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There are already too many rumors and news about him; he deserves quiet.

And then there’s my mother. She may not have known Jack prior, but the excitement in town has gotten to her, and now she wants to meet him. Imagine telling me to bring him over for dinner. Why would I even do that? What message would that send to him?

I’m wrapping a bouquet of daisies for a customer at the shop counter when Emma walks in. She’s wearing her usual warm smile and holding a sweet-smelling confectionery box.

“Emma, I love you.” I immediately drop my task and reach for the box. It’s almost evening, and I didn’t even have breakfast. It was rush hour today, and I’m just getting to breathe.

“You were hungry?”

“Yes.” I sink my teeth into a doughnut. “Haven’t had much time to myself today.”

“Why didn’t you call?” she asks. “I’d have brought food earlier. I’m on my way home and decided to drop by.”

“Way home? It’s a little early.”

A blush creeps up her cheeks as she sits, and I know she’s about to talk about Sam. “Sam said he had a surprise waiting,” she answers. “He said to be home by five, and it’s four-thirty.”

I roll my eyes. “You both act like children sometimes.”

“Oh, someone’s in a dirty mood,” she laughs. “Is this about Jack? How’s it going with him?”

The doughnut almost turns sour in my mouth. “Why do you think this is about him?”

“I’m just asking.” She shrugs casually.

I’ve been avoiding the subject of Jack for days now because I know Emma sees me more than I see myself. “He’s fine, I guess. I haven’t seen him since the day we flew in.”

Emma gasps, her hand flying to cover her mouth. “Mia!”

“Oh, you know. I’ve been busy,” I say casually, trying to play it cool. “Compiling a list of women who could be good matches for him. It’s taking longer than expected.”

Emma doesn’t buy it for a second. She raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Mia, you’ve been avoiding him, haven’t you?”

I freeze. My instinct is to lie, but Emma knows me too well. She sees through the façade I’ve been trying to put up.

“Look,” I say, feigning indifference, “I’ve been busy. There’s a lot to think about. A lot to organize. Jack’s not my priority.”

“Well, he should be,” she answers. “You’re being paid a huge sum of money to do this. Think about the leukemia organization. This is for a good cause.”

Emma steps closer, her expression softening. “Mia,” she says quietly, “You’ve been avoiding him because you’re scared, haven’t you?”

I laugh, but it sounds a little too sharp. “Scared? Please. I’m not scared of Jack. I’m just… busy.”

Emma isn’t convinced. “You know, there’s this thing. A thin line between love and hate,” she says with a teasing smile. “And right now, I think you’re on the other side of that line.”

The words hang between us, and I can’t stop the way my pulse quickens. “Love? Are you kidding me?” I say, almost choking onthe word. “No way. I can’t stand Jack, and the last thing I’m going to do is fall for someone like him.”

Emma just watches me, her gaze soft but knowing. “Well, all I’m saying is, Mia, sometimes you have to stop running from what’s right in front of you. You can’t keep pretending this isn’t something more. You’ve never been this way with anyone. You always have a way of softening up even the most infuriating person in the universe. Why’s Jack different?”

I open my mouth to protest, but the words don’t come out. Instead, I sit there, my heart pounding, trying to make sense of what Emma’s suggesting. Falling for Jack? That’s absurd. It can’t happen. I won’t let it.

“Well,” I finally say, breaking the silence, “I’m still going to help him find the perfect woman. That’s the plan. It’s what I’m here to do.”

Emma gives me a skeptical look, but she doesn’t press it. “When are you going to go see him?” she asks, not letting me off the hook. “You can’t avoid him forever, you know.”

I take a deep breath, biting my lip. “I’ll go this evening. After my trip to the hospital,” I say finally. “I’ll check in and see how he’s doing. It’s about time.”

Emma smirks, clearly pleased. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”