by Cat Johnson
“Yes, it is. A very good thing. It will draw the customers farther inside, back to the stuff you want them to buy. The big ticket items like the saddles and cowboy hats.”
“Sounds good. Don’t let me stop you. If it’ll move more stock, keep pawing through this dusty old stuff.” Logan came over and squatted down next to her. He brushed a thumb across her cheek, and then glanced at his fingers as he rubbed them together. “But don’t blame me when you get filthy.”
“I’ve never been opposed to getting a little dirty.” That came out sounding very suggestive, just as Emma intended it.
The nuance wasn’t lost on Logan. He smiled and shook his head. Standing, he said, “You keep talking like that and my work here will never get done.”
The way the heat radiated off him and into her, just from the smallest touch, that was a very good possibility. “How about I offer an incentive for both of us? I get my displays done. You get your work done. Then we can take a little break.”
“And do what?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe figure out a creative way to test out that saddle you’re working on?”
“That certainly is an incentive to finish it.” He grinned. “I think I can make that work.”
“Excellent, but you have to help me move my trunk first, before you go back to your saddle.”
He reached down and gave her a hand up. “Tack box.”
“Whatever.” Standing, she brushed the dust off her jeans.
He shook his head and let out a laugh. Grabbing the handle at one end of the box, he waited for her to get into position at the other end. “Emma?”
“Yeah?” She glanced up as she bent to reach for the dust-covered handle.
“I’m glad you’re here.” The depth of sincerity in his voice had Emma pausing before she got herself together and took hold of the other handle.
“Me, too.” She tried to keep her response light, but inside her heart thundered.
Eventually, this thing between them would either go somewhere or it wouldn’t. It was the latter option that worried Emma, because eventually she’d also have to confess her secret. They couldn’t just keep having casual sex.
She’d worry about that later. Maybe it would all work out, just like Logan’s problems with his father and the store hopefully would.
Emma focused on her work, rather than on the secret she was keeping from him. It was safer while she was feeling so vulnerable and squishy around him. Getting into designer mode, she directed him to where she wanted the trunk set down and brushed her hands together.
“Now get going and finish the saddle so I can work on my display.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He tipped the cowboy hat he’d taken to wearing again. “Call me if you need anything else heavy moved. I don’t want you hurting yourself.”
His concern for her well-being made her heart do a little flip. That was bad. It made her want to confess everything. She couldn’t do that. Not yet.
Maybe she should say to hell with their work for the day and get to the incentive part right away. Sex would be a good distraction to take her mind off her hopes and fears about their future. Hell, sex was good for lots of things.
Who was she kidding? Sex wasn’t a safe distraction. Somewhere along the way, sex and love had gotten all mixed up when it came to Logan.
Emma restrained herself. For now. “Yes, sir. Will do. Now get.”
“All right.” Walking away, he left her to her work, but she couldn’t get to it as long as he treated her to the enticing view of his jean-clad butt and cowboy boot swagger.
She watched him until he disappeared into the workroom. Only then did she try to focus on anything other than Logan.
Somehow Logan kept his mind on his work, though it wasn’t easy. Not when he was hyper-aware of Emma’s presence. He could hear her out there, moving things around, occasionally humming along with the radio station. She even laughed at one particularly funny line in a song. That had him smiling as he finished up the saddle.
The pleasure having her close gave him made up for all the times she had his mind wandering to her rather than remaining on his task. The job was simple enough, but made difficult thanks to the lovely Miss Hart’s proximity and Logan’s visceral reaction to her. One of his father’s customers had brought in the saddle to have a few leather straps and some old hardware replaced.
Logan’s work ethic and training, instilled in him at a young age by his father, wouldn’t allow Logan to send it back to the owner without cleaning and conditioning it first. It was little things like that—taking the time to clean and polish the saddle until it looked as good as new—that kept customers coming back to Hunt’s all these years. He only hoped his father would be able to keep serving his loyal clientele for many years to come. His father got as much out of this business as he put in.
