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Chapter 1
Chapter One: The Airport Reunion
Emma Thompson stepped off the small prop plane onto the sun-baked tarmac of Monterey Regional Airport, the salty Pacific breeze whipping her sundress around her thighs. She adjusted her oversized sunglasses and smiled, already buzzing with excitement for Lily's wedding week. Her best friend since college was finally marrying Ben, and as maid of honor, Emma had cleared her event-planning schedule for seven glorious days of coastal festivities. She pulled out her phone to text Lily: Landed! Where's my ride?
A white passenger van idled nearby, its side emblazoned with the resort's logo—Seaside Palms Retreat. A couple of other guests milled around, grabbing bags from the conveyor, but Emma's eyes locked on the tall guy in khakis and a crisp button-down, effortlessly hefting suitcases into the back. Broad shoulders, tousled dark hair, that easy confidence in his movements. Her heart stuttered. No. It couldn't be.
Owen Hayes turned, wiping sweat from his brow, and their gazes collided. Five years melted away in an instant. The same piercing blue eyes, the jawline sharper now, framed by a hint of stubble. He froze, a suitcase dangling from his hand, recognition flashing across his face like a struck match.
"Emma?" His voice was deeper than she remembered, laced with surprise.
She forced a casual smile, though her pulse thundered. "Owen. Wow, small world. You're... part of the wedding party?"
He set the bag down and straightened, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, best man. Jake's old roommate, remember? Ben's my cousin." His grin was polite, but his eyes roamed her face, lingering a beat too long on her lips. That night in his dorm—sweaty sheets, whispered promises, her nails digging into his back—hung unspoken between them.
"Right, Jake mentioned you might be around sometime," she lied smoothly, grabbing her own roller bag. Heat crept up her neck. He had ghosted her after that, vanished without a word. She had spent months replaying it, wondering what she'd done wrong.
Owen nodded, stepping closer to load her bag. His arm brushed hers, sending a jolt through her. "Need a hand? Hop in—Lily said to grab the early birds. Resort's about twenty minutes away."
She slid into the van's middle seat, the leather warm from the sun. Owen climbed in behind the wheel after helping the last straggler, and they were alone for the drive. The engine hummed to life, classic rock filling the brief silence.
"So, event planner now?" he asked, glancing in the rearview mirror. "You always had that knack for making things perfect."
Emma met his eyes in the reflection, her stomach twisting. "Guilty. And you? Still breaking hearts across campuses?"
He chuckled, low and warm. "Nah, settled down. Running my own tech startup these days. Life's... different."
Different. The word stung. As the van merged onto the highway, cliffs rising on one side and ocean sparkling on the other, Emma wondered how she'd survive a week pretending this stranger hadn't once unraveled her completely. Lily's text buzzed: Welcome luau tonight! You + best man = plus-ones? 😏
Emma's grip tightened on her phone. Game on.
