I make a quick, stupid decision and leave my shop. I climb the river rock stairs that lead to Emily’s and knock softly. The women stop dancing and Emily’s smile falters for a moment before it beams at me. She unlocks the door and says, “Hey, Garrett.”
She’s a little winded from dancing, making her bedroom voice that much sexier.
“Emily.” I’m not sure what my voice sounds like, but from the look on her face, she likes it. “Shelves,” I explain why I’m here.
“Oh right. I’m sorry. Come in.” She steps aside and allows me to pass.
“Stop it,” I growl, leaning into her space before passing her.
“I’m…” she trails off, stopping herself from apologizing again.
I step into Emily’s Coffee & Cakes for the first time and let the space take me over for a moment.
It smells like autumn in here. Saccharine and spicy. But more than that, it smells like Emily. There’s a sweetness that lingers on her skin, sugary. Like she washes her hair in powdered sugar and scrubs her body in syrup. It’s not overwhelming, just a hint. But it’s been there every time I’ve been close to her like I am right now.
The counter is a long butcher block gleaming under soft pendant lights. Her left wall is exposed brick with a few painted dark green bookshelves against it. The rest of the walls are painted a soft green with black and white pictures in mismatched frames decorating them. The furniture is much the same. None of the chairs and tables go together, but the shapes and colors do. It’s eclectic and fun. The space behind the counter has chalkboard paint on the wall and Emily’s handwriting sprawled all over it with the menu and little drawings.
This is Emily’s shop.
“Singin’ in the Rain” fades as Emily points a remote toward the counter.
“Garrett, this is Jenna Carson. Jenna, meet Garrett Sharp. He owns Sharp Furniture,” she introduces sweetly.
Jenna’s big bluish green eyes lock on mine as she extends her hand. I grasp it and nod saying, “Jenna.”
“Garrett,” she whispers.
I can see the model. Her face is unique and different, the kind of face you find on billboards in Times Square. She doesn’t do it for me though. I prefer the woman standing to my left, nervous about my presence.
I hear a phone buzzing as I release Jenna’s hand.
“You need to answer that,” Emily says firmly. “You can’t make up if you don’t talk. I also don’t think Caleb’s the kind of man who takes being ignored lightly.”
“It won’t kill him,” Jenna says dismissively.
The phone stops buzzing as Jordan comes through the swinging door.
“Sharp,” he says it like it’s a greeting, but he’s really asking me what I’m doing here.
“Jordan.” I’m not in the habit of explaining myself so I don’t.
I look down into Emily’s golden green eyes and let my gaze speak for me.
“Garrett’s here about the shelves,” Emily explains.
“That space you need filled, right, Em?” Jordan goads.
Emily’s cheeks flame as she glares at her friend.
“Stop it,” she growls and he laughs. “Over here.”
Emily leads me to the far right wall. There are a few pictures decorating it, but she’s right, some shelves would make the area look better.
“I’m not sure what I want. I just think it needs something. You can do whatever you want. Free rein for your creativity,” she says through a smile.
“Givin’ a man free rein in your space? That’s new,” Jordan teases.
“I’ll kick you,” Emily warns.
I don’t respond as I pull out my tape measure. Jenna’s phone goes off again. I hear her stomping around before, “What?!”
Not the nicest way to answer the phone, but I’m in no position to judge.
“I haven’t been avoiding you, Caleb. I’ve been busy,” she lies.
“Right now? I’m watching a hot as sin man measuring a wall.”
I look over my shoulder at her and find a pleased smirk on her lips. I look at Jordan and he smiles broadly at me. I shake my head and turn back to the wall. Emily’s holding a hand over her mouth and laughing under her breath at her friend.
“Sounds kinky. Not really my thing though,” Jenna snarks.
She’s quiet for a long time after that remark. I’m guessing Devlin’s giving her a piece of his mind along with a reminder of who he is. I finish measuring and turn to spy Jenna’s eyes wide and her mouth hanging slightly agape.
“I can take care of myself,” she whispers.
