The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

He grinned at me. “Is that old?”

“No, no.” Now I was blushing. “You just … you look about thirty.”

His grin turned flirtatious. “Well, thank you.”

“Those are some good genes,” Ivy added.

Sebastian laughed, and it sounded a little embarrassed now. “If I’d known I would spend the meal being complimented by beautiful women, I would have arrived earlier.”

“Oh, I like him,” Iris decided, making us laugh.

My laughter was cut off, however, when a wave of nausea rolled through me.

Oh no.

I took a breath, trying not to be obvious about it … but the tide rose anyway.

“Excuse me.” I shot from the table and hurried to the back hall to the Greens’ powder room. Seconds later I was on my knees, throwing up my meal in the toilet bowl.

Groaning, I wiped my mouth with toilet paper and then flushed it all away.

“Emery?”

I looked up from the floor to find Iris in the doorway.

“I think I ate something bad yesterday,” I promptly lied.

She nodded. “I knew you were looking pale.”

“I’m sorry, Iris. I need to go home.”

“Ira will take you.”

“No, I brought my car. I don’t want to have to come back for it.”

“Ira will get it to you.”

“Iris, I can drive myself home.”

Her eyebrows rose.

I’d never used that tone with her. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I like you assertive.”

I smirked and pushed to my feet.

Once I’d said goodbye to the concerned Greens and Sebastian Mercier, I felt guilty for feeli

ng so relieved about getting into my car. But I just wanted to be alone.

Feeling exhausted and looking forward to curling up in bed, the last thing I expected when I pulled up to my driveway was to see an unfamiliar truck already sitting in it. I looked from the truck up to the porch and another wave of nausea hit me.

Oh my God.

Jack.

Jack was back.