by Dawn Brower
Dallas scrubbed his hands over his face, his anger deflated. “No, I didn’t know. You wouldn’t talk about what happened. How are we to know anything when you won’t tell us?”
Her brother did have a point. She did close them out when she came home. It had hurt too much to talk about what happened. They didn’t know the full story, probably never would. Colt didn’t even know some of it. Yes, she’d been hurt, but it went deeper than that. She’d lost more than Colt when he cheated on her with Missy. She heard he wasn’t the father of Missy’s baby, but he’d still messed up by getting involved with her to begin with. If he’d been truer to their relationship, he’d never have been in a position to be the possible father of her daughter. Emma would never be able to forgive him for what he’d done to her and their future together. He’d trashed their relationship to party with his new teammates. Emma hoped it’d been worth it for him. She’d always feel the loss deep inside her soul.
“I didn’t feel like talking about it. Don’t now either.” Emma sighed. “Don’t argue, Dallas. This is what I want.”
“Fine, I don’t have to be happy about it. When do you start working?”
“That’s the thing. Henry wants me to come right away. I already started packing. I’m leaving today.”
“What?” Ginnifer gasped. “Why so soon? Where are you going to stay?”
“I talked to Tori before I came in here. She said I could stay in her guest bedroom until I found my own place.”
Vitoria Miene was her other brother’s girlfriend. Wes stayed with her in Seattle more than he’d been at Novak Springs over the past several months. Emma kept waiting for them to announce they were getting married, but they seemed content with the way their relationship currently stood. It was good to see them both so happy when at one time they’d hated each other and argued all the time.
“Tori knew about this before I did? Well looks like I’m going to have to talk with my best friend. She’s been holding out on me.”
“Be nice, Ginny. Tori just found out an hour ago.”
“Hmmph. Fine, I won’t yell at her—much.”
Dallas shook his head and threw his hands up in the air. “I give up.”
Emma walked over and hugged him. “Don’t give up. What would I do without you?”
“Whatever the hell you want. Never stopped you before,” he grumbled. “Does Wes know about this job?”
Emma stood and turned her back to Dallas. “No, not yet. When I talked to Tori, she said he’d left to come out here. He should be showing up in an hour or so.”
Dallas laughed. “Good. I can’t wait to see how he reacts to your news. You think I reacted badly, Wes is going to go ballistic.”
“I’m sure he will, but I’ll be gone before he arrives. I need to pack my things in the car, and I’ll be heading to Seattle. Please tell him I’ll see him tonight at Tori’s condo.”
Dallas ran his fingers through his chestnut hair, leaving the strands sticking out in a bunch of different directions. “Now you’re being mean. Leaving me to tell Wes your dirty little secret. He’s going to be even more pissed you didn’t tell him yourself.”
“Then don’t tell him. Let me tell him tonight. Let him think I’m going to visit him and Tori in Seattle for a while. I don’t mind letting him know I took a job as a physical trainer.” Emma shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t have time to wait for him and tell him sooner. I told Henry I’d be at his office early for our meeting. I have some contracts to sign and stuff.”
“Call me when you get to Tori’s and are settled in.” Dallas frowned. “You know how I worry.”
“As long as you realize I’m not actually arriving at Tori’s until later on this evening. I’m driving straight to the Starlings offices to meet with Henry.”
“Fine, call me when you get to the offices then.” Dallas paused. “And when you get to Tori’s later. I want to know how it all went and if you’re okay.”
Emma smiled. “Did anyone ever tell you that you worry too much?”
“No, but you give me good reason to.”
“I know.” Emma pursed her lips into a pout. “But you love me anyway.”
Dallas’ eyes softened as his lips tilted into a grin. “You’re an evil imp.”
Ginnifer shook her head at both of them. “God help us if this baby is a girl. I’d hate to see Dallas with a daughter.”
Emma laughed and walked over to the sink and set her cup next to Ginnifer’s. She needed to put her suitcases in the car and get on the road. “Don’t worry, Ginny. I’m sure you’ll be able to keep both of them in line.”
“God, I hope so.”
“Now you two behave. You’ll practically have the house to yourself now with Wes perpetually gone and me moving out. What will you two do with yourselves?”
“Finally have peace and quiet.” Dallas grinned.
“At least until we have the screams of an infant to deal with,” Ginnifer reminded him.
“It’ll be fun.” He leaned down and kissed her lips.
Ginnifer glared at him. “You have a strange definition of fun.”
Emma laughed and shook her head. “I’ll leave you two to discuss that. I’m sure there are some things I shouldn’t know.”
Emma hugged them both and left the kitchen. It had gone better than she’d expected. Now she needed to start on the new path she set for herself. She frowned for a minute and remembered the bad part about her new path—Colt. No worries, she’d deal with him when she had no choice. For now she’d be happy to be back on track for her original goals.
Dawn Brower holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Education, and is currently working on a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts with concentrations in Literature, History, and Sociology. She works as a substitute teacher and enjoys the flexibility it gives her to concentrate on her other endeavors.
Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She is a single mother of two teenage boys; there is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby. There is nothing like a nice glass of wine and a good book to relax with at the end of the day.
There are always stories inside her head; she never thought she could make them come to life. That creativity has finally found an outlet.
Visit her website at www.authordawnbrower.com for more information on upcoming releases.
Books by Dawn Brower
Broken Pearl
Deadly Benevolence
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Marsden Romances
A Flawed Jewel
A Crystal Angel
A Treasured Lily
A Sanguine Gem
A Hidden Ruby
A Discarded Pearl
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Novak Springs Series
Cowgirl Fever
Dirty Proof
Unbridled Pursuit
Sensual Games
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Linked Across Time Series
Saved by My Blackguard
Searching for My Rogue
Coming Soon
Seduction of My Rake
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Heart’s Intent Series
One Heart to Give
Coming Soon
An Unveiled Heart