She hesitated. “How did you…”
Tristan Davis grabbed a throw pillow and held it over his lap, giving her a helpless smile. “Sweetheart, I’m a man. It’s only natural for me to react when the woman I love throws herself into my arms.”
Emily Blair blinked at the unfamiliar pet name, uncertainty flickering across her face. “Do you… want me to help you?”
Tristan shook his head with a sigh. “No, darling. I’ll take care of it myself. You should probably head back.”
If he let Emily help, things might spiral out of control.
Emily murmured a soft “okay,” but didn’t move. Her clear, dark eyes lingered on him. “Will you take a cold shower? It’s almost winter, and the temperature’s really dropped. Just… be careful, alright? Don’t catch a cold.”
Tristan took a deep breath and buried his face in the pillow. “…Please, just go.”
He listened as Emily’s footsteps faded toward the door and heard her pull it open.
From the hallway, her voice drifted back, not too close, not too far. “What time are you leaving tomorrow morning? I’ll drive you to the airport.”
Tristan lifted his head, his voice gentle. “My flight’s at nine.”
Emily nodded. “Alright.”
The door closed behind her.
Tristan finally let out a breath he’d been holding.
* * *
Saturday morning, after dropping Tristan off at the airport, Emily went straight back home and collapsed into bed—she still had plans later that afternoon.
When she woke, she saw a message from Tristan: he’d landed safely.
There was more.
Information about Sunshine House.
Tristan had managed to track down a woman who used to work there, a teacher named Sadie Morris. Ms. Morris was now at Seedlings of Hope, an orphanage on the outskirts of the capital—still within driving distance.
Years ago, Adelaide George had left her child at Sunshine House.
On Sunday, Emily gathered the documents and set out.
After a two-and-a-half-hour drive, she parked in front of Seedlings of Hope.


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair)