Emily's heart beat for the first time in eight years.

Not the muted rustle that kept her alive, day and night, but a chest pounding, oxygen infused thump. Followed by another, and another, ricocheting through her. The resulting jack hammering in her ears dulled the busy restaurant's hustle and bustle.

Ocean blue eyes she'd once spent hours drowning in stared back at her, swimming in surprise, evident even to a blind man.

Although his eyes were the same and he still towered over her, the man before her was different. The lankiness had rounded out into toned, lean, hardened muscles reminiscent of a long-distance runner. Gone were the overgrown chocolate locks ending in curls that she had loved running her fingers through, replaced by short-trimmed hair buzzed off at the sides. A chiseled chin, cheeks angular, and his nose was off-kilter by the slightest degree.

His lips parted ever so slightly. "Em?"

The syllable swept across her skin, evoking memories of warm, rainy nights, the velvety vocals of Ella Fitzgerald wafting through the air and long, lean fingers skimming her thigh. Her knees wobbled, and she rooted her fingers into the chubby legs of her nephew.

"Who dat?" Ben wriggled in her arms, his baby hands clutching at the air between them. Emily inched along the wood-paneled hallway, perhaps wanting to touch him as well, ensure he was real.

"This is my..." What did she say? Ex-boyfriend? The love of her life? The man who left? "... Finn."

Finn's gaze swiveled between the toddler and her, his jaw settling into granite. Her hand itched to caress the tension away like she had so many times that summer.

Except she had no right to. He wasn't hers anymore.

"Emily, you have to talk to Dad about the car. He's insisting—" Mary barreled past Finn like he was a weed to be trampled on. "Whatever is wrong with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."

A half sob, half laugh caught in Emily's throat at the irony of the words.

Her sister turned to follow Emily's line of sight and Mary's back stiffened as she recognized the man standing before. "What are you doing here?"

Emily wanted to know the answer to that as well. The last time she'd checked, he'd been on a tour of duty in an ocean half-way around the world. He rarely came back to the United States, and, to her knowledge, he'd never returned to Washington, DC.

Yet here he was, standing in the hallway leading to the restrooms of this overly priced restaurant, dressed in a suit jacket, button-down shirt and dark jeans that looked like they'd never been worn before.

"Dinner." His glare fell on Mary. "Of course."

Mary tugged on Emily's arm. "We have to go."

"No." Emily stood her ground.

"Emily." The eldest of the Montgomery sisters' whine grated on Emily's frayed nerves. "Dad's waiting."

"Let him." There was no way she'd walk away from Finn again. This was her chance.

Mary gaped at her sister like Emily had suggested they eat fried dung beetles for the main course.

"Out of my way, ladies. The baby's pressing on my bladder again." Beth pushed through the trio, separating her sisters as she beelined for the Ladies. Ben lunged for her hair as she hurried by. "Ouch. Let go sweetie."

The three sisters dove into the task of unwinding Beth's long golden strands from her son's clutches and when Emily turned back to where Finn stood, she met nothing but air. He was gone.

Again.

Despite the heavy weight in her chest, she plunged into the busy dining room, scanning the crowd for Finn's tall form. Affluent dinners scraped knives across china plates, sipped from crystal glasses and chattered away as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred a few feet from them. A light filled rectangle comprised the restaurant exit. Emily couldn't understand how someone so imposing could blend in, but her heart sank further when she failed to locate him.

"Good riddance." Mary took Emily's arm. "We don't have much time. You have to stop Dad before he buys that contraption."

Emily reluctantly turned to her agitated sister. They were opposites in almost everyway. Mary tall, blonde hair, the Montgomery blue eyes and curves in all the right places. Emily had inherited her mother's auburn hair and pale grey irises, and their father politely referred to her as petite.

"He thinks an electric car will save money down the line, but you and I both know he can't afford a bicycle never mind another new toy." Her sister's eyes flitted around the restaurant.

Emily wondered if Mary was truly concerned about the money their father would be shelling out for his latest obsession of if his current racing car green Jaguar convertible fit her idea of what a man of influence in Washington D.C. should be seen driving around town. Perception was important to Mary.

Mary lowered her voice to a whisper. "I don't trust the poker company to actually pay for his endorsement, do you?"