I can imagine he’s telling her he knows she can, but she doesn’t have to anymore.
“’Kay. I’ll call you later. The hot guy’s still here so I gotta go.”
This woman is playing with fire.
“Promises, promises. Beware of meat grinders, Caleb.”
She hangs up on him. He’ll redden her ass for that.
“Jenna,” Emily huffs at my side.
“What?” she asks feigning innocence. “Garrett’s hot. He knows it. Caleb can stew on it for a while. No harm.”
“He’ll tan your ass for that,” Jordan points out.
“Uh,” Emily says, looking confused.
“Whatever.” Jenna waves her hand at Jordan, but I see a little worry in her eyes as she tries to play it off. She doesn’t want to make Devlin mad. She wants to punish him though.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out knowing what I’ll find.
Devlin: You better be the motherfucker in the room with her!
Me: Yup.
Devlin: Tanning her ass when I get home.
I wish I could smirk, but I can’t. I don’t even feel it creeping up my face. I know it’s funny though so I haven’t lost everything. Shoving my phone back in my pocket, I consider leaving without talking to Emily. I don’t want to talk to her in front of her friends. I want a moment alone with her to make sure she’s okay.
“I’m gonna head out. Are we still goin’ out tonight? I know you had a shitty day yesterday, so cancel if you need to,” Jenna says to Emily.
“I’m fine. I think we’ll have fun,” Emily replies honestly. That’s a good sign that she’s doing okay.
“What’re your plans for the night?” Jenna asks me.
“Don’t have any,” I say as politely as I can.
“Wanna go to Ruby’s with us? Jordan’s comin’ so you won’t be a third wheel or anything.”
I look at Jordan and he rolls his eyes. I don’t think he wants to go to the only bar with a dance floor in town. I know I don’t.
“I’m sure Sarah wouldn’t want to join us,” Emily speaks for me.
“She doesn’t decide what I do,” I interject harshly.
Pain crosses her face at my words. It confuses me until I remember she thinks I’m with Sarah. Emily probably thinks that’s how Adam spoke about her when they were together. I’ll clear that shit up right now.
“I’m not with her.”
“But Sarah…” Emily trails off looking at Jenna who’s just as confused.
“Is nothing,” I finish her sentence.
“Is a cunt,” Jordan adds his opinion.
“Is a total shit stain,” Jenna joins in.
“Is…mean?” Emily says it like a question, looking up at me.
I can’t help it. I grin down at her. She’s so sweet she can’t even insult a bitch like Sarah. Emily’s face lights up when I offer her this side of me that no one else gets. Like she knows this is only for her.
“What time?” I ask softly.
“Seven,” Jenna answers. My grin is gone, but I feel warm all the way down to my toes. “And prepare yourself to get drunk. That’s the goal!”
“Jenna,” Emily groans.
“Nope,” Jenna shuts her down. “We’re doin’ this the right way. I promise I’ll get up and help you bake. And you know Jordan will too. Arlene and Beverly are comin’ in early. If Garrett bakes, I’ll come in my pants right now, but I’m sure he�
�d help out too.”
I look at Jenna with a puzzled look as Jordan busts a gut laughing. Emily snorts before laughing too.
“What?” Jenna asks like what she just said wasn’t strange at all.
“I bake,” I deadpan.
Jenna’s eyes roll back in her head dramatically as a small moan trickles from her mouth. Emily bending at the waist as she laughs hysterically causes that smirk to crest my lips again. Jordan chuckles along with his friend. Jenna starts to laugh too once she’s done creaming her jeans.
“Tonight’s gonna be awesome!” Jenna exclaims, shaking her hips before going to collect her stuff. “Em, what’re you wearing for this momentous occasion?”
“Not sure.”
“I’m thinkin’ about goin’ all out. You know…slutty dress, fuck me heels and porn star make-up. Show that slut nugget Sarah how it’s done.”
“Word of advice, don’t do that. Caleb gets wind of it and there’s gonna be a shit storm no one wants,” Jordan says sagely.
