“She means the drink!” Josh said above the laughter of the whole class.
“Of course!” Maggie said. “I’m a happily married woman. Back to work!”
It was a really fun class for Emily between the hysterical Maggie and Josh flirting with her the whole time. She flirted back, unconcerned about him asking her out. She knew that was just his way. He flirted with her and every woman who walked into Garner’s. She’d never have a fling with him because that would ruin ladies’ night at her favorite bar. Totally awkward.
At the end of class, Shane invited them all to sign up for a onetime Christmas cooking class in a few weeks and asked them to remember his catering business for their next event. Emily added her name to the sign-up sheet for the next class along with everyone else. It had been a really fun, informative class.
“Toss your dirty aprons in the basket by the door,” Maggie hollered above the chatter.
Emily started toward the door when the string on the back of her apron pulled tight. She glanced back over her shoulder. “Josh!”
He’d untied her. “What?” he asked, giving her his infectious smile that lit up his face. “I’m helping. Hey, you want to get a drink after this? On me.”
“Sure, but I’ll pay.” She turned back and startled to find Jared standing in the doorway, glaring at her.
“I’ll take her for drinks,” Jared bit out.
She blinked. “How did you—”
“Let’s go,” Jared said.
“I’ll meet you there,” Josh said with a wink. “I owe someone sex on the beach.”
Jared glared at Josh, took Emily’s hand, and pulled her out of there.
“Wait,” she said, breathless at his pace as he practically sprinted for the front door, “I need my jacket.”
“I’ll get it.” Jared stalked back to the kitchen and returned a moment later. He held it out and helped her into it.
Garner’s was just a couple blocks away, so she left her car behind and walked with Jared down the sidewalk. “How did you know I was here?” she asked.
“Angel texted me.”
“Oh. Why?”
He stopped and pinned her with a hard look. “Why do you think?”
“I have no idea.” Please say it was to hook up with me.
He cocked his head to the side. “Because someone had the bright idea of making you and Josh a couple.” He resumed walking at a breakneck pace.
“So that bothered you?” she asked, a little giddy.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“Because why?”
He didn’t answer until they got to the door of the bar. “If anyone’s going to give you sex on the beach, it’s me.”
She beamed at him. “Okay then!”
“After you.” He opened the door and ushered her inside. The bar was crowded with people watching the Patriots football game. Jared found one empty bar stool and gestured for her to take it. He scanned the bar, probably looking for Josh, but he hadn’t shown up yet.
She sat down, pleased with this turn of events. “I’m ordering a real margarita,” she informed him. If he was going to go all caveman on her and pull her away from Josh, then he’d have to deal with her in all her alcohol-induced flirtiness.
He grinned, considerably less tense now that they were at the bar and Josh was nowhere to be found. “A real margarita, huh? You looking to sit in my lap again?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” She hopped off the bar stool and gestured for him to take her place.
He did and then pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He spoke in a low voice near her ear, bringing a rush of heat to her entire body. “I’m just holding you so you don’t fall over when your drink puts you to sleep.”
She snort-laughed. “That was only because I hadn’t slept in days.”
“Uh-huh. Likely story.”
He gestured to the bartender, a woman with short fire-engine-red dyed hair, and ordered himself a beer and her a margarita. “So what’s the deal with Josh?”
“No deal,” she said.
“Angel said he was making the moves on you.”
She laughed. “I had no idea Angel doubled as a spy.” She turned sideways in his lap to look at him. “What do you care?”
He tapped the end of her nose. “Oh, I care. Sensible woman like yourself. Gotta look out for those so they don’t get taken in by players.”
“Hmmm…”
“What’s that mean?”
“Nothing. I’m just humming.”
He chuckled. “I was surprised to see Julia there.”
“That’s the woman Angel loves, isn’t it?”
“Yup.”
“Why aren’t they together?”
“She’s a grieving widow.”
“Oh.” That made a lot of sense, actually. She could feel the sadness radiating off of her. Emily was probably more in tune to that than most people due to her work in the oncology ward. Now that she’d seen the obvious devotion Angel had for Julia, she had to wonder why Jared pushed Angel to be with her. “Why did you try to get me and Angel back together?”
He stared at the bar. “I was trying to do the right thing. He was stuck and unhappy, and it didn’t look like he’d ever move forward with her. I’m still not sure if he will. He regretted…he wondered if he’d made a mistake bailing on…” He met her eyes briefly and turned back to the bar. “Anyway, you said you loved him, and it seemed like I should just get out of the way.”
She was about to ask more about Julia and why Angel couldn’t move forward with her, but then their drinks arrived.
Jared paid and then held his beer bottle up by her margarita glass. “To sleep,” he said, “since I’m sure this one drink is going to knock you out.”
“Sure I always toast to sleep,” she said on a laugh. She took a long swallow of delicious drink.
“I’m waiting,” he said, still holding his glass up. “Don’t leave me toast hanging.”
“Oh.” She clinked her glass against his. “To sleeping.” She watched him take a sip of beer before adding, “Together.”
He choked on his beer. She smiled and took another sip of margarita.
