“Art’s been my sister’s passion for as long as I remember. When she was little, she’d paint rocks and seashells and sell them to tourists,” he added, so proud of what Bailey had accomplished. “She made a great omelet, but her heart was in the studio, not the kitchen.”
“I still make a great omelet,” Bailey joked. “And my rocks and shells are for sale at the souvenir shop. But I’m much happier as an artist than I ever was as a cook.”
“Well, whatever you’re making in the kitchen smells delicious. It’s obvious you have many talents and gifts.” Sincerity rang clear in Emma’s compliment. The wide smile on Bailey’s face told AJ that his sister heard it, too. “I’m really impressed.”
“Thanks.” Bailey spun toward the other wall, where a metallic sculpture sat, sending her flowing skirt outward and the bangles on her arms clanking against one another. She’d always dressed bohemian-style, even when she was a little girl. “That’s my newest creation. I rotate items between a gallery at the Broughton Inn here in Haley’s Bay and one in Seattle. But a piece’s first stop is my house. I want to make sure each work gets the thumbs-up from my brother’s discriminating eyes. As you know AJ’s into art.”
“I didn’t know that.” Emma’s eyes widened. She must have realized her lapse. “I mean...”
Standing behind Emma, AJ wrapped his arms around her. He placed his cheek against hers. “What Emma means is when we’re together the last thing on our minds is hanging out in an art gallery.”
“I don’t blame you.” Bailey sounded wistful. She hadn’t had much luck in the romance department, but wouldn’t go into details. “Long-distance dating must be tough.”
He nodded. “But worth it.”
Emma looked up at him through a half moon of thick dark eyelashes. “Definitely.”
His heart bumped. What was going on? He tried to let go, but doing so was taking so much effort. His body seemed on autopilot, ignoring captain’s orders and drawing closer to the sea nymph. His fingers cupped her hips from behind as though they were beckoned and possessive. She swayed, warm under his touch, and he imagined the skin under the skirt. Lifting the skirt.
He jerked away, such an idiot. Emma was not going to lift her skirt for a temporary boyfriend. And AJ was not going to lift the skirt of a temporary employee, despite luscious hips and their warm sway and his idiocy.
“Next time you’re in Seattle, make him take you to his art gallery,” Bailey said, glancing oddly at AJ, likely noticing his jerking away from Emma as though the woman had whacked him with a hot poker.
He gave his sister a weak smile. He’d never felt so foolish in his life. Emma’s body held him captive.
Her smile looked forced, as well. “I, um, will.”
Pretending was getting harder, not easier. He hated putting Emma through this. Only a couple more days... “Where is everyone?”
“Backyard.” Bailey led them past the dining room, into the small kitchen where the delicious aromas made his hungry mouth water, toward the open back door. “Not enough space in here. Fortunately Mother Nature cooperated. Ellis, Risa, the kids and Madison arrived a few minutes ago. Grady should be here shortly with Camden.”
Emma touched the white-tiled backsplash. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thanks. I dreamed about owning this cottage for years. When I saw the foreclosure sign I nearly hyperventilated.”
“Now the house is yours,” AJ said.
Bailey grimaced. “Not quite mine yet.”
He sighed. They’d been through this for the past two years. “You don’t have to pay me back.”
“I know I don’t.” Bailey looked at Emma. “But my big brother doesn’t understand that I want to pay him back. A zero-interest loan is enough of a gift.”
He shook his head. “My sister is stubborn like our father.”
“She’s not the only one,” Emma muttered.
Bailey laughed. “You’ve got that right. It’s a trait we’ve all inherited. Some more than others.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” AJ asked.
Emma rose up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “It means you’re more like your father than you realize, but that’s part of what makes you lovable.”
Warmth flooded AJ, and likely spread a goofy grin across his face. Damned if this woman’s opinion hadn’t become his be-all and end-all. She thought he was lovable. He felt like Rudolph dancing his red-nosed reindeer self in circles after Clarice told him he was cute.