I nod in agreement.
“What do you think I was wearing when he met me?” Jenna retorts with a quirked brow.
“Nipple tassels?” Emily questions.
My eyebrows jump at the suggestion. Not because I’m imagining Jenna in them, but because I’m shocked Emily knows about nipple tassels.
“That was the second time, silly.”
The girls laugh as Jordan and I have a wordless conversation. These two are going to get us in trouble tonight.
“Em, I’m comin’ to your place to get ready at five. Two hours should be enough time. You boys meet us there and we’ll cab it to Ruby’s.”
Jenna wraps Emily in a tight hug before high fiving Jordan. She squeezes my forearm when she passes me and groans a bit. She’s too much. I like the chick. She’s definitely good for Devlin. I had her pegged wrong.
“I’ve gotta head out,” Jordan announces. “Promised Beverly I’d clean out her gutters. I hope she means the ones on her house.”
“Gross,” Emily gags.
He brushes his lips across her forehead and then puts his fist out for a bump. I oblige and he saunters away with a two-finger wave. A few moments later, the back door slams and his Harley roars to life.
I look down at Emily as she glances up at me. We’re alone.
“Did you need to measure anything else?” Emily asks, avoiding my eyes.
I take the advantage and rake her from head to toe. She’s in a thin, deep green sweater and tight jeans with her sandy hair up in a ponytail. She looks so fucking good and I know she’s not trying to.
“No,” I answer hoarsely.
“You don’t have to come out with us tonight. Jenna’s new in town. She grew up like an hour from here, but left to model when she was fourteen. Ten years later, she’s back to start a real life according to her. I really like her. When I met her the first time, she was scared out of her mind. The next day I got to see the real her and she blew me away. She’s so funny and carefree. I’m glad I almost beat up her boyfriend.
“Not that I could have, but I was gonna try. I’m pretty good with a bat. Caleb’s so big he probably would’ve stolen it from me and cracked it over his knee. But he was sweet to me once I quit scowling at him. I like the guy.”
Her thumb comes to her mouth when she stops rambling. I pull out a chair and lower myself into it and gesture for her to do the same. She releases her thumbnail and sits next to me, not across from me at the square table.
“Are you gonna yell at me now? I know you said not to piss you off and then I went right ahead and did what you told me not to. I wasn’t tryin’ to make you mad. I just wanted to pay you back and make things right with Sarah. But you said that you’re not with Sarah, which is a relief because she’s not very nice. You should be with someone nice.
“Not that I want the money back because you’re not with her. It’s the right thing to do. Payin’ you back, I mean. Are you here to tell me I didn’t give you enough? I looked up tables online, but you wouldn’t believe how many worktables are on Google. I just picked what looked similar. I picked wrong didn’t I?”
She turns big worried golden green eyes at me and chews her nail again.
“No,” I grunt.
“I picked the right one?” she asks shocked.
“No.”
“I picked the wrong one?”
“No.”
“I don’t understand.”
“No, I’m not gonna yell at you,” I explain, pulling her hand away from her mouth.
Her fingers are like ice again. I hate that. I pull both her hands between mine and blow warm breath in the space between them. Then I rub vigorously before settling our hands on the table, using my heat to warm her.
When I look back at her face, she looks like she might pass out.
“Emily?”
“Huh?”
“Sugar, you look like you’re gonna pass out.”
“I…I’m…I’m okay,” she struggles to speak. “Please come out with us tonight.”
“Already agreed,” I remind her.
“I thought you were just being polite,” she whispers.
“Not how I work.”
“’Kay.”
We sit in silence for a while, her hands warming between mine. I should let them go, but I can’t bring myself to release her.
“Tell me what happened yesterday,” I say in a calm voice.
Her breathing shudders in her chest a little as I lock eyes with her.
“I got a voicemail from Adam. He usually calls without leaving messages now, but he left a message. He sounded so broken, hurt. I couldn’t deal. I lost it, Garrett. I was a mess so Jordan came to take care of me,” she finishes with a shrug, dropping her gaze to our hands.
