Page 76 of Secrets in the Deep

The women were talking about Joel’s cat, Saint, when Ryan’s conversation with the shop owner caught her attention.

“Are you two dating now? Will we get the famous Miss Emily Prior as a full-time resident in Deep River?”

She held her breath, truly interested in hearing Ryan’s answer.

Maybe?

Or,We haven’t talked about it yet?

“Afraid not, Basil. Emily lives in California.”

Her heart dropped. Yes, it was just the café owner, and there was no reason to tell the man anything.

But for some reason, it still hurt. Ryan was answering a question they hadn’t even discussed. And it brought up that old familiar fear and insecurity. Fear of building a life in her head, around her love for him. Fear of him then taking it away, before it had time to eventuate.

She pushed her seat back and stood.

Ryan frowned up at her. “Are you okay?”

“Just going to the bathroom.”

Nora stood. “I’ll come.”

“You don’t?—”

“I know.”

Nora slipped her arm through Emily’s and tugged her toward the back of the café. The second the door closed behind them, Nora turned to her.

“You know my knucklehead brother loves you, right?”

“Wow, Nora, right to the point. But he doesn’t?—”

“Hedoes. He’s loved you since the day he bought you that half-priced vodka soda in that rundown California bar. And he’sgreat at decision-making when it comes to super dangerous search and rescue missions, and those crazy ops he used to go on as a SEAL. But when it comes to you, he gets scared and makeswrongdecisions.”

“We haven’t talked about what’s going to happen once shooting finishes on this movie.”

“Why not?”

She shuffled on her feet, because…yeah, why not? “I want to stay. But I’m scared he’ll do what he did last time and break up with me to…I don’t know. Force me into the futurehedeems more rewarding.”

“You really think he’d make the same dumb mistake twice?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“You’re right, he could.”

Despite everything, Emily laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me it’ll be different this time?”

“No. I’m supposed to tell you he’s worth the risk.”

That’s exactly what choosing him was…a risk. A risk she wanted to be brave enough to take.

She nibbled her bottom lip and glanced around the bathroom—only to freeze at the sight of a shoe. No, not just a shoe. A shoe connected to a foot. On the floor. Of the last stall.

“Who’s that?” she gasped.

Nora followed her gaze, and they both rushed across the bathroom.