Conquering the Heart of the Bad Boy

by Nomi Summers

  “I’m glad to hear it. You deserve happiness, Emma. I haven’t seen you this happy about a man … well, ever.”

  “Aaron isn’t going to like it.”

  “Ah, Aaron who?” Rose teased, swatting at the air with her hand. “Aaron was never for you. He was a companion and someone you passed time with. You never looked at him the way you do this one. This Chase is your once-in-a-lifetime love, and let me tell you, you only get one of those. Best not let him slip away,” Rose warned with a pitched brow.

  Was that true? People only got one great love in their lifetime? It sure seemed like it to Emma. Nobody had ever made her feel the way Chase did. And the way they were together, it was like they were made for each other. She wasn’t sure why she had fought it for so long, but there was no denying it now.

  Emma was head over heels in love with Chase Knox.

  Time seemed to stand still for Emma. Once she’d gotten all the baking done for the party and Shane had picked it up, she was left with the afternoon lull they always had mid-day at NovelTea. She couldn’t have been happier when the clock struck five, and it was time to close up and get home to Chase.

  Walking into Hemlock House, she expected Zeke to greet her, but there was no sign of him. He must be out back in the guesthouse with Chase. She made her way to the kitchen and stopped short in the doorway, the sight before her causing her heart to skip a beat.

  The most beautiful arrangement of white and red roses greeted her from the butcher’s block—at least two dozen. Poking out of it, she could see a little white card. She walked over, took a moment to lean down and smell one of the white roses, and then pulled the card from the envelope.

  White for our friendship, and red for our love. May both last forever.

  ~Chase

  Emma’s heart melted at the sight of the words. Who knew Chase had a romantic side to him? With the giddiness of a young girl, she made her way upstairs to get ready for the party.

  She showered and then chose a blue A-line dress—Chase’s favorite color—and nude peep-toe heels. She decided she’d wear her hair down tonight, allowing her long, wavy locks to cascade down her back and around her shoulders. She applied a hint of makeup and grabbed a nude clutch to match her shoes.

  It had been a long time since she’d gotten ready with the thought of a man in mind. Usually, she just grabbed anything, but now she really wanted to look nice for Chase. And when she rounded the corner at the top of the stairs, she could see Chase standing at the bottom waiting for her, looking rather dapper himself.

  Her pulse quickened with each step on her way to meet him, and when she got to the bottom step, he made his way over and put his arm around her waist, pulling her into him for a light peck to the lips before adding, “Wow. You look stunning, Em.”

  “You don’t look too bad yourself, Mr. Knox,” she said with a smile. “Thank you so much for the flowers; they’re beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as you.” He held out his arm for hers. “Shall we?”

  They headed out the front door and around the side to Emma’s truck, ready to make their first public appearance as a couple.

  Chapter 13

  Walking onto the veranda at Arbor Shores Resort with Emma by his side was surreal. It was only a few minutes past six, but most of the guests were already mingling, and it seemed like almost everyone stopped and turned in their direction when they made their appearance hand in hand. Chase gave Emma’s hand a reassuring squeeze and straightened his back, ready to show off their new relationship to family and friends.

  Hunter and Rylee made their way over to greet them. “Look at you two. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were a couple,” Rylee observed, leaning in to take turns kissing each of them on the cheek.

  Emma and Chase exchanged glances and smiled before turning their attention back to Hunter and Rylee.

  Hunter placed a hand on Chase’s shoulder. “I’m glad you could be here. It means a lot to me to have two of my brothers here tonight.”

  “I’m glad to be here, too. Congratulations on the engagement. Hey, where do we put the gifts?” Chase asked, nodding to the present he was carrying under his left arm.

  “Aww, you shouldn’t have,” Hunter teased. “Come with me.”

  “I’ll be back,” Chase leaned in to plant a light kiss to Emma’s forehead before following Hunter across the patio to the gift table.

  Once Chase set down the gift, he noticed Hunter was looking at him with a suspicious grin. “Okay, spill it.”

  “Spill what?” Chase played dumb, but he had a feeling he knew what his brother was hinting toward.

  “What’s going on with you and Emma?”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “It’s that obvious.” Hunter shook his head and laughed.

  “Man, I’m crazy about that girl. There’s no denying it.”

  “Well, everyone already knew that, Chase. You’ve always been crazy about her. The question is, have you two decided to stop playing the ‘just friends’ act and give in to your affection for one another?”

  “Actually, yeah, we have. It just kind of happened.” Chase let out a long breath and shoved his hands into his pockets. It felt good to say it out loud.

  “Well, it’s about time.” Hunter slapped Chase on the back. “I’m happy for you.”

  “It’s about time for what?” Shane asked, joining his brothers.

  “Chase and Emma have finally stopped pretending they aren’t madly in love with each other.”

  “Really? It is about time,” Shane teased. “Seriously though, that’s awesome, bro. Emma’s a great girl and you both deserve happiness. I hope this means you’ll be sticking around for a while?”

  “That’s the plan. We’re going to reopen Hemlock House together. As business partners.”

