He moved with her, not letting her separate them. “Emma, let me talk to you while you eat.”
He was still touching her and she wanted him to continue to touch her. Emery closed her eyes and shook her head. “This is a stupid, stupid idea.”
Tim’s mouth turned up and he leaned into her ear. “I think this is one of the best ideas I’ve ever had.”
“Tim.” Her breath caught in her throat as he ran his fingertips over her scars. There was something so intimate about that one touch that it stole her breath. She couldn’t help it when her nipples made what she was feeling apparent to anyone in the room.
She moved the plate he’d brought to her so she could cover herself.
“We’ll just talk, Emma.”
There was something about him that made her calm and comfortable, which scared her because she didn’t know him. There was something else that made her so turned on she knew she needed to stay away from him. Without a word, she turned and walked up the stairs.
She voxed Rachel as she was driving to a school for an observation.
“What do you mean he just came up and talked to you while you ate?” Rachel asked, incredulous.
“I mean exactly that.” Emery blinked back the tears that threatened for no reason.
“You mean he was a perfect gentleman?”
“Perfect,” she confirmed.
“Then he left? He didn’t try to kiss you?”
“Nope.” Emery had been both relieved and disappointed that Tim really did just talk to her, but she knew it was for the best.
He’d filled her in on his family. They were from around the surrounding area. His parents died when he was twelve. He hadn’t told her how or why, but Emery felt like there was a story there, one that drove him to be a police officer. She knew about secrets, about things that she’d never tell anyone else. He hadn’t pushed her for any information other than work stuff, and it was all light conversation on her end. She didn’t have to lie at all last night. It made her feel whole in a way she hadn’t felt since Nashville.
It left her shaken.
“Did you want him to be perfect?”
“I wanted him to take my clothes off and touch me everywhere,” she admitted. “I’m glad he was perfect.”
“Well, will you see him again?”
“I have to see him often because of work, so it’s probably best to stay perfectly friends.”
“Oh.” Disappointment filled Rachel’s voice.
“Also, he left the plate for the food so I’ll have to get it back to him.”
“My man!” Derrick’s voice came over the phone, laughing.
“What?” Emery asked, mortified he’d just heard her say she wanted a guy to strip her clothes off.
“You think he doesn’t have paper plates?”
“What does that have—oh!” It dawned on Emery that he’d have to come back for the plate.
“Yep, now you’ll have to bring it to him or he could always swing by and get it from you.” She could hear the smile in Derrick’s voice.
“Strategery…” Rachel piped up mockingly.
I need my plate.
It’d been two weeks since Tim had so graciously brought her one of the best meals she’d ever eaten. It was a Saturday morning and Emery was sitting at her table looking out at the backyard, her journal open to her current entry. Coffee was necessary this morning. Her days ran together lately and she’d been working at night as well. Her phone dinged again.
Really, I need it.
She laughed in spite of herself. Picking up her phone, she glanced down at the letter she’d written.
I
Noah,
Today is a good day. I returned a kid to his family yesterday; it was a wondrous occasion. There was a party and the family was so happy to have him back and they got him back because of me. I helped someone. I have some value. I know this may seem simple to you, but ever since I can remember, I haven’t felt like I have any value. Rationally, I know that I have value. You valued me. I ruined that. Rachel values me, but I’ve never felt like I had a value.
I miss you. I miss everything about you. I miss the way you fill up a room without even meaning to. I miss the way I felt cherished with just a look. Most of all I miss the way I felt about myself when I was with you.
You are the best person I’ve ever met. I hate
She didn’t finish the letter, but responded to the text instead.
Oh really? Why do you need it?
She got up and walked to her kitchen, skirting around the five new files she had spread all over the floor of her den. Emery learned the kids the best way she knew how, by reading through the files over and over so that she knew everything about them. There were so many people at the office that needed to refer to their files just to know kids’ names. It made her heart hurt.