Glancing at his cell phone, Logan realized how late it had gotten. The noise from the front of the store told him Emma was still working hard. With a smile, he went out front to see what she’d done.
What he saw stopped him in his tracks.
“Holy shit. Emma, this doesn’t even look like the same place.” He turned in a circle and took in all the changes she’d made, all on her own and in an amazingly short period of time.
She cringed. “I know. I kind of got out of control. Is it okay? Will your father be mad?”
“Mad. Are you crazy? It looks amazing.” Logan walked to one corner, to where she’d set up a display with the tack box and a saddle. She followed him over.
“I made this the equestrian area, so I tried to move everything horse or riding related over to this corner of the store.” She spun to the opposite corner. “Over there I put all the outdoor sportsman-type stuff.”
Logan turned and saw the deer antlers and a fishing creel on top of an old metal cooler that must have dated back to his grandfather’s day. He shook his head. It made sense. It would be easy for the customers to find what they needed. And it made the whole place ooze with a homey charm it had never had before.
“I just started on a home corner. I love that old kerosene lamp. I thought I’d set it on top of that wood table you have stashed behind the cash register counter. If you don’t mind me moving it out to the floor.”
“Uh, no. I’ll do it for you though. It’s heavy.” He shook his head again. “Emma, this really is incredible.”
“Thanks, but I’m not done yet. I was thinking I could paint wooden signs for each section. Any chance you have some old, weathered wood lying around? The rougher the better.”
“I’ll take a look behind the garage at home. Or there might be something at the hunting cabin.”
“Ooo, a hunting cabin?” Emma’s eyes lit with interest. “I’d love to see that.”
“I’m sure it’s not what you’re picturing, but I can take you to see it, if you really want.” He smiled. His city girl sure was a surprise. “You’re amazing. You know that? And the customers are going to flip when they see all the changes.”
A frown furrowed her brow. “Yeah, that’s something I wanted to ask you about. We didn’t have any customers today. Is business always this slow?”
“No.” Logan laughed. “Didn’t you see? I have the Closed sign on the door.”
Her eyes widened. “Why?”
“I was working in the back and you were busy moving things around out here. It would have been too much to be open, too. Everyone in town knows my father isn’t able to work right now. They don’t expect us to be open for regular business. The custom orders I’ve been getting done were just a courtesy.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Well, that has to stop. I didn’t do all this so no one can see it. Tomorrow, we open for regular business hours. I’ll print up a paper sign at Tuck’s house tonight announcing it.”
Logan raised one brow. “We open for business?”
“Sure. I want to be here. I’d like to hear what people say about the changes. I had fun today.” She grinned wide, then he
ld a hand to her stomach and swallowed hard. “Can we take a break to eat?”
“Oh my God, Emma. I’m sorry. I got so distracted I worked you right through lunch.”
“You didn’t work me through lunch. I got distracted, too, but I could use something in my stomach.”
“Of course. There’s not a lot around here, but we can go eat at the diner down the block.”
“I’m kinda dirty.” She glanced down at her shirt and jeans. She was a little grungy. He tried not to feel guilty about that. He’d never assumed she’d be pawing through all the old crap that nobody had touched in years.
“I can run over and bring us back something. How’s that sound?”
“Wonderful. That way I can finish up the new home section. And there are a few more details I thought of while I was rearranging things. And I didn’t get through all those boxes in the back yet—”
“Emma, you’re supposed to be on vacation.”
“And you’re supposed to be getting me lunch. A bowl of soup and some packages of saltine crackers would be perfect.”
His heart did a little flip at how amazing this woman was. He tamped it down and nodded. “All right. You’ve got it. I’ll be right back. Lock yourself in when I leave.”
“Against what? The crime spree in this horribly dangerous part of town?” She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m a New Yorker, remember?”