“He’s comin’ for your heart, Sugar.” I reach up with my hand and tip her chin to look at me.
“He can’t have it back,” she says with sadness in her voice.
I want to kiss her. I want to pull her into my lap and kiss her for hours. I want her to give me her heart so I can protect it. I would never hurt this woman. Never. But my life could destroy her. I’m not that selfish. Fuck, I wish I could be though.
She looks like she wants to say something to me, but she decides not to. Instead, she squeezes my hand before pulling them away from me. I release her chin and we both feel the chill of losing the other’s touch.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” I grumble.
“I’ve gotta bake for tomorrow. If we’re goin’ out tonight, I need to get a head start. I’m gonna call Jenna and tell her I’ll be late. Thanks for coming over to measure. I can’t wait to see what you build.”
She smiles at me and I want to reach out to touch the crease in her cheek. I don’t, but I want to.
“I’ll let you get to it then,” I say, climbing to my feet.
She stands too and we stare at each other for a while. I yank her into my chest when the tension gets to be too much. Her hands slip around my waist and they’re warm, almost as warm as my body. I like that. I gave her that.
Emily snuggles against me and I hold her. I just hold her and breathe in her sugary scent. I swear it feels like she’s falling asleep against me. Her breathing is slower and she feels like she’s sagging. I look out the window I’m always staring through and feel the ghost of a smile crest my lips. Holding her and looking at the view that makes her happy, fills me with so much warmth I’m burning up.
Fuck me this feels good.
“Thirty minutes? Really?” Jenna asks, meeting me on my porch. She’s already dressed with giant curlers in her hair.
“I don’t have much left to bake for tomorrow,” I respond with a grin.
“Well that’s good,” she says through a giant smile.
“I’ll take a two-minute shower. I can get ready fast,” I say darting through my house.
I can get ready quickly, but thirty minutes will be cutting it close.
“Make yourself at home!” I shout as I dash into my bathro
om.
I take the quickest shower known to man. I’m glad I shaved this morning¸ making the process even faster. When I hop out and run into my room, Jenna’s digging through my closet. She’s wearing a crimson strapless jumpsuit, fitted at the top and slouchy in the legs. She looks divine.
“You only have T-shirts and sweaters,” Jenna announces something I’m very aware of.
I had a few dresses for evenings with Adam that I rarely wore so I kept them at his place. On the unique occasion I was on his arm, I got ready at his house. He usually bought the dresses too. If there was a division of our belongings, he got the eveningwear.
“Good thing I came prepared,” she says, digging into a garment bag laying on my bed.
She pulls out two dresses and dangles them in front of me. The first one is a deep blue with some embellishment at the waist. It’s pretty. The other dress is a dark olive green dress. It has thick straps that crisscross at the back with a skater skirt. It’s simple and fun.
I point at the green dress and Jenna shakes the hanger in excitement. Then she tosses the dresses on the bed and hurries me into the bathroom, carrying a large bag with her.
“You start on your make-up and I’ll do your hair,” she instructs.
I nod and start doing what she says. She means business based on the look on her face. I decide to do a smoky eye. I’m not great at it, but I figure what I mess up Jenna can fix.
She’s immediately drying my hair and pulling it through a round brush. I focus on the task at hand until she switches off the dryer. I glance at my hair in shock. I have massive, full body waves. I look like…Jenna. She smiles at me and I beam one back at her.
She turns me by the shoulders and finishes my make-up in what feels like a couple seconds. We hear Jordan yelling through the house, announcing his presence.
“Get dressed and then we can paint the town red,” Jenna says after sweeping a pale pink gloss on my lips.
I look into the mirror and gasp. My eyes look like they’re glowing from within the smoky make-up. My skin is luminescent, almost dewy looking. Even standing here in a fluffy robe, I look really good.
“Fuckin’ stunning. But then again, you always are. You look badass right now, Em. But you in a T-shirt with nothing on your face is even better.”
Mugs of Love Page 10