“The whole town didn’t like the hotel at first,” Emily reminded her.
“Maybe not,” Evelyn agreed. “We’re sort of stuck in the mud sometimes ourselves. But we always liked you.”
Emily grinned. It was that kind of support that made her love Tall Pines. She suddenly felt better than she had since Colin left. In some ways, better than she had in years.
“So now that Colin’s gone,” Cynthia said, “I guess you’re going to date Mayor Tim, huh?”
The women surveyed her eagerly.
“After everything I’ve told you,” Emily replied, “I don’t know. I don’t think I can go from someone like Colin to someone like Tim.”
There were some mixed comments after that statement.
“There’s more to life than passion,” Evelyn said sagely. “I love Dale, but let’s face it—he’s no male model.” She grinned wickedly. “Of course, he does have his moments.”
Hearing about the “moments” Dale Albee had was more than Emily could handle right now. She cleared her throat. “Well, I’m not going out with Tim again. And as for Colin, I can’t honestly believe there’s a future there. And now that I know what I’m missing, I don’t think I want to settle for anything less.”
The women around her cheered.
The door opened and everyone turned to welcome the new arrival.
Emily’s eyes bugged.
“Hi, Emily,” Colin said quietly. “Sorry. Sue said I could find you here. She was expecting you back hours ago.”
“You’re supposed to be in Paris,” she said, feeling dumbstruck. “What are you doing here?”
He stared at her for a second. Then he smiled. “Do you have to ask?”
“Oh.” Madge dabbed at her eyes. “This is like something out of a movie.”
“Are you done?” The question was a plea as he shifted uncomfortably under the intense scrutiny of the women.
“Have fun, dear,” Mrs. Rutledge said with far too suggestive an edge for a septuagenarian.
Emily stood up, going for her wallet.
“It’s all on the house, dear.” Evelyn shooed her money away. “It’s more than worth it. We’ll be discussing this for weeks.”
Emily put on her coat and walked out with Colin, hearing the explosion of conversation as she shut the door behind her.
He cleared his throat. “Was it bad?” he asked.
“Was what bad?” Missing him was bad. Thinking he was gone for good—that was bad.
“The grilling.” He sounded worried. “I’m sure they were terrible.”
“They actually weren’t that bad,” Emily said, smiling. “I’m glad you’re back.”
She wrapped her arms around him, giving him a long, lingering kiss.
He growled, pulling away from her. “You can’t do that in broad daylight,” he said, his eyes gleaming. “Not unless you want to shock some of these fine townfolk.”
She grinned, remembering the wife-swapping tidbit. “They’re harder to shock than you think.” Then she frowned. “Wait. That’s not why you’re back, is it?”
“I couldn’t leave you to face the fire alone.”
She felt her stomach clench. It wasn’t the reason she’d been hoping for. Still, he’d flown all the way back, so that had to say something. And he did care for her.
It wasn’t going to be clear in one day, she thought resolutely. “Come on,” she told him. “Let’s go over to the hotel.”
As usual, she’d enjoy whatever time she had. However long—or short—that was.
FUNNY, HOW HIS exhaustion seemed to disappear the minute he saw her. And walking into her apartment was more like coming home than walking into any of the residences he’d rented in the past five, ten years, he realized as he hung his coat up on her coatrack. It had been excruciating walking into the beauty salon, surrounded by all the town’s busiest bodies but at the same time he’d found that he simply couldn’t wait for her another minute.
That tells you something, doesn’t it?They would have to figure this out. He had a job, a life to get to in Paris. He couldn’t keep jetting back here to Connecticut just because he couldn’t function without her.
She turned to him, cheeks rosy from the cold, eyes sparkling like gems. “I can’t believe you came back,” she repeated for the tenth time.
“I’m having a little difficulty believing it myself.” He took her into his arms. “We need to talk.”
She kissed his jawline. “Right this second?”