Good thing none of AJ’s business rivals—or Libby—were around to see he’d gone totally, raving bonkers. Only his family was here, and he could avoid them another ten years or so. Easily. Especially without Emma pushing him to make nice.
* * *
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Emma couldn’t believe she’d told AJ he was lovable. Thank goodness Bailey had been right there or he might have thought Emma meant it. She sort of did, but maybe he wouldn’t figure that out. Or maybe he already had.
Darn the man. Emma balled her hands. Why did he have to be so nice and generous and well, lovable?
“Did you have enough to eat?” Lilah asked, sitting in a rocking Adirondack chair where she had a view of all the happenings in the backyard.
“Yes, the pulled pork sandwiches were great. The asparagus spears, too.” But the delicious food couldn’t compare to being included last night and tonight in the Cole family celebrations, a dream come true for an orphan like Emma.
“I hope you saved room for dessert. Bailey made shortcake from scratch. Marianne brought the strawberries and whipped cream.”
“Sounds yummy.” Emma patted her stomach. “But I’m going to need to go on a diet when I get home.”
Lilah pshawed. “Nonsense. If anything you’re a little thin. A couple extra pounds would be healthy. I’m sure AJ would agree, but let’s leave him out of the discussion. It’s a rare man who can say anything about a woman’s weight without getting himself in trouble.”
“Advice more men should follow.” Emma picked up a garbage bag and tossed the paper plates from the picnic table inside. “I’m going to clean up so Bailey isn’t left with a mess.”
“Thank you, dear,” Lilah said. “You fit right in, you know that?”
Emma wondered if her feet were still touching the grass. She didn’t think so. “Thanks. That means a lot.”
The words did. Emma wished she could stay in Haley’s Bay forever, but nothing was real, not her being accepted into the Cole clan, not the kisses shared with AJ, not the feelings she was developing for her employer. Still, a bay-size part of her wished all of it were true. Especially dating AJ.
“Help Emma clean up.” Lilah directed a pointed stare at Camden, Declan’s twin sister.
The young woman wore her straight brown hair in a ponytail and no makeup on her pretty face. She dressed more like her brothers in oversize jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. But not even the baggy clothes could hide Camden’s athletic physique and curves. Camden sighed. “I catch, gut, clean and fillet fish all day, Grandma. Isn’t that enough? Let someone else help.”
Lilah tsked. “You’ll never get a husband thinking like that.”
“I’m not in the market for a husband, Grandma. My life is fine the way it is.”
“Well, I need more grandkids.”
“Talk to Risa and Ellis. They’ve already got two and all the gear.”
“Those children need cousins, not second cousins once removed, to play with. First cousins. Though if the rest of you keep taking your own sweet time, these kids will be old enough to babysit for you.”
“Be glad you don’t live in Haley’s Bay,” Camden said to Emma. “Or this grandkid talk is all you’d hear.”
“Well, I’m not getting any younger,” Lilah countered.
With a smile, Emma moved to a folding card table. The Coles weren’t a perfect family, but they were real. In spite of their differences, they loved one another, even Mr. Cole and AJ, if either of them would put their stubbornness aside. The two men sat clos
er to each other. Progress? Emma hoped so. She picked up more plates and cups.
“I’ve been toying with a boating app,” AJ announced.
“Lots of them on the market,” Mr. Cole said.
Ellis nodded. “NOAA put out one with free nautical charts.”
Her heart ached for AJ. He so wanted to impress his family, and when his efforts failed, he retreated, distancing himself or in this case, not saying a word. His actions had nothing to do with his family’s rejection, but showed AJ’s insecurities. The two of them might come from different worlds, but they shared something in common—loneliness. She hated how he’d separated himself from his family.
“What does your app do?” Declan asked.
Emma wanted to kiss the guy for asking. Not really, but AJ needed help from his family to find his way back home.
“Mine has charting and wind features as well as tides, and weather with animated radar,” AJ explained. “The app is still in beta mode. It needs more testing.”
“Come out with us tomorrow afternoon,” Mr. Cole said. “We’ll try it out.”
