Emma recitedher address.
“I’m sendingyou a message now,” Michelle said. “That way you’ll have my addresstoo.”
“Great.” Emmasaid. “Michelle, I’m sorry for ambushing you at work on Wednesday.I just didn’t know how else to get in touch.”
“Well, it was asurprise,” Michelle laughed. “But I’m glad you did.” Her voicesobered. “Dad told me last night that Mum died. I’m sorry you hadto go through that on your own.”
Emma swallowed.“Yeah, me too.”
“We have a lotof catching up to do. I’m really looking forward to December.”
Emma blinkedback the sudden moisture in her eyes. “I am, too.”
They saidgoodbye and Emma flopped back on the mattress.
Michelle hadrung. She wanted to keep in touch and meet in December when shecame to Australia. She’d even arranged to take some time off sothey could spend it together, catching up.
Emma’s heartswelled as she got up and collected her things. The trip hadn’tbeen a waste after all. She’d met her sister, with the promise ofreconnecting in a few months’ time.
And Lachlan?How did she categorise that? And what if she was pregnant?
She pushed thepanicked thought from her mind. It was unlikely she’d fall pregnantafter just one night, wasn’t it? She’d deal with that if and whenit happened.
If.
She headed forthe elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor. Emmastill had ten days left of her vacation time but she wouldn’t spendit here. Maybe she’d go back to LA and do the Hollywood thing, oreven head up to San Francisco or take a coach tour and see some ofthe country.
“Uh, Emma?”
She’d barelystepped out of the lift when that lovely, deep voice sent shiverssizzling down her spine. She turned to find Lachlan standing to theside of the lift foyer.
Had he beenwaiting for her?
He wore a greyt-shirt and black Levi’s with a pair of sunglasses tucked into theV at his neck. “You’re leaving?”
“Uh, yes.”Awkwardness loomed between them as she tried to aim for acasualness she didn’t feel. “You?”
“Yeah.” Heshoved his hands into his jean pockets and rocked on his toes.
“Well,it’s—”
“Could we—”
His lips curvedas he lifted a hand and gestured for her to speak first.
“I was justgoing to say I hope you have a safe journey home.” That was lame.She wanted to duck her head. Words failed her. Should she havesaid, “thanks for the hook-up, and I’ll call you in three months ifyou’re going to be a father again?”
“What time isyour flight?”
“Oh. Uh, Ihaven’t booked one yet.” She tugged her suitcase closer. “I wasjust going to try and see what’s available.”
He pressed hislips together—those full, kissable lips—and she had to look away.“Do you have time for a cup of coffee first?”
He wanted toprolong this agony? Oh, no. Didn’t he know he was torturing heralready? Images of what they might have got up to last nightflitted through her brain, electrifying her skin. Her face wasalready on fire; the burn was scorching.
Taking abreath, Emma risked a glance and her heart melted. Brown eyes methers, bathed in uncertainty. His teeth sank into the corner of hisbottom lip for a single second. It was all she needed to change hermind.
“Sure.”
His lips curvedinto a relieved smile.
He reached forher suitcase and wheeled it behind him. With his other hand restinggently on her lower back, he guided her through the throng ofguests and out to the pool area.
They exitedthrough a different door and passed one of the fountains. Lachlanled her to an outdoor café that she hadn’t noticed before.Umbrellas were set up over the tables but there was under-coverseating too, and Lachlan had the waiter select them a quiet tablein the shade.
Emma removedher cardigan and slid into the seat, wondering what Lachlan wantedto discuss. She caught his glance as he sat down and she lookedaway. He tucked her suitcase next to the table and then took thechair to her left.
If the middayheat hadn’t left her with a sheen of perspiration on the back ofher neck, then Lachlan’s hand brushing hers as he reached for amenu did. She reached back to lift the hair off her neck, wishingshe’d thought to tie it back before she’d left her room.
“Coffee?”Lachlan asked.
“Thanks,” shesmiled. In her week here in Las Vegas, she was yet to find a decentcup of coffee. Americans preferred a much bitter flavour that Emmadidn’t like.
“I have sometime left here, too.” Lachlan said. “I thought I’d hire a car, do abit of sightseeing. I can take you to the airport when you’reready, if you like.”
“Oh, uh, thankyou.”
“Emma, I likeyou.” Lachlan got straight to the point.
Her heartpicked up the pace and began to pound in her chest. She opened hermouth but had no idea what to say, but Lachlan squeezed her handbefore she could speak.
“I just—Iwanted the chance to ask you out, properly. Last night, well, it’snot really me. I don’t remember much, and I’m sorry for that. Youdeserve so much more, Emma. I’d like the chance to do thingsright.”
Emma swallowedand tried to gather her thoughts. “I—
He squeezed herhand again, this time with a soft smile. “You said you’re notflying home straight away, so I was wondering if…maybe if you’dlike to spend the week with me here.” At her surprised expression,he rushed on. “We can drive around, do a little sightseeing,whatever you’d like.” He offered another shy smile. “Separaterooms, of course.”
Was it wise?She’d known him less than a week. He was adjusting to life withouthis daughter, and she still had to pick up the pieces of thebombshell not-Dad had dropped. Starting a relationship right nowwas not the smartest idea.
He’d all butsaid that, too. He didn’t do flings. He was a commitment kind ofguy. What was it he’d said? Taking a stand, doing the right thing.He’d raised his daughter alone for all those years. Commitment wasLachlan’s middle name. He wasn’t the kind of guy who’d settle for acasual fling.
Neither wasshe. But could she do this? She was attracted to him, despite onlyknowing him the best part of a week. Her initial reaction—that hewas a thief and possibly a liar—couldn’t have been more wrong.Lachlan was a decent, genuine man who’d worked for years to raiseand provide for his daughter. He was exactly Emma’s type. But