In a snap, his body went taut as a bowstring. “Well…wait. Yes.” He wasn’t going to get sidetracked by his body. He’d flown thousands of miles and postponed moving into his new apartment to get back to this woman. They had a few things to straighten out. Namely what the heck they were going to do about this…this thing that was going on between them. “We definitely need to talk.”
“All right.” She played up a pout, looking kittenishly sexy. Then she sat down on the couch, patting the space next to her.
He thought about it. Sitting that close to her would definitely make conversation difficult. “Why don’t we stand,” he suggested. “In the kitchen.” So far, that was the one place that they didn’t have any sexual memories. Besides, kitchens reminded him of home, family gatherings—intrinsically nonsexy memories. That ought to be some kind of insurance against getting sidetracked.
She smiled, obviously amused, and walked over to the kitchen. “Mind if I fix myself a snack?” she asked.
“Sure.” He paused. “If you don’t mind, I’m kind of hungry—starving, actually. All I’ve had is some snacks and airplane food in the past forty-eight hours.”
“Poor baby,” she said, stroking his face, and for a second he felt like saying to hell with conversation and dragging her over to the bed. They had plenty of time to talk, didn’t they?
He clamped down on the instinct. They had plenty of time for the physical stuff, too…and the talk, at this point, was more important.
“So what did you want to talk about?” she asked over her shoulder, opening her well-stocked fridge.
“This. Us,” he clarified. “What’s going on with us?”
She leaned against the refrigerator door, looking puzzled. “Honestly, I have no idea. But I am enjoying it.”
“So am I,” he hastily assured her. “But…hell. I’m moving to Paris. We’re going to have an ocean between us.”
“That did cross my mind,” she said, bringing out cheese, meat, croissants and an assortment of fruit. “This okay?”
“Fine,” he answered absently, watching as she arranged the food attractively on a platter. He leaned up against the counter. “So if we’re going to be thousands of miles away from each other, where does that leave us?”
“I don’t have an answer to that,” she admitted. She handed him a croissant sandwich, and he wolfed it down. “Maybe we should approach this from a different standpoint. What do you want to happen?”
I love you and I want you to be with me.
Colin frowned. He’d never lived with anyone in his life—his relationships had been far too brief, and he’d never been comfortable sharing that much of his space and his time. And that would mean turning her entire life upside down. Was that what he wanted? And was that something he had the right to ask for after, what, two weeks?
What if she moved to Europe, and hated it? And you?
He winced. No, that wasn’t a good solution.
“I’m not sure,” he prevaricated. “All I know is I think about you all the time and I love being with you.”
There. He was creeping toward the L word. Maybe it was hasty, but he wanted to lay the groundwork.
She jumped up, sitting casually on the countertop of her kitchen island, next to the platter of food. She picked out a chocolate-covered strawberry, dipping it in a bowl of whipped cream and taking a slow, thoughtful bite.
His mouth went dry.
She put the stem down on her plate. “I love being with you, too,” she said, her voice low and
musical. She picked up another, this time licking it slightly before biting it. He wondered if it was deliberate, as his cock hardened just watching the fruit tickling those full lips of hers. “Are you saying you want a relationship?”
“Yes,” he said, watching as she licked some stray chocolate from the corner of her mouth. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
She frowned. “Long-distance relationships don’t have a really high success factor,” she stated, then grinned ruefully. “If Cosmo is to be believed, anyway.”
“I wouldn’t want it to be long-distance.” He couldn’t help it. He picked up another strawberry, holding it out to her. Emily smiled, then delicately bit into it, some juice dribbling down her chin. She laughed.
That was his breaking point. He leaned forward, licking the stray juice from her. She sighed happily.
“So what would you want?” She looped her arms around his neck, kissing him slowly.
“I want to see you all the time.” He nuzzled her neck, and she wrapped her jean-clad legs around his waist. He could feel the heat of her burning him. “I feel like I’m going crazy when I’m not with you.”