Emily didn't want to think about that either. Philip Montgomery made friends at the drop of a hat and lost them just as quickly when money was involved. There was a time when wealth was an image associated with the Montgomery name, but it crumbled slowly over the years like water eroding a rock. Mary and her father still clung to the belief, despite popular evidence like losing their beloved lake house, a shrinking circle of acquaintances still willing to invite them to social events, and never enough funds left over after the bills were covered.

With a bounce, Emily repositioned Ben on his hip. "You won't have to worry. I'll talk him out of it."

"You better. We can't have this fantasy get in the way of the trip to St. Kitts next month."

With the practice of years learning not to react, Emily kept her face calm, unaffected, never hinting at the turmoil rolling in her stomach at her sister's words. Mary had the most in common with their father, including being quite capable of creating a fantasy world of her own. The only way the trip next month, never mind the swanky resort their friends had invited them to join them at, was possible was if Emily found a discrete way to fund the endeavour. "One problem at a time."

Beth joined them, took her son in her arms and the sisters returned to the table to find her dithering over which brand of champagne to order.

"Oh no, Dad." Emily took her seat beside him. "Wine is fine."

"Nonsense. We're celebrating your promotion." He snapped his fingers to attract the server. "Your mother would want us to have the Moet."

Emily's heart pinched. When her mother was alive, there was money for champagne. Money for plenty of things they no longer had. The summer house in Bridgetown. Vacations in the south of France. Fancy cars, golf club memberships and lavish restaurants.

Sure, Lucy Montgomery had spoiled her family, yet she managed moderation and kept them grounded. After her death, Emily tried to step into those shoes. At seventeen, she was easily overpowered by her extravagant father, her indulgent older sister and not prepared to play surrogate parent to her younger sister.

Beth had a wild streak in her that had, at one point, once upset more than one life. But looking at her now, distracting her three-year-old with a slice of cucumber, her husband Lance assisting, no one would guess. It gave Emily pleasure to know one of the Montgomery sisters had figured life out.

Emily couldn't help thinking of the time when she expected a chance at what her sister had. Settling down, having kids, growing old with love by her side. When she first met Finn, he had turned her world upside down and everything seemed possible.

Until it wasn't.

"It's only Senior Associate." She attempted a diversion. "Let's save the champagne for when I make partner."

Her father made a face that reminded Emily of Ben right before his last temper tantrum.

"Its more than that." Beth's slightly damp fingers pressed against Emily's. "New York is only four hours by train, but in my condition—" her eyes fell to her swollen stomach "—four minutes is too long. We're happy you're home."

Mary lifted her chin. "We should order champagne."

When Mary and her father banded together, which was always, Emily understood this was an argument she couldn't win.

"Mark the moment, Emily." The frost in his blue eyes matched the tone of his admonishment. This was the same excuse her father constantly used, a reminder that time was precious.

"Finally, all that obsessing over the military paid off." Mary's fuchsia coated lips curled into a snarl.

Emily ignored her sister's backhanded compliment. Simpson, Simpson and Waters had a special working relationship with all branches of the military and Emily's extensive background in the unique world of Court-Martial put her ahead of the pack in her graduating class. Not many law students cared to focus on the non-lucrative area of study. Emily was fascinated by it.

The obsession started by one man. Emily's fingers brushed against the small charm hanging on a chain around her neck as she twisted in her seat to try to find Finn. No sign of him.

She scanned the menu with its inflated prices and steel settled in her veins. The same determination that got her through university, law school and every sleepless night since.

Finn Wainwright was back in town. Opportunity was knocking and this time nothing would stop her from getting answers. To all her questions.  

Hi there! D. L. here.

If you're new here, nice to meet you. Thank you for giving my writing a chance. I'd love to know how you found my story. 

If you've read one of my stories before, thank you for your support. If this story looks very familiar, you are right. Navy Blue is my submission to the 2022 Wattys. I joined the amazing Wattpad club BootcampMentors to spiff this story up for entry into the competition. Huge shout out to @ajArnault for her guidance and answering an endless barrage of questions. 

This is still the second chance romance of Emily and Finn. Max, Mary, Simon, Lance and Campbell all still play a part in their story. A few things have changed (hopefully for the better!) and I can't wait for you dive into this new version.

Let's go!