by Rye Hart
It was good to see her again. On the outside, I tried to play it cool, but on the inside, I was jumping up and down like a dog who hadn’t seen his owner in months.
There were so many things I wanted to say, so many things I wanted to do, but I was frozen in place. All I could do was look at her. It wasn’t like I’d forgotten her face or how beautiful she was, but seeing her in person was so much better than the ghost of her memory.
Amber gently pulled Emery from her leg. “Emery, honey. Your father and I need to talk. Why don’t you get in your warm, snuggly bed?”
“Okay,” Emery said. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
Amber seemed delighted by the response. “Maybe’s good,” she said, repeating my words from earlier. “Daddy says that maybe is good.”
I tucked her in and closed her door. Then Amber led me downstairs. I wanted to say something, but the moment felt fragile like glass. One wrong word and it would shatter around me.
We sat down on the couch. Still, I said nothing. It hurt just to look at her, but it was a good kind of hurt. She looked at me, too, studying the lines of my face.
Finally, she spoke. “Tell me everything about what happened that night.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but she raised a hand to stop me.
“And let me be clear. I want the truth, all of it. No lies, no omissions. If I think you’re lying to me, if I think you’re holding something back, I’m walking out that door and you’ll never see me again. Agreed?”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
“Okay, good. Now talk.”
“If I’m being totally honest with you about everything, let me just say that it’s so damn good to see you again. I missed you in a way I didn’t think it was possible to miss someone. And I’m so sorry for everything. For what I said to you and for what I put you through. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Look, when you first got that job offer, I was pissed off that someone was trying to steal you away from me. After I thought about it though, I realized that was just me being selfish. You aren’t my property. I don’t own you. You should be able to take the job if you wanted it.”
“I never wanted that job, Luke,” she said.
“I know that now. But at the time, I thought you turned it down because of me. Because of us. I thought our relationship was getting in the way of your professional life. And I know I was an idiot for thinking I knew what was best for you. I just kept thinking like, what if I wasn’t in your life? What if you’d never met me? Would you take the job offer then? I was sure you would have. And I was sure I was holding you back from great things.”
“You’re right. You were being an idiot.”
I smiled. “Yes. I was wrong. And that’s not something I’d admit to most people. I thought I was helping you by removing me from the equation.”
“So, you broke up with me.”
“So, I broke up with you,” I repeated. “At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do.”
“And all that stuff about wanting Halcyon’s money? What the hell was that? I called Martin. He told me you refused to take it.”
“It was never about money. There’s no amount they could offer me to let you go.”
She arched an eyebrow at me. “But you’d give me away for free?”
“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds even dumber.”
Amber patted my arm. “It sounds stupid no matter how you put it. But why tell me that? Why lie to me?”
“It wasn’t enough for me to break up with you. I needed you to want to break up with me. I thought it would be better that way. Like a clean break for you. So, I said that because it was the most hurtful thing I could think of.” I let out a long sigh. I was disgusted with myself for hurting her.
“Yeah, well it worked.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
Amber looked at me, her gaze locking with mine. “No, seriously. You really hurt me that night.”
“I’m so sorry, Amber,” I said, covering her hand with mine. “I’d give anything to take it back. All of it. Being with you has been the best time of my life. After you were gone, I felt hollow inside, empty. I don’t want to live that way anymore. And look, I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m asking you for one. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. Anything. You want some grand, romantic gesture? Just say the word.”
“It’s a tempting offer, but I have to say no.”
My whole world felt like it was crashing down around me. “Oh.”
“Yeah, you’ve already made your grand, romantic gesture.”
“What? When?”
“When you broke up with me, you handsome bastard.”
Amber slid over on the couch and rested her head on my shoulder. It was the greatest feeling in the world. Just sitting beside her, leaning against her, there was something so perfectly intimate to it, something so right.
“So, you’re saying that breaking up with you was romantic?” I asked, not sure if I heard her right.
“In a weird, twisted, fucked up way, yes. I mean, yeah, it was stupid. Like really stupid. But despite all that, your intentions were good. You were willing to sacrifice your own happiness for mine.”
“Well, I love you. And when you love someone that much, their happiness comes first. I didn’t always understand that. But when Emery’s mother left, I learned that lesson the hard way.”
“You never told me what happened with her.” She looked up.
I nodded. “It’s not something I like to think about. But I suppose you’ve earned the right to know.”
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” She reached out and touched the side of my face. I cupped her hand and turned my face to kiss her palm, breathing her in.
“No. I want to. Believe it or not, I was pretty wild when I was younger. I’d work all day in the kitchen and then I’d party all night. The next day, I’d drag my carcass out of bed and do it all over again. That’s when I met Emery’s mom, Jennifer.
“She was a hellcat. All she cared about was getting blitzed and having a good time. That’s all I cared about back then, too, so I thought we were perfect for each other. Looking back, we were so reckless and self-destructive, I’m surprised I’m still alive.