Her breathing sped up and he kissed her hungrily. “I know,” she moaned. “I feel the same way. I’ve never felt like this before in my life.”
“Me, neither.” The food was forgotten—they were practically clawing at each other with need.
She reached down, undoing his pants, and he did the same, their mouths never separating. She kicked off her shoes, and he tugged her pants and panties off, leaving her gasping. He barely took the time to pull down his own briefs and roll on a condom before he was entering her, right there in the kitchen.
She threw her head back, panting loudly. “Oh, this feels so good…”
He leaned his head on her shoulder. The countertop was the perfect height for them. She wrapped herself around him and he pushed into her, rocking against her. His body fit hers perfectly. He withdrew, leaving her whimpering with desire, then he plunged in, devouring her cry of pleasure.
“Emily,” he murmured against her lips as his body increased its tempo. “Emily.”
“I love the feel of you inside me,” she whispered back, her hands digging into his shoulders, pulling him as close as possible to her.
They moved as one, straining against each other. When the climax hit, it hit them both simultaneously—and it hit like a freight train.
When it was over, he leaned against her, holding her as if he were too weak to stand on his own. They were both breathless.
“You know,” he panted, “I used to have enormous self-control before I met you.”
She giggled. “I never needed self-control before I met you.”
They wound up stripping off the rest of their clothes and eating a more substantial meal naked in front of the fire. Colin couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this relaxed and comfortable—and he knew it had nothing to do with the cozy nature of Emily’s home but more with the nature of Emily herself. The way she laughed. The way she listened, no matter what he was saying. The things she thought about.
He was fascinated with her.
“I’ve known you for years—well, known about you for years,” he ventured, leaning against her couch as she rested her head against his shoulder. “I can’t believe we never…you know. Before now.”
She nibbled on his earlobe, simultaneously stroking his chest with one warm palm. “It wasn’t for want of trying, believe me.”
That surprised him. “You wanted me?”
“Are you kidding?” She laughed. “The hot, mysterious, lone-wolf Colin Reese? I wanted you since the moment I was old enough to understand what wanting was.”
He felt pride and excitement bubble up from his chest. “Where the hell was I?”
She punched him lightly on the shoulder. “As I recall, having sex with most of the senior-class girls before importing a few from out of town.”
He chuckled. “Trust me, my reputation was vastly overrated.” He recalled his senior year fondly. “Well, maybe not that vastly—ow.”
She punched a little harder but grinned. “Anyway, what would you have seen in a nerdy, type-A sophomore?”
He stroked her cheek. “The same thing I see now,” he said softly. “Someone thoughtful and sweet and beautiful.”
She stared at him, her eyes misting slightly with a sheen of tears. He kissed her tenderly.
“What can we do?” she asked finally.
It took him a second to see that she had looped back to his initial conversation—the one he had meant to focus on solely before getting sidetracked, as always, by his intense desire for this woman. He stroked the hair away from her face, then kissed her shoulder.
“I think there’s only one thing to do.”
She frowned, puzzled.
He sighed. “I think I need to take you home to meet my parents.”
EMILY HAD BEEN TO Ava and Harry’s house dozens of times over the years, so in a way it felt ridiculous to feel so nervous now. But then she had been a guest, either for a committee meeting or Ava’s Secret Santa party or the book club. Now she was coming as an entirely different entity: their son’s girlfriend. Although girlfriend felt like a shallow and frivolous word for what she felt for him—and, considering they’d only been together less than a month, it was at the same time a bit of an overstatement.
She was confused enough when it was just the two of them.“Hi, honey,” Ava said, hugging her son before turning to Emily. “He’s never brought anyone home for dinner, much less somebody that he jumped on a plane from Europe for!”
“Ava,” Harry warned, before giving Emily a hug. “Nice to see you, Emily. Hope you like ribs—I’ve spent the morning making up a whole batch.”
