The Seduction of Alex Parker(47)

I missed Emerson so much and, every day that passed, it hurt more and more. I hadn’t shaven in a few days and I didn’t care. A feeling of hopelessness resided in me without her in my life. All I wanted was to hear her sweet voice and hold her in my arms once again. She changed me, my life, and my world. And my world was nothing without her in it.

“Excuse me, Mr. Parker,” Jenna spoke as she stepped out onto the patio.

“Yes, Jenna?”

“Emerson left something behind.”

“What?”

“This.” She held out the map Emerson always kept with her.

Staring at it for a moment, my heart started racing. I looked at Jenna.

“She wouldn’t have left this behind. This would have been the first thing she packed. Where did you find it?”

“I was in her room dusting and Parker dragged it out from under the bed.”

Suddenly, a feeling of happiness flowed inside me.

“Jenna, do you know what this means?” I smiled as I took the map from her.

“No, sir. I don’t.”

“Emerson left this behind because she wants me to find her! Come inside.”

I unfolded the map and laid it on the island. “The black circles are the places she still had to go. The red circles are the places she’s already been. Focus on the black circles, Jenna.”

We both stared intently at the map.

“She could be anywhere,” Jenna spoke.

My eyes diverted to the right side of the map. “I know where she’s at!” I exclaimed.

“Where? How do you know?”

“She’s right here.” I smiled as I pointed to the state of Maine. “Bass Harbor holds a special place in her memories and I know that’s where she went!”

Without even thinking, I grabbed Jenna and kissed her forehead.

“Sir?” she said in a shocked tone.

“I need you to stay here for a few days and watch Parker for me. I’ll pay you double what you’re making now. I’m going to bring Emerson home, Jenna.” I smiled. “I’m bringing her back and she’s never leaving again unless I’m with her.”

“Go, sir. I’ll stay with Parker. Go get her!” She smiled.

I pulled out my phone and dialed my pilot.

“Hello, Mr. Parker.”

“Get the plane ready. We’re going to Bass Harbor, Maine.”

“When would you like to leave?”

“I’ll be there in an hour. I don’t have any time to waste.”

“Very well, sir. I’ll be waiting for you.”

I ended the call and dialed Phillip.

“Phillip. I need you to come get me and take me to my plane. I know where Emerson is and I’m going to bring her home.”

“Excellent news, Alex. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”





Chapter 33


Emerson

I rented a cottage on the water in Bass Harbor, Maine. When I first arrived, I didn’t have a plan and I was lucky that Pine Cottages had one left to rent. It was small but quaint. It had a living area with a fireplace, which I was grateful for since the weather in Maine was getting quite chilly, a small bedroom with a queen-size bed, and a small kitchen area with a stove, sink, and refrigerator.

I spent my days walking along the rocky shores and watching the lobster boats drift by. I spent my nights missing Alex so much that it hurt. There wasn’t one second of the day where I wasn’t thinking about him.

“Hello, Emerson.” Mary knocked on the door.

“Come on in, Mary.”

She opened the door and handed me a fresh loaf of bread she had just made. Mary was the owner of Pine Cottages and we had quickly become friends. Her husband had passed away a few years ago and she never had any children. The cottages were everything to her. Sometimes at night, she would come over and we’d sit out on the screened-in porch, talking about life and drinking tea. I told her everything; the accident, my travels, and all about Alex.

“He still hasn’t shown up, eh?”

“No. But he will. If he knows me at all, he’ll find me.”

“So that’s what you’re waiting on? Him to find you to see if he’s the one to change your life and get you to settle?”

“Yep. I confessed my feelings to him in that letter and if he feels the same about me, he’ll come.”

“I still don’t understand why you didn’t tell him how you felt back in California.”

I gave her a small smile. “It’s complicated. He’s complicated. I’m complicated. But together, we’re uncomplicated. Does that make sense?”

She laughed. “Not really. But I’ll take your word for it.” She reached over and patted my hand. “I was thinking that maybe tomorrow morning you can help me in the kitchen. Maybe show me a thing or two you learned in Tuscany.”

“I’d love to.”

“Great. Then I’ll see you up at the main house around seven a.m.?”

“I will be there.”

****

Alex

Due to a slight mechanical problem, I couldn’t take off as planned and I was angry. The only thing I wanted to do was get to Emerson. But then I was faced with another problem. I didn’t know where the hell she was staying, so I called Adam.