Waves of Fate

Chapter Seven: The Glimpse of Something More

Days in Harbor Creek began to bleed together for Emma. What had begun as a business trip to finalize plans for the hotel was now something altogether different. She spent her mornings on designs, her afternoons roaming the town, and her evenings—more often than not—with Nate, in quiet moments together.

It wasn't long before the hotel project became the last thing on her mind. Harbor Creek had cast a spell over her, and though Emma tried to be busy doing work, thoughts of Nate crept in at every quiet moment. The laugh, his eyes softening when he talked about his family, the way he seemed to see through her walls—she hadn't expected any of that.

One evening, Emma walked to the beach. The sun started to set and was going to set soon, painting the sky with bright hues of pink and orange, casting golden light over the water. It was beautiful. She stood on the edge of the shore and saw the roll of waves in her mind."As lovely, isn't it?"

Emma turned, searching for Nate as he walked down to her, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. His hair was a little mussed from the wind, and the smile was small, but it sent warmth through her chest.

"It is," she agreed, turning back to the horizon. "It's hard to believe this is your backyard."Nate chuckled softly. "It wasn't always home, but now... I can't imagine living anywhere else."She and Nate stood in silence for a while, the waves lapping into the shore. Nate stepped closer until he was standing beside her, and they stood there with their shoulders almost brushing against each other. Emma's pulse quickened as she fought the urge to inch closer.

"You seem different," Nate said after a while, his tone thoughtful. "When you first came here, you were all business. Now, it's like you're seeing the world through new eyes."Emma looked at him, unsure of how to respond. It was true; something inside her had shifted since she arrived, but putting it into words felt too vulnerable, too real.I guess this place just has that effect, she whispered, her eyes falling to the sand beneath her feet.

Nate's eyes lingered on her a moment longer before he spoke again. "It's not just the place.It was back, that bond, that tie between them. Emma could sense it like a thread, thin yet resilient, pulling them closer together. She faced him, her heartbeat skipping a little."Nate, I—"

Before she could say another word, a gust of wind came in from the ocean and caught her off guard. Her hair whipped across her face and she laughed, pushing it back with one hand. Nate instinctively reached out and his fingers lightly touched her arm as he steadied her.It was a small, small gesture, but the warmth of his touch made electricity run from her fingertips all the way down to her toes. Up at him, she looked and for a moment, all the rest seemed to fade away: the town, the ocean, the hotel. All that was left was the two of them standing there in the golden light of sunset, closer than they'd ever been.She took Nate's eyes to her lips, where time almost completely halted. He leaned in toward her, and though it was slow, it seemed he wasn't hurrying or rushing her to step back. She wouldn't; she couldn't.

First, their lips met softly at first, hesitating, as if probing the waters. But when they touched, it was like a spark, ignited between them. The kiss deepened with all the unspoken feelings that had been danced around for weeks. It was slow and sweet, like a total intoxication.Just as they tore themselves apart, Emma's heart was racing and her cheeks flushed with warmth. Nate's hand lay on her arm for a moment before falling free. His expression was the same mixture of surprise and emotion she felt.

"I. I didn't mean for that to happen," Nate said softly, his voice a little shaky.Emma smiled, her pulse still pounding in her ears. "I'm not sure I care, though."Nate breathed a sigh of relief, his lips curving into a small smile. "Good. Because I've been wanting to do that for a while.""Really?" Emma teased, raising an eyebrow. "You didn't seem so sure about me when we first met.".

Nate laughed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, well, you caught me off guard. I wasn't looking for anyone like you to come into my life."

Emma's smile softened. "Anyone like me?"

"Anyone who makes me feel like I could be part of something again," Nate said, his voice low, but sincere. "After everything. I didn't think I could feel this way again.".

The vulnerability in his words completely took Emma aback. She knew Nate had been through something painfully well, but she never did know to what extent until today, when he stood before her and let her see just how the pain had affected him. It gave her a constricting ache in the chest, she felt for him, whatever loss he had endured led him back to this small town."Nate," she started, softening her voice, "you don't have to tell me everything now, but... I'm here. Whenever you're ready."

He looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before finally nodding. "Thank you."

They stood there some more time, and between them now was just silence full of something new. something hopeful. Sunset painted all over the horizon in shades of blue and purple, and Emma realized that whatever between them was happening was only going to begin.