Chapter Thirty Five

Silent and stupefied, Lucas gazed at Emma. There was something in her voice and the tenderness in her eyes that filled his heart with adoration and admiration for her.

This was the moment, the sign he needed to leave all past experience behind and embark on a new beginning with her. "I apologize, Emma. My words were unbecoming and I regret them. I only want you to be safe and not put yourself in harm's way for any reason. I promise to never raise my voice at you or let my emotions get the best of me," Lucas replied, gently taking Emma's interlinked hands and stepping away from the door to embrace her in a hug. He held her tightly for a moment, inhaling her sweet fragrance as he closed his eyes.

The captivating aroma of his cologne brought solace to Emma; his embrace gave her a sense of comfort she couldn't explain. As they stood there in each other's arms, Emma realized that she was already lost to him. He had successfully tugged at her heartstrings.

"How about dinner tomorrow?" Luca