If Only It Could Last A Lifetime 2

Chapter 3

A/N There's a few song lyrics in this chapter. "You Had Me From Hello" Kenny Chesney 

The next afternoon Riley was outside of the hotel. Her friends had all piled into Noah and Bella's big SUV and were headed into the city for the day. Riley wasn't feeling up to going so she stayed behind.

Riley was leaning against a palm tree trying to decide what she was going to do that day when she heard a voice behind her. "Derek, did you grab the sunscreen?" Emma asked when she came out of the hotel.

She turned around as Derek followed her out of the hotel. "Yeah, I put it in your bag." The man replied. He was carrying two-fold up chairs. All of a sudden, a cell phone started ringing. "That's me,"

Derek mumbled leaning the chairs against a wall. He stuffed his hand in his swim trunks pocket and pulled out his phone. Emma stood a few feet away with her beach bag. "It's the hospital." Derek announced.

"You promised you weren't going to take any work calls on our vacation," Emma reminded him. "I know, but I have to answer it. It may be an emergency," Derek tried to explain. "I'm just going to step inside the hotel where it's quieter."

Derek replied and turned to enter the hotel. "It's a hospital, of course it's an emergency." Emma muttered. Riley stole a glance around the tree. She had to take a double glance. Emma was wearing a purple one-piece bathing suit with a lacy skirt that went down to her ankles.

Riley smiled and whistled. Emma sneaked a peek around then looked back at the hotel waiting for Derek. Riley whistled again. This time Emma turned around. Her eyes fell upon Riley peeking out from behind the tree.

She broke out into a smile and walked over to where Riley was. "Do you always stalk women?" Emma teased her. "No ma'am, only cute ones." Riley replied casually. Emma's cheeks turned a soft crimson.

Emma walked around the tree, so she was facing the hotel. She wanted to keep an eye out for when Derek came back out. "Spending the day on the beach?" Riley asked her. "We're supposed to. Derek got a work-related call."

Riley could see the disappointment in the soft blue eyes. She wished she could take it away. "What are you up to today?" Emma asked glancing around the tree when she heard the hotel escalating door open.

It was only an older couple coming out. "I'm on my own today, everyone else went into the city for the day." Riley explained. "You didn't want to go?" Emma asked next. "Nah, Bella and Tegan wanted to do some shopping."

"I know that will take a few hours." Riley replied. Emma nodded. The escalating door opened again, and Derek started to emerge. "Oh, there's Derek!" Emma exclaimed quietly. Riley nodded as Emma walked back over to where her fiancé was.

He was looking at his phone when she approached. "Everything okay?" She asked him. Emma noticed worry lines popping up on his forehead. "That was Stevens, remember how in a few weeks China was coming for a tour of the hospital?"

"Yeah, didn't they want to show you some kind of new hospital equipment?" Emma asked him. "Yes, hopefully if all goes as planned that machine will bring in a lot more money to my hospital." Derek explained.

"Stevens called to tell me that China decided to do the tour this week." Derek explained irritated. "This week?" Emma asked with a frown. "Yes, which means we're going to have to cancel our day at the beach."

"I've got to do a zoom conference so I can be present for the tour and for the unveiling of that new machine." Derek explained wearily. Emma knew it was pointless to complain. She also knew how important this was for Derek and the hospital.