In Your Dreams (Blue Heron #4)(120)

Hadley swallowed. “When I saw you on the news, that handsome Anderson Cooper standing right there in front of the lake, and they were showing pictures of the vineyard and that photo of you from the website, and I thought, ‘Hadley Boudreau, you blew it.’” She grabbed a tissue and blew her nose. “So I came up here to get back what we had.”

“What we had wasn’t that great, Hadley. We fought a lot.”

“Made up a lot, too.” She took a shaky breath. “Jack, is there any way you could forgive me and get past what I did? I do love you.”

His heart gave an unwilling tug of sympathy. “No, you don’t,” he said gently. “You love the idea of me. Just like I loved the idea of you. And I forgave you a long time ago.”

Until he said the words, he hadn’t realized they were true.

“I’m so sorry for what I did, Jack,” she whispered. “You deserved better.”

Finally, a sincere apology, something she’d never offered before.

“Thanks.” He stood up. “Get packed, okay? I’ll call your folks.”

* * *

THAT NIGHT, EM left O’Rourke’s, where Lucas Campbell had graciously flirted with her for fifteen minutes, then been spelled by Jeremy Lyon and then Tom Barlow while Honor talked to Colleen. And to her surprise, Em flirted back, offering to give Lucas a demonstration on how handcuffs worked, fixing Jeremy’s collar, telling Tom his accent made him unfairly attractive.

It was easy to flirt with nice men who were spoken for.

The night was clear, no moon yet, and the stars were bright and sharp over the lake. She’d take Sarge down to the park for his nighttime walk, then maybe give Angela a ring, see how things were going in Ithaca. Maybe call Mom, too, for that matter.

Maybe she’d drive up to Jack’s.

No. Or yes?

She wasn’t quite sure who had broken up with whom the other day. Either way, she wanted to see him. Just to check in, doing her civic duty, etc., etc. Maybe strip-search him. Now, now. None of that, she reminded herself. Except he was awfully good-looking, especially naked.

Maybe just talk to him, more calmly this time. Really see how he was doing, see if the shadows in those clear blue eyes had faded a little bit. Whether or not they were together, she did love him. Missed him horribly.

This was only the second time in her life she’d been in love.

That had to say something. She obviously wasn’t the type to fall for every guy who gave her the time of day. But all those songs and books and movies were right. The sun shone brighter, flowers smelled sweeter, yada yada, it was true.

And Jack...hell. They didn’t make guys like that every day. A man who loved his family, was good with children, who’d be the date for any lonely woman who needed one. Who’d jump into a frigid lake and save three lives, and only focus on the one who didn’t make it.

She started down the street to her place, figuring she’d pop Wonder Pup in the car with her, then jerked to a halt.

Speak of the devil, there was Jack’s truck, parked in front of the Opera House.

Em instinctively stepped into the doorway of Presque Antiques, the better to spy.

She didn’t have to wait. Hadley came out a second or two later, looking gorgeous in her cream coat and high boots. Jack followed, carrying a suitcase.

“You got our tickets?” Hadley asked, her voice carrying easily across the tiny green.

“All done online,” Jack said. “Savannah, here we come.” He opened the door for Hadley and handed her in, ever the gentleman. Walked around to the driver’s side, stowed the suitcase and got behind the wheel.

And off they went.

Emmaline swallowed hard. Pressed her lips together to keep from crying. She had to hand it to Hadley.

It’s just that she hadn’t really believed Jack would fall for her again. And though it had been years since Kevin had taken up with Naomi, Emmaline couldn’t help the thought that roared to mind.

The beautiful woman won again.

* * *

EMMALINE WAS WITH her at-risk kids the next day, trying to pay attention. But it was hard. Three of the four kids were being tutored by Jack, and every time his name was mentioned, it felt like someone had zapped her with the Taser. Kelsey was sullen, Dalton’s ADD was enjoying a high spell—he was doing headstands. Cory was cleaning his nails with a Swiss Army knife, which Em was considering confiscating, and Tamara was texting.

“Why should I get detention for missing school?” Kelsey said. “I’m pregnant. I deserve to miss school.”

“Were you sick?” Em asked.

“No,” Kelsey said as if it were the stupidest question in the world (which it might’ve been). “I just didn’t want to go.”

“They’re discriminating against you. You should sue,” said Dalton, flipping upright. “You got any more popcorn, Officer Em?”

“You ate it all,” Emmaline said.

“Alyssa missed way more school than me, and you don’t see Dr. Didier up her ass, do you?”

“Yeah, well, she’s got a better reason than you,” Tamara said without looking up from her phone.

“No, she doesn’t!” Kelsey snapped. “I’m pulling off the miracle of life here. She’s sad. Big deal.”

“Who’s Alyssa?” Emmaline asked.