  Hunter’s brow shot up. “Really? Mixing business with pleasure?” Chase suspected Hunter might not think it was a good idea. He was the business-savvy one of the brothers.

  “Shane and Avery do it, and look at this place,” Chase said, holding his arms up and motioning around the resort.

  “Yes, Shane and Avery have really turned this place around. Just be careful is all I’m saying. You’ll need a formal agreement.”

  “Well, that’s the thing. She’s having Aaron Reynolds draw up the paperwork. I’m not crazy about that.” Chase rubbed at the back of his neck.

  “Well, I don’t trust that guy. He’s only going to have Emma’s interests in mind. Before you sign anything, make sure you bring it to me to look over. I can have my attorney look over it as well.”

  Chase wasn’t sure what was causing Hunter’s hesitation, but it was a nice offer and reassuring to know he had his brother in his corner. Before he could respond, Avery came over and ushered everyone to their seats, indicating it was time for dinner.

  Chase pulled Emma’s chair out for her, and she smiled up at him appreciatively. It was a beautiful evening for dinner on the veranda, and the setting was perfect. Chase hadn’t been to the resort since he was a teenager, but it was just as nice as he remembered, if not more. They were on the backside of the massive, log cabin-style main lodge, high atop a hill overlooking Lake Michigan. The sun was beginning to set into the lake, and the sky was a medley of orange and magenta beyond the evergreens that dotted the shoreline. Above them, small white lights hung across the patio, matching the crisp white linens adorning each table, while a jazz band played a light tune in the corner.

  They had dinner followed by dessert, and then the band picked up the beat as everyone got up to mingle with an after-dinner drink. Hunter took the microphone and told the story of how he’d proposed to Rylee on his yacht last month, but Chase wasn’t sure what all he had said. He’d been too fixated on Emma to hear his brother’s words. He just knew Hunter was madly in love with Rylee, and Chase couldn’t have been happier for them.

  As they all stood, Carter and Valerie made their way over. Carter was scanning Chase and Emma as they approached, and Cha
se could tell he was taking notice of Emma’s arm looped through his.

  “I was hoping we’d get a chance to talk with you two before we left. I don’t know why they had us seated across the veranda,” Valerie said, drawing near to Emma and Chase.

  Chase was proud to have Emma on his arm, and he didn’t plan to let her go just because his father was eyeing the two of them. He couldn’t tell if that was approval on his father’s stoic face or not. Only time would tell.

  “Nice to see you again, Valerie, Carter,” Emma said, addressing each of them.

  “Hi, Dad. Hey, Valerie,” Chase said, following suit.

  “Emma, son,” Carter said and nodded, taking a sip of his scotch and looking out over the horizon.

  “We’d love it if you two could join us for dinner. This week?” Valerie asked.

  Chase looked to Emma and waited for her to respond.

  “We’d love that,” Emma told them with a polite smile.

  “Have you given any more thought to sticking around here?” Carter asked, looking Chase square in the eye now.

  “Yes, I have. I’ve decided to stay in Arbor Shores. We’re going to reopen Hemlock House together,” Chase admitted. He sucked in a breath and awaited his father’s reaction, hoping to gain his approval.

  “Is that so?” Carter asked, looking back and forth between the two of them.

  “Oh, I’m so pleased to hear that,” Valerie beamed. “Hemlock House was always so lovely, and of course, we’re glad to have you back for good, Chase.” Chase wasn’t sure why Valerie was being so nice to him. He didn’t know her all that much, but she hadn’t seemed to care for him during the short time they’d lived together in the Knox Estate before Chase had been kicked out. Maybe time had changed her. It had seemed to change his father.

  “Yes, we’ll have dinner and discuss the details. Tomorrow night. Yacht club.” Carter told them. It was more of a demand than a question. Chase knew the businessman side of his father wasn’t going to let one of his sons go into business without overseeing it. A part of him appreciated that his father cared at all, but another part of him wanted to do it on his own. Still, Chase didn’t trust Aaron, and the fact that both Hunter and Carter were willing to oversee the details was reassuring. He needed someone on his side, and he didn’t have an attorney of his own like Emma had.

  Chase and Emma agreed to dinner at the yacht club at seven the following evening, and Valerie and Carter said their goodbyes, leaving Chase alone with Emma on the corner of the veranda. The sun had fully set now, and the moon was shining down on the lake. Chase noticed Emma take in a yawn.

  “Ready to get out of here?” he asked.

  “It’s just been a long day. I’m ready to get home and into my pajamas.” Emma glanced at her watch.

  “Come on. I’ll get you home so you can get to bed.” He held out his hand for her.

  Emma laughed and took his hand. “I didn’t say I was ready for bed. I was hoping we could have another movie night.” She flashed him a flirtatious grin. Chase’s pulse quickened at the thought of a night on the couch with Emma.

  “There’s nothing I’d rather do than cuddle with you and Zeke and watch a movie,” he told her as he took her by the hand. They made their way over to the crew to say their goodbyes.

  As they left the party, Chase was feeling better than ever. He and Emma had made their newfound relationship public, he’d gotten what he’d take as an approval from his father for the first time in his life, and he had Emma by his side.