Ellis nodded. “We can be your beta testers.”
Please say yes. She clutched the garbage bag. They’d planned on going through Lilah’s photo albums to scan and print pictures for the florist to use, but Emma could do that herself.
“Sure,” AJ said finally. “That would be great.”
Emma released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. This was the first step for AJ to find his place here. She crossed her fingers, hoping he made the most of the opportunity.
* * *
AJ searched the backyard, but didn’t see Emma. Bailey’s cottage didn’t offer many hiding spots. He doubted he’d find Emma under any beds. He smiled, eager to tell her about going out with his dad and brothers on the boat tomorrow after lunch. Knowing she’d be happy pleased AJ.
“Looking for Emma?” Declan asked.
“He’s always looking for her,” Grady teased. “I would be too if I were him.”
AJ shook his head. “Have you seen her?”
“She’s in the kitchen washing pots and pans,” Ellis said. “My wife was delighted. She hates getting roped into KP duty. Says it ruins her manicure and dries out her skin.”
“Not Emma.” AJ glanced at the back door, wishing he could see her. “She’s the definition of low maintenance.”
“Ironic since you can afford to give her anything she wants,” Ellis said.
“Sometimes that’s how you know,” AJ said. “Emma wants nothing from me.”
Declan’s eyes darkened. “She might be after your money. Being humble could be an act.”
This was the perfect time to remind himself that Emma was acting the part of his girlfriend. This might be—was—temporary, but something had shifted between them today. AJ wasn’t sure what. “She’s not.”
“And you know this how?” Grady asked. “When I was in Seattle with Grandma you didn’t mention a girlfriend. Neither Bailey nor Camden knew and they talk to you almost as much as Grandma and Mom. Now you’re bringing this woman home when you haven’t been here in ten years.”
“Emma is my assistant’s best friend. Libby wouldn’t steer me wrong.” AJ looked at Declan. “Why the concern? You haven’t cared what I’ve done for the past decade.”
Declan rocked back on his heels. Ellis looked at the grass. Grady took a sip from his can of soda then glanced up. “Dad.”
AJ looked at each of his brothers. “Dad?”
“Yes, me,” his father said. “You boys get out of here. I need to talk to AJ alone.”
Declan, Ellis and Grady scattered like ants on a picnic blanket, but not before Declan threw AJ a sympathetic glance.
His father sat in one of the camp chairs. “You went by the Candy Cave and saw Natalie.”
AJ nodded.
“Did she tell you about her and Craig?”
Another nod. “Said they were separated, and he was seeing someone else. Wanted to know if I’d be interested in getting back together even though Emma was right there.”
His dad whistled. “Not surprised by that. I’m assuming she didn’t mention being the one who cheated?”
AJ’s jaw dropped. “No.”
“Saw her myself or I wouldn’t have believed it. The guy dumped her as soon as Craig told her to get out. The Steeles are our biggest competitor, but I feel real bad for him. He’s trying to get full custody of the two kids. Rough road ahead, but you sure dodged a bullet with that one.”
“Yeah.” AJ tried to wrap his mind around the fact Nat had wanted a second chance with him after cheating on her husband. But then again, she’d been wearing AJ’s engagement ring when she went out with Craig. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand women.”
“I gave up with your mother a couple decades ago,” his father said. “Now Emma...”
His father’s suspicious tone made AJ stiffen. “What about her?”
“Seems nice, but women have the ability to make us men stupid. Protect yourself, son. Have those fancy lawyers draft up a pre nup before your relationship goes any further.”
He stared at his father as if seeing the man for the first time. “A pre nup?”
“Hell, yes,” his dad said. “I didn’t raise any fools though I had my doubts about Grady until recently. You’ve done well for yourself, son. Got a lot to lose. Don’t get married until she signs a pre nup. Promise me.”
His father had asked him for only three things: to stand up for his brothers and sister, to not go across the country for college and to take over the family business instead of moving to Seattle to work in technology. This was the fourth, and like the first, a no-brainer, especially since AJ never planned on marrying. Not Emma or any woman. “Sure. I promise I won’t get married without a pre nup.”