“Are you kidding? Your ribs are famous.” Emily grinned. She liked Harry. He had a way of making her feel comfortable. “I remember them from the firehouse barbecue last year.”
“Well, these are oven-cooked rather than grilled,” he said critically, “but they ought to do all right. I guess.”
Ava frowned. “I told you—ten degrees is way too cold for you to be grilling, Harry.”
Emily laughed, then turned to Colin, who was looking skittish and unnerved. “You okay?” she murmured.
“Just dandy,” he replied in a low voice, taking her coat.
She bit her lip. She knew this was going to be a high-pressure event for him. His parents, darling though they were to her, seemed to be a big part of his aversion to Tall Pines. This was probably harder for him than braving the beauty salon had been for her.
“I heard you got a gift certificate for the full-day beauty package over at Evelyn’s shop,” Ava called from the kitchen before emerging with a tray full of appetizers. “Sounds like you had quite the afternoon.”
Emily winced. Suddenly she felt as uncomfortable as Colin looked. She took a shrimp puff from the tray Ava offered. “I got my nails done,” she said inanely. “And, er, got a facial. And a cut and style.”
“Well, you look great,” Ava said, although her eyes glinted mischievously. “And then Colin walking in, looking for you…”
“Need help in there, Dad?” Colin said, then fled the living room, heading for the kitchen. Emily was left with Ava, who gestured to their large sectional sofa.
“Have a seat, dear. Make yourself comfortable.”
Emily had sincere doubts that she’d be feeling overly comfortable during this intimate get-together and abruptly wondered why she’d thought it was a good idea when Colin suggested it.
“So, now that the men are out of the way—” Ava put her tray down on the coffee table “—I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re together with my Colin!”
Emily looked down at the floor. “I’m happy, too.”
“I mean, I love my other two kids, but Colin has always been…troubled.” Ava sighed. “I’ve been wishing and praying for him to find some nice girl to settle down with. I had no idea you two would hit it off so well. And
so quickly!”
Emily fought against the blush that threatened. “Neither did we,” she admitted, taking a few more shrimp puffs and a small pig in a blanket. They really hadn’t eaten much today. “But…well, here we are.”
“So,” Ava said, folding her hands in her lap. “When is he moving home?”
Emily choked on a puff. “I’m sorry?”
Ava glanced at the door to the kitchen, then lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I’ve never seen him like this. And, like I said, he’s never brought a girl home. You’re special. I think he’s in love.”
Emily felt her chest expand, like a large bubble blowing up inside of her, filled with happiness.
I hope so, she thought, because I think I’m in love with him.
“And for him to fly all the way back? Well, that means something,” Ava pronounced with authority. “He’s serious about you.”
“What does that have to do with him moving home?” Emily asked in an equally low voice, hoping that Colin wouldn’t hear.
Ava looked surprised at the question. “Well, he can’t marry you if he’s all the way in Europe, now, can he?”
“Marriage?” Emily put the rest of her appetizers down on the coffee table, her appetite suddenly waning. “We’ve only been together for a couple of weeks. Don’t you think you’re jumping the gun there?”
Ava frowned. “He wouldn’t have brought you here if he wasn’t serious.” Her tone said, At least he’d better not have or he’s in serious trouble.
“I’m not saying he’s not serious,” Emily backpedaled. “But…we aren’t sure how we’re going to work all this out yet.”
Ava’s face smoothed out in relief. “Oh, well, I’m sure you’ll figure out a way,” she said, leaning over and patting Emily’s hand. “You’ll get him to see that what he needs is a wife and a family and a home. I hate seeing him so rootless.”
“It seems to work for him,” Emily pointed out. “He likes seeing different things, doing different things, having adventures.”
“Well, sure, that’s fine when you’re young,” Ava said dismissively. “But he’s going to be thirty-five this year. Time to start thinking of settling down. He’s had enough adventures.”
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