“Anyway, everything changed when I got Jennifer pregnant. It put things in perspective for me. I needed to get my shit together. It wasn’t just myself I had to worry about. I had to take care of the little one once she popped out.
“Jennifer seemed to be on board. We both quit drinking and quit acting like we didn’t care if we lived or died. But after Emery was born, she couldn’t handle it. Too many late nights taking care of a crying kid. Too much responsibility. She kept telling me how she missed our old life, how she never wanted the party to stop. Then one day she left. No real warning. No goodbyes. Not even a fucking note.
“That’s when it hit me, you know? How selfish she was to put her own happiness before the needs of our daughter. Emery was still a baby, and Jen left her when she needed her the most.”
“That’s terrible,” Amber said. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“I know Emery and I are better off without her, but it still burns me up inside that someone could abandon their own child like that.”
“Some people just aren’t meant to be parents.”
“I guess so. Anyway, that’s the story. And now I never have to talk about her again.”
Amber laughed softly. “Fair enough. Thank you for telling me. Although now you’ve got me curious about your wild and crazy youth. Is that when you got all those tattoos?”
I grinned at her. “Yes, it was. But I don’t think you’re ready for those stories.”
“Too shocking for innocent little me?”
“Yeah, some of them. And some of them are way too embarrassing for me.”
“Well, now I have to hea
r those.” She smiled and brightened the room.
“No way. Not gonna happen.”
“I’ll find a way to drag it out of you.”
I heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. “Emery? Is that you?”
Now that she’d been busted she stomped loudly the rest of the way down. “Are you guys friends again or what?”
I glanced at Amber, silently asking her for the answer.
“Yes,” she said. “We’re all friends again.”
Emery appeared in front of the couch, her eyes heavy with sleep. She had the stuffed unicorn that Amber had given her. “Finally. You adults are so confusing.”
Emery hopped up on the couch and snuggled up between Amber and me. She rested her head on Amber’s lap, where she drifted off to sleep in no time.
Amber looked over at me in the dark. “I want you to know, Luke. I’m not going to abandon you. Either of you. I love you both with all of my heart.”
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX - AMBER
I awoke some time before the sun was up. Emery’s head still rested on my lap, and I was leaning against Luke’s chest. His arms were wrapped around me. It was a wonderful way to wake up. All of us together on the couch like that made me feel warm inside. It felt like coming home, like I had a family.
Luke stirred behind me. “Morning, beautiful,” he said quietly.
“Morning, yourself.”
He nuzzled his face in my hair. “You know, I had the most amazing dream.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. I dreamed that the most amazing woman in the world walked into my house last night and decided to stay.”
“Sounds nice. I’d like to meet this fantasy woman.”
“You’d like her. Long dark hair. Gorgeous blue eyes. Can cook like nobody’s business. She’s the total package.”
I laughed softly. “Well, if you gave her compliments like that, it’s no wonder she stayed.”
He inhaled deeply. “She also smells nice.”
“Keep it up, and you’re going to wake up Emery.”
“Good point. I think it’s time we put her to bed.”
Luke slid out from behind me and scooped Emery off my lap gently. Her eyes didn’t open and she didn’t make a sound. She was still fast asleep.
I followed Luke upstairs and watched from the doorway as he tucked Emery into bed. He tiptoed out of the room and closed the door behind him. When we were alone, he pulled me back into his arms.
“Now I think it’s time to get you into bed, too,” he said, his voice, low and sexy.
He picked me up in his strong arms, just as easily as he’d picked up Emery. He took me into his bedroom like a groom carrying his bride. The first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, painting everything in the room gold.
Luke laid me gently on the bed. I watched as he stripped his clothes off. His skin glowed like a bronze statue, making my insides clench exquisitely. When he was finished with his clothes, he started on mine, undressing me slowly like he was unwrapping a package.
His eyes roved over every inch of my body as he did it, like he was savoring the sight of me. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said. “Do you know how much I missed you, baby?”
The words sent a warm fluttering through my core. I knew he found me attractive, the thickening shaft between his legs was evidence enough of that. But it was still nice to hear him say it out loud.
When I was naked except for my panties, Luke laid down next to me. I pressed against him, thrilled at the feeling of being so close to him again. It had been too long.
Luke kissed me slowly, sensually. It almost felt like he was kissing me for the very first time. Tasting me. Exploring me. Discovering me.
I melted against him. My fingers trailed over the hard lines of his muscles. They rippled and flexed with every movement, radiating strength. After everything we’d been through over the past few weeks, I finally felt like he was mine. Truly mine.
His powerful hands caressed my flesh, leaving hot lines of fire in their wake. I moaned at the warmth blossoming in my core. “I want you so bad, Luke.”
“Good. No need to beg, kitten. I’m all yours right now. We’ll play another time. I just need you to know what you do to me.” He glanced up at me. “I’m in love with you, Amber.”
I tried to find air to breathe. “Me too.”