“And I’m your boss while you’re here, remember? So please, do as I ask and lock yourself in.”
“Humph. Yes, boss. And I’ll be thinking of what sort of compensation and fringe benefit package I want while you’re gone.”
Knowing Emma, and seeing the heated look she shot him as she followed him to the door, Logan was sure he’d enjoy delivering on all of her demands.
Chapter Seventeen
“So what do you want to do tonight?” Becca glanced over her shoulder while standing at the sink. “Tuck’s parents have Scrabble. The real kind with the tiles and everything. Not just the iPad app.”
“Old school, huh? Sounds good.” Emma smiled.
She was too bone deep tired to be up for anything too exciting. After hauling stuff around the store all day, her energy was at a low. And forgetting to eat lunch until her stomach was queasy didn’t help.
Crap, she hadn’t taken her pregnancy vitamins since she’d been here. Forgetting those wouldn’t help her energy level any. The only time the horse-sized pill didn’t make Emma sick to her stomach was when she took it after a big meal, so right now would be a perfect time. Her belly was full of Mrs. Jenkins’ homemade macaroni salad and charcoal-grilled burgers.
Eating dinners big enough to satisfy a bull rider wasn’t going to help her waistline any, but she supposed it was a moot point. That area was only going to grow as time ticked on, but both she and the reason for her weight gain needed the proper nutrition. Emma had to remember to take her vitamins.
While Becca was drying dishes, Tuck was who knew where, and his parents were already settled in the living room watching television, Emma reached into her purse on the kitchen counter. She blindly felt around until she found the prescription bottle.
With one eye on Becca to make sure her sister was still occupied, Emma pulled out the bottle and tried the lid. She smothered a curse when she couldn’t get it open. Damn childproof cap. Emma flattened her palm and tried to press down on the top while turning, like the directions said. The bottle shot out of her grasp and fell to the tile floor with a sound that resonated throughout the room.
That figured. The one time it was crucial she be inconspicuous, she’d proceeded to drop it. And loudly, too. Of all the things no one had ever told her about being pregnant, that she’d become a klutz and start dropping every damn thing she tried to pick up would have been a nice piece of information to have.
Becca glanced over her shoulder. “What was that?”
“Just my vitamins.” Emma started in pursuit of the bottle as it rolled across the floor, hoping to grab it before Becca noticed it looked more like a doctor’s prescription than a brand of vitamins available in the store, when Tucker walked into the room.
Emma watched in horror as he bent to pick it up. He frowned at the label. “Prenatal vitamins?” His eyes grew large as his gaze shot to his new bride. “Becca? Are you—”
Becca put the dish she’d been drying down and turned to stare at Emma. “Um, no.”
Tuck’s focus moved back to the bottle. He spun it in his hand and drew in an audible breath when he got to the portion of the label where the patient’s name had been typed. “Emma? These are yours?”
This wasn’t how Emma had envisioned telling anyone, but what could she do? She supposed she could make up some story that she was anemic or something, and the doctor thought the prenatal vitamins would help, but it was only a matter of time before everyone would know anyway. No hiding this for long.
“They’re mine. I’m knocked up.” She forced a laugh. “Surprise.”
“By who? Someone from New York?” Tuck’s eyes moved back and forth between Becca and her.
Tuck obviously thought Becca already knew. Not a surprise. Becca looked as guilty as if she had known. Emma could only guess that was because, after their conversations about Logan, Becca suspected who the father might be.
When neither Becca nor Emma answered, Tuck let out a frustrated huff. “Why won’t you tell—Oh my God. Is it Jace’s? Is that why you don’t want to tell me? Because you know I’ll kill him if he did this to you?”
“No.” Emma let out a short laugh. “Not Jace’s.” Jace hadn’t left Jacqueline’s side for long enough to get anyone else pregnant.
“Then who?” His frown changed as Tucker drew in a sharp breath. “It’s Logan’s.”
