The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Emma’s POV:

The bus shelter near Old Port offered little protection from the rain.

I stood beneath its narrow overhang, watching fat droplets streak down the scratched plexiglass panels, my phone screen glowing in my palm.

Almost there.

Boston to Portland was at least a two–hour drive in good weather, longer in this rain.

My thumb froze over the keyboard as realization struck.

*That’s why there was no text today.

Because he’d been driving.

#

My chest tightened with something I couldn’t quite name. I pressed my phone against my sternum, feeling my heartbeat accelerate beneath my

palm.

I typed and deleted three different responses before settling on something neutral.

Me: Okay. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.

The bus rumbled to a stop in front of me, its brakes hissing. I climbed aboard, swiping my card and making my way to an empty seat near the

back.

Through the rain–streaked windows, Portland’s brick buildings blurred into watercolor smudges of red and brown.

My phone buzzed again.

Daniel: Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.

Not going anywhere. Why did that simple phrase make my pulse race?

The bus lurched forward, and I gripped the seat in front of me,

I caught my reflection in the dark window.

steadying myself.

My hair had frizzed slightly in the humidity, and there were shadows under my eyes from last night & restless sleep

I dug through my bag for the small mirror i kept in the side pocket, checking my appearance in quick, furtive glances. Not terrible, but not exactly impressive either.

Since when do you care what you look like for Daniel?

8:46 am P P

Chapter 97

The bus pulled to a stop two blocks from the hotel. I pressed the yellow strip, the bell dinging overhead, and made my way to the exi

I smoothed down my dress, adjusted the strap of my bag, took a deep breath.

He was standing beneath the awning, tall and perfectly composed in a charcoal wool coat, a black umbrella held loosely in one hand wh checked his phone with the other.

Ev

away, even in the rain and fading light, he looked like something out of a magazine–elegant, expensive.

heart suddenly in my throat.

sensed my approach because he looked up, his gaze finding me instantly across the distance. I could see the way his

ed–from neutral professionalism to something softer, warmer.

ed toward me immediately, closing his umbrella and holding it out to shield me from the rain, letting his own shoulder get wet in

You’ve been waiting long?” I asked, my voice comi

“Just got here,” he said, his tone casual.

Up close, I could see the faint shade

long hours and longer drives.

“If you have something ur

One dark eyebro

There w

ohtly breathless.

ght tension in his jaw. He looked tired–the kind of exhaustion that came from

fly, “you can take care of it first.”

ned almost imperceptibly. “Are you trying to send me away?”

cker of hurt so brief and subtle. Like I’d said something that had landed harder than I’d intended.

lking.

y, reaching out instinctively. My hand caught his sleeve, the wool soft and expensive under my fingers. ‘I ng to do here-”

ou want,” I said, the words rushing out. “My room’s actually pretty big. I mean, it’s huge, really. There’s a living area and

bbling.

Daniel’s expression had already shif

is that an invitation, Me

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