When he finally stopped sputtering, he set his beer down. “Proud of yourself? You nearly killed me.”
She grinned. “I did not.” She stopped smiling at the hot look in his eyes. She licked her lips.
“You want to get out of here?” he asked hoarsely.
“Yes,” she said with no small amount of relief. Finally she was going to get her fling. She’d really given up all hope. She hopped off his lap.
“Let me just leave a tip.” He pulled out his wallet.
She took a last sip of margarita before setting it back on the bar and froze when her gaze caught on the one TV that didn’t have the game on. It was turned to the news.
And the news was her.
The volume was turned down, but it didn’t matter, there was her ex-husband holding up a political campaign sign in his signature blue and red colors. Only this time, instead of his campaign slogan, it said, Emily Maguire, will you remarry me?
She swayed and nausea rose up in her throat. When would it end? The press would never leave her alone if Michael kept throwing her under the bus like this.
Jared waved a hand in front of her face. “Em? Ready to…oh, shit. What the hell?”
Chapter Eight
Emily pushed her way through the crowded bar and rushed to the ladies’ room, where she promptly threw up in the toilet. She flushed, washed her hands, and grabbed a paper towel. She hated that Michael could still get to her like this. Seeing him in the news, pulling her into the spotlight, brought it all back. The utter humiliation of the sex scandal that she couldn’t seem to get away from. She’d done nothing wrong, yet it made her look bad. And for Jared to see that was even worse. He was going to feel sorry for her. That was not sexy at all.
“Emily?” Jared called through the d
oor. “You okay?”
“Give me a minute.” She tossed the paper towel away.
“Okay.”
She ran the water, cupped her hand, and swished her mouth out. Fortunately she was alone in the small two-stall bathroom. She took a deep, calming breath. There went her fun fling. It was like the universe didn’t want her to ever have a good time. She looked in the mirror. Her skin was pale; her eyes watery. “Pull it together,” she told herself.
She put on her game face, the one that said, I’m having a pleasant time and everything is just fine, before pulling open the door.
Jared took one look at her and wrapped her in a hug. “Are you okay?”
She let herself lean on his warm strength for a brief moment before straightening. “I, uh, I don’t feel so well.”
“I’ll take you home.”
She pulled away. “No, I got it. My car’s only a couple blocks away.”
“I’ll walk over with you. My car’s there too.”
She knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer, so she just headed to the exit. Jared fetched their coats and followed her. When they got outside, he handed her coat over, but she just held it. The crisp, cold air made her feel a little better.
They started walking back to the parking lot behind Ludbury House. After a few minutes of silence, Jared spoke up. “So what’s the deal with your ex?”
“Nothing.”
“He wants you back.”
She said nothing. Who cared if Michael wanted her back? She’d never go back to him.
“Do you want him back too?”
“Don’t ask me that,” she snapped. Honestly, Jared knew how awful Michael was to her. How could he think for one minute she’d even consider it?
“Want me to tell him to get lost?” he asked.
She blew out a breath. “No.”
He tried to hold her hand, but she busied herself putting her coat on and then stuffed her hands in her pockets. She wasn’t up to flirting or anything remotely close to lust. She felt dirty all over again. Michael’s filth covered her.
When they got to the parking lot, Jared stopped and studied her for a moment. “You want me to come over? I’ve been told I’m pretty easy to talk to.”
She’d said that to him over their lunch before, but now she wanted nothing more than to burrow back to the comfort of her home. She shook her head.
“Em, I’m a little worried about you. You seem shaken up.”
“Don’t pity me,” she said. “It’s over.” But, of course, it was never truly over. Michael wouldn’t let it be.
He backed away. “Yeah. Okay. Well, goodnight.” And with that, he strode toward his truck and took off.
She stared after him, suddenly realizing he might’ve taken that the wrong way. Her mind was on Michael. She hadn’t meant it was over with him. Oh, what did it matter? Her night was ruined.
She drove home, cursing Michael the whole way, headed toward her assigned parking spot only to discover what appeared to be Michael standing there with roses and a camera crew. A news van was parked nearby. She slammed on the brakes and made a quick turn into another parking area around the corner of the building, her heart racing.
Damn him. He brought them to her door. He probably proposed to her there too.
She was so angry, she was shaking as she pulled her cell phone from her purse. She punched in the number that was still in her phone from when he’d called her before.
He answered in a pleasant tone. “Hello, Emily, where are you?”
“The answer is no,” she said. “And if you don’t leave my apartment complex, I will call the cops.”
“Are you here? I’m standing on public property.”
She closed her eyes, trying to think. What was the fastest way to get rid of him? “Michael, I swear to God, I will get a restraining order against you, which will be public knowledge. Would you like everyone to know you’re a deranged stalker? Because I’ll make sure that’s exactly what they think.”
“Fine, I’ll leave. For now.”
“For good!” she shouted into the phone, but he’d hung up.
She turned the car around so she could see exactly when Michael and the news van left. Finally, a good half hour later, they left.