That had been a statement, not a question, as realization dawned on Tuck’s face. He looked at Emma for confirmation. When she didn’t deny it, and most likely the expression on her face only confirmed his suspicions, he knocked his cowboy hat back a half inch and blew out a puff of air. “Holy crap. When? Where? During the reception?”
“Yes, Tucker. At the reception in your parents’ backyard. Right there under the buffet table. Good thing the caterers chose such long table cloths.” Emma rolled her eyes at his ridiculous assumption.
“I just can’t believe I was so blind I didn’t notice something going on that day.”
“You were focused on me—your bride. Remember?” Becca moved to stand between her husband and her sister.
Tucker frowned at his new wife. “Did you know about this?”
Becca’s gaze cut to Emma before she answered Tuck. “I guessed something was going on between them, but I didn’t know it was this.”
Emma had known her sister would figure it out eventually anyway. There were too many clues not to.
Tucker continued to look dazed “Holy cow. Logan. A father. Have you told him?”
Emma grabbed the prescription bottle Tuck still held. She didn’t want any evidence lying around for any more family members to find. “No, and you can’t either. He has enough to deal with right now with his dad and the shop.”
His gaze dropped down her body and she knew what he was thinking. You couldn’t hide something like this for very long. Theoretically, Emma shouldn’t be showing any outward signs of pregnancy so early, but thanks to her stress-induced weight gain, she was. Her boobs felt huge and heavy. There was a small bump in her belly where there didn’t used to be. Granted, that was likely the result of too many pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream rather than the seed Logan had planted that fateful wedding weekend, but Tuck didn’t know that as he zeroed in on the changes in Emma’s body.
He shook his head. “You have to tell him, Emma.”
“Tucker, don’t get involved.” Becca laid a hand on his arm. “Emma will tell him when and if she wants to.”
“If?” His eyes flew open. “Emma—”
“Stop. Both of you. I’ll tell him. Just in my own time.”
“And when will that be?” Tuck c
ocked a brow.
“I don’t know.” When she realized she’d pressed her hand over her belly, she dropped it down to her side.
Tuck’s gaze followed the action. “Emma, Logan’s like a brother—”
“And Emma is my sister.” Becca crossed her arms over her chest.
Emma’s heart swelled with love for her. She had one person on her side in this. “Tuck, please. This whole thing is devastating enough. Don’t rush me.”
“There’s no need for it to be devastating. He’s the most responsible guy I’ve ever known. He’ll do the right thing. He’ll marry you, Emma. He’ll take care of you and the baby. You have to know that.”
“That’s the problem.” Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, crap. I’m crying again. Stupid hormones. I hate this.” She squeezed her eyes shut and willed her emotions to settle down.
Becca was by Emma’s side in an instant. “Tucker. Please go away and leave me and Emma for a little while.”
“I didn’t make her cry.” Tuck looked horrified as he protested.
“Yes, you did.” Becca shot a scathing look at him.
“Jeez.” Tuck ran a hand over his face. “Emma, I’m sorry.”
Emma dismissed Tuck’s apology with a wave of her hand, before she swiped at her eyes. “It’s okay. Everything makes me cry now.”
“I guess I’ll go trim the bushes outside.”
“Good idea.” Becca rubbed Emma’s back as she effectively dismissed Tuck.
After a moment of hesitation, Tucker backed toward the door, and then left.
“Wow. A baby. And here I thought I’d be the one pregnant first.” Becca smiled.
“Then we’re even, because I thought I’d be the one married first.” Emma let out a tearful laugh. “Or at least married before I got pregnant.”
Tyler came through the door and halted. “Pregnant? Uh, what are we talking about in here?”
The damn man walked too quietly considering he was as tall as Tuck and was wearing cowboy boots. Maybe Emma just wasn’t all that observant lately.
Becca stepped forward. “Uh, nobody. See I thought I might be but I wasn’t so don’t tell anybody, okay?“