  There was nothing that could bring him down from this high. For the first time in his life, Chase felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be, and that felt good.

  Back at Hemlock House, Chase and Emma went their respective ways to change out of their evening attire and into loungewear before meeting back in the kitchen to make popcorn and then retiring to the parlor to watch a movie. They decided on a romantic comedy—Emma’s pick.

  Cuddled up on the couch with Zeke at their feet, Emma couldn’t be any more content. It had been a long time since she’d had someone to snuggle with, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d even had company over before Chase. This was something she had never done with Aaron. He always wanted to be out on the town socializing and making appearances, whereas Emma was more of a homebody. She’d rather be home watching a movie with Chase than anywhere else in the world right now. She just hoped this lifestyle would be enough to keep him content, because he had an itch to travel and see the world. Would she be enough to keep him here? The last thing she wanted to do was open a business together and then have him take off again.

  On second thought, she trusted him. He said he was staying, and he seemed to be into her, so it was time to move forward with their plan. No looking back, no second-guessing. All she needed was for Aaron to finalize their agreement, and they would be able to open for business in the next week or so. Before long, they’d be bringing in income, and she’d be able to hire an extra employee to help out at NovelTea, which meant more time with Chase.

  With Chase’s arm around her, she nuzzled up next to him and draped her legs over his. The smell of his cologne still lingered ever so slightly, igniting her desire to kiss him. He held her right hand, and caressed her palm softly with his thumb, a tiny gesture that was causing monumental things to happen inside her. She’d been longing for another kiss since her lips parted from his on the beach, and being this close to Chase was making it hard for her to concentrate on the movie.

  She lifted her head up and looked at him, her face only inches from his. He looked down at her, a knowing look in his eyes. She didn’t have to say what she wanted. He leaned forward and placed his lips on hers, kissing her ever so gently at first. Turning his body toward her, he wrapped his arms around her tightly and pulled her onto his lap in one suave move.

  They spent the rest of the evening tangled on the couch, making out like a couple of teenagers. Neither of them noticing when the movie came to an end.

  The next morning, Emma awoke to the smell of sausage wafting through the air. That meant Chase must’ve been cooking her breakfast, and the fact that Zeke was nowhere to be found confirmed her suspicions.

  After a hot shower, she was getting ready to head downstairs when she noticed her phone light up on her nightstand.

  A text from Aaron.

  A knot formed in her throat. Eventually, she would need to have a conversation with him about her and Chase, but now was not the time. Not that she owed him an explanation. He wasn’t her boyfriend and she was not by any means committed to him. But she had spent time with him, and he cared about her, so out of respect for his feelings, she owed it to him to tell him about Chase herself before he found out through someone else.

  She decided that on Monday when she went back to his office to get the paperwork, she would tell him then. In person. For now, she’d better check his text in case he was working on the agreement and had a question about Hemlock House.

  She clicked his name on the screen to open the text.

  Dinner tonight?

  She blew out a sigh and contemplated her response.

  I can’t tonight, sorry.

  A long pause caused her to set the phone back on the nightstand, but before she walked away, it lit up again.

  Plans with Chase?

  Something about his question made her blood boil. He had no right to ask her these types of questions. It was none of his business, and he was acting jealous—a huge turn off for her. She didn’t feel like she needed to lie; she had no reason to. She picked up the phone to respond.

  Having dinner with the Knoxes at the yacht club tonight. See you tomorrow.

  She tossed the phone back on her nightstand and made her way downstairs. She didn’t want to keep Chase waiting, and she was craving not only his cooking but his lips, too.

  Just as she expected, she found Chase at the stove with Zeke loyally by his side. Traitor. But she had to smile. She loved seeing Zeke’s affection for Chase. He’d never t
aken to Aaron for some reason, and that never set right with her. She cleared her throat.

  Chase turned, an instant smile lighting up his face. “Good morning.”

  “You know, you’re going to have to stop spoiling me like this. I might just get used to it,” she told him, making her way over to the stove and pecking him on the lips to distract him while stealing a slice of sausage.

  “Well, get used to it because I’m not going anywhere.”

  That was all she needed to hear. Elation engulfed her, and this sexy man in her kitchen was all to blame.

  Chase grabbed a plate from the cupboard and shimmied the omelet from the pan onto its surface, handing it to Emma. He followed her into the dining room with his plate and took a seat across from her.

  “Mmm, this is delicious,” she moaned, taking a bite of her omelet. “I love having you here, by the way. In case I haven’t told you.”

  Chase laughed. “Because I cook for you?”

  “No!” She shot him her best how-dare-you glare, then added, “Well, okay, your cooking is a bonus. But really, I love waking up and having you here and knowing that you’re never too far away.”

  “Well, I love being here,” he said when he finished chewing his bite. “I love being with you.”

  She put down her fork and took a deep breath before asking the question nibbling at her mind. “Chase, promise me you’re not going to leave me again.”

  “Emma, we’ve been over this.” He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers.

  “I just need you to tell me one more time before we sign the papers.”

  Chase got up and made his way around the table, holding out his hand to her. She looked at his hand for a moment, then placed hers in his as he helped her to her feet before pulling her in for a hug.