Page 32 of Secrets in the Deep

It was a stupid thing to say. Because where could any kind of relationship between the two of them go? She had a home outside of Deep River. A job that consumed most of her life. And he had a responsibility to his team and this town.

Emotions flickered in through her expression. So many it was hard to pick one. Confusion. That familiar sadness. And maybe a bit of hope.

Then she shook her head and stepped back. “No. We kissed and you didn’t…”

“I didn’t what?”

Her lips parted, and she looked like she was about to tell him exactly how he’d screwed up.

Then a camera flashed.

Emily cursed under her breath. Ryan turned to see a man with a camera pointed right at them.

The fuck? “What the hell are you doing?”

“Who’s the guy, Emily?” the guy called.

Emily rolled her eyes. “Not today, Shaun.”

Shaun? She knew this guy?

“I thought you were dating Preston Painter? Or do you just let people believe that to sell tickets to your movies?”

Emily looked back at Ryan. “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me.”

She crossed the road toward the gazebo. The guy with the camera started to follow, but Ryan stepped into his path and grabbed a fistful of his shirt.

“What the hell?” He glanced down at his shirt, then back up at Ryan. “Let go of me!”

“No.”

“No?” The guy, at least a head shorter than Ryan, spluttered. “Get your damn hand off me before I call the sheriff.”

“You obviously haven’t met our sheriff. He wouldn’t even pull over for this.”

The guy looked across the patch of green in the direction Emily had gone before huffing. “I’m going to lose her!”

“Exactly.”

New suspicion crept into the man’s gray eyes. “You her boyfriend?”

“I’m the guy who’s going to break that camera if you so much as breathe in her direction again.” This time, Ryan cast a glance over his shoulder to see Emily had disappeared.

Good.

He released the guy, who immediately straightened his clothes. “I’m a reporter.”

“Didn’t think reporters took photos.”

“Well,Ido. You touch me like that again and you won’t like what happens.”

He’d no sooner stepped away than Ryan’s phone rang, Nora’s name on the screen. Even though he wasn’t in the mood to talk, he answered it. He’d always answer a call from his sister if he could.

“Hey.”

“You busy?”

“I just finished threatening someone, so I’m all free now.”