CHAPTER 9:

The next morning dawned bright and mercilessly clear.

Marcus had barely slept, his mind replaying the conversation with Emma over and over. He'd hurt her. He could see it in her eyes, he heard it in her voice. But what choice did he have? Pursuing anything with Emma would destroy everything, his relationship with Lily, Emma's friendship with his daughter, and his own self-respect.

It was the right decision. It had to be.

He found Lily in the kitchen, making coffee and humming to herself. She looked happier than she had in weeks, her face glowing with contentment. Jake had texted her to find out how she was doing. At least three times, and she'd been floating on cloud nine ever since.

"Morning, Dad," she said cheerfully, pouring him a cup. "Sleep okay?"

"Fine," Marcus lied, accepting the coffee. "You?"

"Amazing." Lily grinned. "I know it's only been a few days, but I really think Jake might be special, you know? He's so sweet and considerate and—" She paused, studying her father's face. "Are you sure you're okay? You look exhausted."

"Just didn't sleep well," Marcus said. "The ocean was loud."

Lily raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but before she could press further, Emma walked into the kitchen.

Marcus's breath caught. She was wearing a new swimsuit, a black bikini that left very little to the imagination. Her skin was already lightly tanned from the previous days in the sun, and her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail that emphasized the elegant line of her neck. She looked confident, beautiful, and entirely too aware of the effect she was having.

"Morning," Emma said brightly, as she walked past Marcus making sure her hand touched him pretending as if there was tight space. She went and grabbed a banana from the counter. Her eyes met Marcus's for a split second, challenging, before she turned to Lily. "Ready for the beach?"

"Absolutely," Lily said. "Though I was thinking we could invite Jake and his friends to join us. Make it a group thing."

"Sounds perfect," Emma said, her voice light and cheerful.

Marcus said nothing, his fingers tightening around his coffee mug.

The beach was crowded by noon, the sand dotted with families and couples soaking up the summer sun. Marcus had positioned himself under an umbrella with a book he wasn't actually reading, hyper aware of every movement Emma made.

She was laughing at something Jake had said, her hand resting casually on Marcus's arm as she leaned in to hear him better over the sound of the waves. The touch was innocent enough, friendly even, but Marcus felt it like a brand.

"You're hilarious," Emma said, her eyes sparkling. "I can see why Lily likes you so much."

Jake grinned, clearly pleased. "I try my best."

Lily was in the water with Jake's friends, oblivious to the subtle tension playing out on the sand. Marcus tried to focus on his book, but his eyes kept drifting to Emma, her beauty and the curve of her waist, the way the sunlight caught in her hair, the easy grace with which she moved.

Stop it, he commanded himself. Stop looking at her.

But Emma turned at that exact moment, and their eyes met.

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them. Emma's smile faded, replaced by something deeper, more intense. Marcus saw the question in her eyes, the challenge, the unspoken words: *You can't ignore me forever.*

He looked away first, shame and desire warring in his chest.

"I'm going for a walk," Marcus announced abruptly, standing up.

"Want company?" Jake offered.

"No," Marcus said, more sharply than he intended. "I need some air."

He walked down the beach without looking back, his heart pounding. Behind him, he could feel Emma's eyes following his retreat.

Marcus didn't return to their spot for over an hour. When he did, he found Emma alone, lying on a towel with her eyes closed. Lily and the others had apparently gone to grab lunch from a nearby food truck.

"They'll be back soon," Emma said without opening her eyes. "In case you were wondering."

Marcus stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to stay or leave. "Emma—"

"It's fine," she said, finally looking at him. "You made yourself clear last night. I get it."

"Do you?"

"Sure." Emma sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees. "You're noble and responsible, and I'm just the young girl with a crush. Story as old as time, right?"

The bitterness in her voice stung. "That's not—"

"Then what is it, Marcus?" Emma interrupted, standing up to face him. "Because from where I'm standing, you're the one who's confused. Not me."

"I'm not confused about anything," Marcus said firmly. "I know exactly where the lines are."

"Lines you drew yourself," Emma shot back. "Lines that have nothing to do with what we actually feel."

"What we feel doesn't matter," Marcus said, his voice rising despite himself. "Don't you understand that? Some things are just... wrong. Regardless of feelings."

Emma flinched as if he'd struck her. "So that's what I am to you? Wrong?"

"That's not what I meant—"

"Yes, it is." Emma's eyes blazed with hurt and anger. "That's exactly what you meant. Well, congratulations, Marcus. You win. I'll stop being such an inconvenient temptation for you."

She grabbed her towel and started walking away, but Marcus caught her wrist without thinking. The contact sent electricity shooting up his arm, and Emma gasped softly, feeling it too.