Luke trailed kisses down my neck and my chest until he got to my breasts. He teased my nipples into hard points, nipping and sucking at them until my body writhed beneath him. Then his mouth moved down over my stomach, making me shiver every time he kissed me. Slowly, but surely, he moved ever closer to my center.
His tongue traced a line just above my panties. The way he tormented my sensitive skin felt amazing. My thighs clenched together, trying to still the aching need building inside me.
Luke began sliding my underwear down my hips slowly. Taking his time to lick and suck at every inch of newly revealed flesh. Every part of me felt hypersensitive now. The slightest brush of his lips sent jolts of sensation directly to my core.
His mouth coaxed pleasure from me in ways I didn’t think possible. Still, it felt like he was doing more than just making me feel good. It was like he was getting familiar with my body again. Like he was restoring the intimacy we’d lost during our separation.
Whatever he was doing, I never wanted him to stop.
Finally, he slid my panties all the way off me, exposing me to his hungry gaze. The look of raw passion in his eyes sent electricity roaring through my veins.
I sat up and kissed him. Then I lay back, bringing him with me. His body pressed over mine, and his hard length probed between my legs. I reached down and guided him inside me. His hips thrust forward and he penetrated the very depths of me. I moaned at the feeling of it.
Luke moved in and out of me with a slow, steady rhythm as he watched me intently. Every lingering stroke of his hard length sent waves of pleasure through my entire body. I writhed beneath him, unable to control myself.
“I wanna make love to you every morning.” He brushed his nose by mine as he rocked deep inside of me. “You’d let me, right?”
“I’d beg for it.” I wrapped my legs around his sexy hips and pulled him down, tightening my arms around him. “I love how you feel inside of me. Now, make me come.”
He chuckled low in his chest and turned, burying his face against the side of my neck. He quickened his pace, and my hips rose to meet his thrusts, moving in tempo with him. He thrust deeper inside me, finding my most sensitive parts and setting them ablaze.
Pleasure built up inside me, cresting like a giant wave. I could feel myself getting close. Every stroke of him pushed me closer and closer.
The dam burst and wave after wave of pure bliss washed over me. My body bucked beneath him, tightening up with every pulse of pleasure. Luke thrust deep inside me and groaned. His hips jerked against me as he came. I realized he didn’t have a condom on, but I wasn’t saying a damn thing. We would be married in a few months if it were up to me.
We stayed locked in our embrace for what felt like forever, just enjoying being together, neither of us wanting to let go ever again.
***
Sometime later, I heard a soft knock at the door. Luke smiled and got out of bed. By then, we were mostly dressed again and we’d put the bed back in order, so Luke had no problem opening the door and letting Emery rush in.
She ran to my side of the bed. I reached down and picked her up with a grunt. She laughed as I plopped her into bed next to me. Luke came back and laid down next to us, wedging Emery between us.
She didn’t say anything. She just turned her head back and forth, looking at Luke, then me, then back to Luke. She had a huge smile on her face, as bright as the morning sun.
“Good morning, Emery,” I said. “Did you sleep well?”
She nodded.
“Good.” I looked over at Luke. “So, what’s on the agenda for today? I feel like we should all do something.”
Luke’s expression darkened. “I have to go to work.”
“Right. It’s Saturday. Hey, speaking of work. You wouldn’t happen to have an opening for a young, up and coming chef, would you?” I wagged my eyebrows at him.
He grinned at me. “I might, actually. You’ll probably have to take a pay cut. And I hear the boss is a real jerk.”
“All of that sounds wonderful,” I said, smiling with bliss.
“Of course, you’ll have to submit an application,” he said. “Then there’s the interview process. And don’t forget the written exam.”
I grabbed a pillow from behind my head and whacked him with it.
“Okay, fine,” he said. “I can make an exception for you. Just this once.”
“Well, good. I wish you didn’t have to work today though.” I turned to face him, loving the look of him lounging.
He leaned back against the headboard with his fingers laced behind his head. “Well, I just hired a new chef. She can cover for me while I take the day off.”
“Very funny.”
“But seriously, a day off sounds good. They can survive without me for one day.”
I grimaced. “You think Danny can handle it?”
“Absolutely not. It’ll be a train wreck. But he’ll forgive me on Monday when he sees you’re back. He’s been moping around ever since you left.”
“Really?” I asked and laughed. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think you could be away from the restaurant, even for a day.”
He looked over at me. “Yeah, well, some things are more important than work.”
I’d never been happier, lying beside Luke and Emery in bed. There was no doubt in my mind that this was where I was meant to be. I knew, then, that I loved Luke, truly and deeply. He was mine – forever.
EPILOGUE - LUKE
Six Months Later
Two sets of hands shook me awake. I sat up, bleary eyed. “What? What’s going on? Is the house on fire?”
Amber looked down at me, grinning. “It almost was.”
“That’s not true,” Emery said, beside her.
I noticed Amber was holding a tray. From my angle on the bed, I couldn’t see what was on it.