“Good. Very good.” His dad stood. “Looking forward to seeing what that app can do tomorrow.”
“Me, too,” AJ admitted. “And, Dad, thanks for the advice.”
His father nodded once. “Anytime, son. All you need to do is ask.”
Maybe Emma was right. Maybe things could change.
Chapter Ten
Sitting on the swing the next morning, Emma kept her feet firmly planted against the porch to keep from moving. She held on to Blossom’s leash, an old dog tether Lilah had in the garage. The cat had pawed at the window through the night, making sleep impossible for Emma. That and her sudden fascination with watching AJ sleep, but there was nothing to be done about that oddity. She hoped being out here at least appeased Blossom, who explored as far as she could, sniffing the air and rubbing against what she could. “Enjoy the outdoor time, but this isn’t going to be a habit.”
“I can’t believe Blossom kept you up all night.” AJ leaned against the porch rail, a cup of coffee in hand. He’d seemed more relaxed when they returned from Bailey’s house last night. Maybe the thought of going fishing with his dad and brothers this afternoon had put him into a good mood. No matter what the reason, seeing him happy pleased Emma. “I didn’t hear a thing.”
She sipped from her cup of black tea, needing a jolt of caffeine to get going.
“That’s because you were exhausted from staying up the night before. It was my turn.” A blue sky with only a few puffs of white stretched to the horizon. Boats, big and small, headed out of the harbor for a day at sea. “Another gorgeous day in Haley’s Bay.”
“Summer is like this.” He looked like the poster child for vacation apparel in his board shorts, a T-shirt and bare feet. “Some rain from storms off the Pacific, but days like today make up for the wet winters.”
“Sounds like Portland weather. Late summer and early fall is my favorite.”
“September was mine. Sunshine and school.”
She drew back. “School?”
“New notebooks and pens and batteries for my drafting calculator.”
“You’re such a nerd.”
“Computer geeks r us.”
The angle of the sun’s ray
s gave him a golden halo around his head. Talk about gorgeous. Emma sipped her tea. The warm liquid did nothing to cool her down.
“I couldn’t wait for school to start.” He bent over and gave Blossom a pat on the head. “Summer vacation was too long for me. Always too much fishing. You’d think my old man would’ve figured me out back then.”
She’d never dreamed of any foster parent figuring her out. She hadn’t wanted them to know her that well. Not all were bad, but those were the ones she remembered. “I liked being in school, too.”
She received a hot breakfast and lunch at school. Sometimes an afternoon snack if whatever foster parents put her in extended care after school.
Blossom chirped, sounding more birdlike than feline. She stared through the porch railing at two hummingbirds hovering around a feeder.
“You can look, Blossom, but you’ll never get a chance to catch them.”
The words didn’t deter the cat. She crouched into a hunting position, her gaze never leaving the birds.
“She’s ready to attack,” AJ said, sounding amused.
Emma tightened her hold on the leash. “I wonder if her owner let her outside. She seems to like it.”
“Sunshine, a breeze, birds.” He moved to the swing, then sat next to Emma, his bare leg brushing hers. Sparks erupted at the point of contact. “What’s not to like?”
She could say the same thing about him, except a little space would be nice so she wasn’t the first spontaneous combustion casualty in Haley’s Bay. She scooted to the far edge until her hip bumped the armrest. That still didn’t give her more than a couple of inches between them.
AJ put his arm on the top of the swing. “Good idea bringing the cat out here. Though I’m enjoying it more than her. A nice place for my morning coffee.”
She raised her mug. “And tea.”
Blossom looked at Emma and AJ. The cat meowed once, jumped onto the small empty space between them then nudged each with her head.
Emma laughed. “Blossom is jealous.”
“Cats don’t get jealous. She wants more space.”
“She wants you for herself.”
AJ gave the cat a pat on the head. “Nice kitty.”
Haley's Bay 01 - The Billionaire's Nanny Page 14