She pulled into her assigned parking spot and managed to get into her apartment before she broke down in tears. And then suddenly she was furious that he could still get to her like that, especially after she’d actually started to enjoy herself today. She grabbed the framed picture off the end table of her family last Christmas with her perfect sisters smiling with their perfect husbands and threw it against the wall.
The glass shattered.
“Fucking sicko!” she screamed before sinking to the floor in a tight ball and wrapping her arms around her knees. She’d never be free of him.
~ ~ ~
Jared helped himself to a slice of pumpkin pie at the kitchen island in his brother Gabe’s large gourmet kitchen. It was Thanksgiving, and he marveled at how their already large family had grown. The dining room table fit twelve of them, and they’d cleared the living room furniture for another long table. Not only were four of his five brothers married, but they’d also brought along some of their wives’ families. The wall between the living room and dining room had separated them for dinner, but dessert was buffet style in the kitchen.
Angel appeared at his side and helped himself to a slice of pumpkin pie. “How’s Emily?”
“Fine.” He shoved a big piece of pie in his mouth, not wanting to talk about the woman they’d both lusted for. She’d told him it was over, so whatever bit of flirty fun they’d had was done. And after seeing her reaction to her ex proposing on the news, it was clear she was still reeling from the hell her ex had put her through.
“How’d things go after class?” Angel asked, adding some whipped cream in a big swirl to his pie.
“How’d things go for you and Julia after class?”
“Fuck you.”
“Are they fighting again?” his smartass older brother Luke asked. He was way into money, his job was wealth management, and he probably wanted to get in on another round of betting.
A low murmur began among his brothers, and then conversation died as everyone turned to see what would happen next between Jared and Angel.
“Nothing to see here, folks,” Jared announced. “Go back to stuffing your faces.” He took another forkful of pie, and Angel did the same.
Conversation resumed.
“Julia and I are just friends,” Angel said in a low voice.
“So are me and Emily.”
Angel raised his brows. “Why? Don’t you think she’s sexy?” He elbowed him in the gut.
Jared bristled. “Her ex proposed to her on the news, and then she ran to the bathroom. I assume she puked, because she was pale and shaky after that.”
Angel’s brown eyes went wide. “Really? I missed that. What an asshole.” He shook his head. “He should just fucking leave her alone.”
Jared grunted.
Angel dug into his pie, and after a moment, he added, “Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t be with her.”
“She doesn’t want that. She—”
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Nico was clinking a spoon against a glass to get everyone’s attention. The room fell silent. Nico wrapped an arm around his wife Lily’s shoulders and pulled her close. He beamed. “We have an announcement.”
“I’m pregnant!” Lily exclaimed.
“Congratulations!” their mom exclaimed, rushing over to hug Lily.
“Salute!” their stepdad said, raising his glass. Everyone raised their glass with a chorus of cheers and congratulations.
“The Spencer dynasty continues!” Lily’s dad said. He was an extremely wealthy, extremely imposing man in a tweed sports jacket.
“Marino dynasty,” Nico corrected. “C’mere and give your grandchild your Spencer blessing.”
Lily’s dad quickly worked his way to Lily and then just stood t
here, seeming unsure what to say.
Lily hugged him. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Thank you,” he said in a gravelly voice; then he shook Nico’s hand in a formal congratulation before stepping back.
“How far along?” Vince boomed.
Lily laughed. “Nine weeks. I got pregnant on our honeymoon, but we didn’t want to say anything at first. We just wanted you and Sophia to enjoy the attention.”
“Nine weeks?” Sophia asked. “No morning sickness?”
“Nope!” Lily said with a smile. “I feel great. Guess I’m just lucky.”
Sophia glared daggers at her, prompting Lily to quickly add, “I’m sure I’ll get all that the second time around.”
Sophia pursed her lips. “I’m sure.” Poor Sophia had only had small bites of plain bread at their feast. Lily had piled everything on her plate.
Everyone gathered in close to Lily and thumped Nico on the back, congratulating him. Jared felt a strange empty ache as his family rejoiced. His brothers were moving on to families of their own. His life was standing still.
He turned to Angel, who was staring at the floor, a pained expression on his face.
“You okay?” Jared asked.
Angel’s head snapped up, and he forced a smile that didn’t fool Jared for a second. “Yeah. Great news, huh?”
“Yeah.” Angel’s life wasn’t just standing still, it was stuck. He didn’t know the right thing to do for Angel. On the one hand, it was unlikely the faucet of love would turn off for him with Julia. He’d realized that recently. His brothers fell and fell hard. But if that love would never be returned, shouldn’t Angel at least try to find someone who would love him back? Was there really only one person out there for Angel?
And then it hit him. What if there was only one person out there for Jared too? What if that one person was Emily? He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone. That wasn’t going away. If anything, it was getting worse. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. But she’d said it was over. She had an ex proposing to her again. Not that she wanted her ex back, but he got the feeling she wasn’t looking for anything more than a good time, with all her baggage. It felt like karma, this role reversal where he was on the receiving end of a casual encounter. He wasn’t sure how to move forward with her, wasn’t sure if that was even an option.
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