They hadn’t made love last night. As much as Emery wanted to be with him in that way, she couldn’t do it again, not while she was trying to leave with some dignity.
He’d seemed to understand, because he’d simply curled up beside her to sleep—hadn’t attempted anything more.
“Well, just know that I’m willing if you need me,” he said.
“Thanks.” She knew he’d be surprised if she told him that she planned to block his number and cut off all contact. He wouldn’t understand why she had to do that. But he wasn’t in her position. She had to do whatever she could to get over him and move on. Otherwise, she feared she’d hang on forever.
“This is it,” she said when they reached her airline.
He got out and retrieved her big suitcase from the back of his van while she grabbed her purse and carry-on.
“Have a safe trip,” he said as he brought it to the curb. “Call me when you land in Boston so that I know you arrived safely.”
“I’ll arrive safely. Millions of people fly every day without incident.”
The frown he’d been wearing so often the past two days reappeared. “What’s one phone call, Emery?”
“It’s nothing, but we can talk after you’ve been to the pier. I’ll be dying to know about that.”
He acted as though he was tempted to argue but ultimately sighed in resignation. “It’s three hours later in Boston. Do you really want me to wake you at three-thirty in the morning?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay.”
She took her suitcase and gave him a smile she hoped didn’t look too wobbly. “Thank you for everything. I really appreciate it.”
He leaned in to kiss her, but she turned her face at the last second and his lips brushed her cheek.
“Thanks again,” she said, and gave him a brief but impersonal hug before she rolled her suitcase into the terminal.
She could feel his gaze boring holes into her back as she started toward the counter, but she didn’t turn around to wave. She was only pretending to check in while waiting for him to leave. She didn’t want to face airline employees or fellow passengers quite yet.
As soon as she felt safe that Dallas was gone, she found a seat, sat down and buried her face in her hands.
Dallas arrived at the pier alone. Seth had almost driven to LA so that he could come along—he’d tried to insist on it—but Dallas had talked him out of it. Since Dallas had come to town with Emery and then stayed over, he was already in Los Angeles. There was no need to make his brother drive almost two hours for what would probably amount to a five-minute encounter, especially when Dallas felt confident he could handle it on his own.
The wind whipped at his hair and clothes as the lights of the Pacific Wheel, the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, showed a giant festive snowman that waved—so large and bright it could be seen for miles. This section of the California coast was almost always busy, especially during the holidays, but the attractions they featured here, like photographs taken with fully costumed merpeople, were long over and most everyone was gone. Although the park would be closing any minute, the pier was open 24-7, but tonight it was too cold for many people to have lingered.
He’d talked to Ethan half an hour ago and knew he was already in place, hidden to one side of a closed tourist shop. Ethan said he hadn’t seen Tommy or Heidi, but he was being careful not to go too close to the Ferris wheel, so it made sense that he wouldn’t. Dallas hoped one of them would show up and end his search for whoever put that cowboy up to threatening Emery. Providing they could catch that person, they should be able to catch the cowboy, too. All they’d have to do was search phone records, contacts, that sort of thing, and he felt certain the police would be willing to do that, given that the cowboy had gotten so physical with Emery.
Pulling his coat closed, Dallas ducked his head as he picked up his pace. He hadn’t been able to get Emery off his mind since he’d left her at the airport. The way she’d acted once they returned to Los Angeles had been so remote. He could tell she was preparing to move on without him, and he couldn’t blame her. He had to respect her for being unwilling to settle for less than what she wanted, but he definitely felt the loss. On top of everything else, his mother and brother thought he was crazy for letting her go.
It didn’t help that he trusted their judgment.
But he was actually doing her a favor. He couldn’t give her what she needed. For him, love equaled fear. He couldn’t trust enough to step out of his isolation.
As he got closer to the wheel, the operator shut everything down and the snowman disappeared as the lights snapped off. “We’re closed,” the man announced the minute he spotted Dallas loitering near him.
“No worries,” Dallas said, and stepped out of the way so he could leave.
He gazed out to sea, listening to the waves crash up on the shore. Occasionally, he’d turn around to see if he could spot Ethan, but Ethan was doing a good job of remaining out of sight. Dallas hoped he’d followed through with the plan and told his friends and contacts what he was supposed to tell them. But Dallas couldn’t be sure about that any more than he could be sure his plan would work even if Ethan had followed through.
It was twelve-thirty when he
