they went out of business,” Emma Jane muses about the one bait and tackle shop a few miles away from where she grew up. “That was where we’d get our supplies to go crabbin’.”

I can’t disguise the way my mouth curves up in a grin. Since we’ve crossed into Mobile city limits, her Southern accent has made a bit of a comeback.

It makes me wonder if anything else will return along with it.

“I’m glad Ella Mae’s alteration shop is still doing well,” she murmurs, facing her window.

She falls silent the closer we get to my house, likely recalling all the memories it holds. Once I pull up the driveway and park, we exit the vehicle.

Emma Jane closes her passenger side door and pauses to appraise my house.

“It looks beautiful.” Her eyes find mine before they dart away. “I love the flowers you planted along the front.”

I tear my gaze from the scattering of daisies, their bright white petals contrasting with the vivid yellow centers, and open the back door to get our bags. “I planted them a while ago. Thought they’d give the place ‘curb appeal.’”

When I say I planted them a while ago, I mean I did it a few months after you left. When I still had hope you’d come back.

I grab our things and carry them up the sidewalk leading to my house. After I punch in the code on the keypad to unlock the door, I open it for us to step inside.

Once I give her a cursory tour, I show her to the guest room where she’ll be staying. It, along with the guest bathroom, are the only doors left open. Wells helped me with that as soon as I knew she was going to accompany me on this trip.

I set her bags on the bed and wave a hand to encompass the room. “This is yours.” I point through the doorway to across the hall. “The bathroom is there. Help yourself to any food in the kitchen. Watch whatever you want on TV. I have to unpack and catch up on some emails.” With that, I rush out of the room, to leave the increasingly intimate confines of this space.

This was an idiotic idea, offering to let her stay with me. It’s difficult enough being around her when we’re at work or out at social gatherings, fighting to escape from beneath the fierce, impenetrable blanket of attraction when she’s near. Especially after that one night…

As soon as I step one foot over the threshold, she utters a subdued, “Knox?”

I stop but don’t turn around. “Yes?”

“Thank you. For letting me stay here.” She pauses. “Especially…after everything.”

Like you leaving me at the altar? Without an explanation?

My hand tightens on the straps of my laptop and duffle bags draped over my shoulder while my other hand absently rubs at the center of my chest where there’s a sharp, searing pain.

“You’re welcome.”

I head down the hall to what is now my master suite and close the door.

Only then am I able to breathe easier.

* * *

“Let me guess.” Wells pauses like he’s deep in thought for a moment. “You’re making stir-fry. With extra water chestnuts.”

For a split second, I pause stirring the vegetables in the pan, my eyes narrowing slightly in irritation. Cradling the phone between my cheek and shoulder, I add more soy sauce.

“You did, didn’t you?” Shit. He keeps going without even waiting for my answer. “Seduction by water chestnuts. Brilliant.” Wells chortles with laughter.

“Is this the only reason you called?” My bored tone is obvious.

“No, actually.” He sobers, sounding more serious now. “I called because I wanted to know exactly what the hell you’re doing.”

“What are you talking about?”

He releases an exasperated sigh. “Come on, man. You brought your ex-fiancée back to your house when she could’ve just as easily stayed in a hotel.”

“Not that easily if the talk is true about how many people are coming in from out of town for Davis Haywood’s birthday party.”

“Not buying it.”

I flip the dial, turning off the heat on the stovetop. Placing the lid over the stir-fry, I turn to lean against the counter across from the stove.

“Nothing to buy. Her granddad sent us both invitations and personally asked us to attend.”

“Right,” he remarks dubiously. “And y’all had to drive together for, what? Nearly six hours? She couldn’t drive herself?”

I drag a hand down my face, my patience running thin with his questioning. “Look, it’s done, okay? She’s here. I’m here. We’re both going to the party. End of story.”

“Where are you sleeping?”

My head falls back, and I stare up at the ceiling in confusion. “Where do I normally sleep, Wells?” I ask with weary exasperation.

He falls silent for a beat until he finally releases an, “Ah, I see.”

I refuse to fall for his trap so I don’t respond.

“Someday, you’ll have to figure out what to do with that room.”

“I’ve got to go and eat dinner.” My steely tone finally seems to get through to him.

“Fine.” He sighs. “But you know I’m right.” There’s another pause, and his tone softens. “Just be smart.”

I make a sound of affirmation and hurry to end the call.

Be smart. I’m not sure if I’ve ever truly been able to do that around Emma Jane. My heart’s always taken the lead.

Turning, I stare out the large sliding glass doors leading to the porch and dock, with the gleaming waters of Mobile Bay at the shoreline down below, and find my mind wandering.

“Your dad’s going to shit bricks, EJ,” I muse, shaking my head at the streaks of blue in her hair.

She shrugs. “Whatever.” Reaching up, she smooths a hand down over her hair. “I love it.” With a mischievous grin, she adds, “So does Granddad.”

“Of course, he does,” I say with a laugh. Her granddad dotes on her and I can’t say that I blame him. I tug her closer, framing her face with my hands, and gaze down into her blue eyes. “I love you.”

She smiles up at me and it’s one I cherish because it’s brimming with emotion, her eyes alight with love and crinkling at the corners with happiness. “I love you, too, Knox.” She presses a sweet kiss to my lips. “Always.”

Always, she’d said. After knowing her for what seems like forever, I know how to decipher when she’s lying and telling the truth. And back then, she’d been telling the truth.

Hell if I know what made it all change.