Jack stepped toward her. He had that look on his face she’d come to know so well. His eyes darkened and he was about to kiss her. She held her breath in anticipation.
His lips brushed over hers, once, twice, before delving into a much deeper, passionate kiss. Right there, in the middle of the street, as cars whizzed by, searching for parking spaces, and guests walked toward her parents’ house.
She could care less that they were in the middle of a crowd. Her hands came up to frame his face. To keep him anchored to her as she took and took.
When they broke apart, he ran a finger over her cheek so lightly. It was a move that he did with her more and more often. Her stomach flipped. The lightest touch from him seemed to set her soul on fire.
No words passed between them. Rather, he reached for her hand, interlacing their fingers as they continued toward the house.
“Looks great,” Jack commented with a head tilt.
Emerson had to agree. The outside of her parents’ house looked even more perfect than usual. And that was saying something. The whole place was glowing. She wouldn’t put it past her mother to have hired someone to power wash each and every brick. The glass in the windows was sparkling, the beige trim impeccable.
Wreaths hung from the windows. Lights were on inside, which illuminated the outline of people talking and laughing. For such a large house, there was a homey quality.
The front yard had been spruced up after the winter. New flowers had been planted and surrounded by mulch. The driveway and sidewalk glimmered, thanks to a rainstorm that happened the night before.
Along with two couples she recognized from her dad’s law firm, they entered the house. Music was playing softly through the hidden speakers her parents had installed throughout the house. Yummy aromas wafted from room to room. She knew her mother had hired her favorite caterer and servers were passing all kinds of different appetizers. The furniture had been rearranged to make cozy sitting corners and places to invite conversations.
They made their way through the crowd. When they passed the patio doors, she could see that her mother had made sure the outside was also party-ready. Lanterns and twinkly lights illuminated the patio. Heat lamps lined the perimeter, and a bar was set up on one side.
“Your parents sure do have a lot of friends,” Jack said.
He seemed to be surveying the space as they searched for her parents.
“Daddy started his own firm decades ago. Between colleagues and clients, he knows a lot of people. And Mama...” She whistled. “I can’t even begin to describe the amount of people in her life.”
Jack jutted his chin toward the left. “There’s Charlie.” He waved. “Hey, buddy.”
Despite having spent hours together at dinner, Charlie seemed temporarily confused as to who Jack was. He took in Emerson and his jaw worked back and forth.
“Hi, Emerson. Hi...” His phone went off. Immediately, he put it to his ear and walked away.
“Always good chatting with you,” Jack called to his retreating back.
Emerson laughed.
“God, I love that man,” Jack said, and had her laughter turn into a snort.
“I don’t know where my parents are.”
“Let’s get a drink to fortify the search efforts,” he said, smiling at her.
They found another bar in the dining room and got two whiskeys, neat. Sipping their drinks, they stood against the wall. Emerson waved to the occasional person and exchanged greetings with some of her mother’s friends.
Everyone she chatted with seemed quite taken with Jack. She knew that, in the looks department, he was quite different from the men she’d dated in the past. With his stubble, dark looks and mischievous grin, Jack was attracting a lot of attention. In fact, people—particularly the female guests—were so charmed by him that they didn’t even harp on the fact that Emerson had a new boyfriend as she’d expected.
Amelia entered the room, wearing a navy wrap dress with a gorgeous diamond necklace. Emerson knew the necklace had been a wedding present from their parents. Her hair was off her face, highlighting her long neck. Emerson peered at her sister. Her makeup looked fabulous, as always, but she knew Mia. Emerson worried her lip.
“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.
“I’m not sure. Something seems off with my sister.”
Jack’s gaze sought out Amelia. He studied her before returning his attention to Emerson. “Everyone seems excited to see her.”
The room did come alive when Amelia entered, as if a spotlight shone directly on her. Conversations stopped and everyone wanted a turn to say hi.
The feeling Emerson had didn’t subside though. In fact, as she watched her sister interacting with the partygoers, it only increased.
Amelia, you look amazing. As always.
How’s married life treating you?
Still working at your mom’s shop? Well, as soon as you start having babies, you won’t have to do that anymore.
Where’s that handsome husband of yours?
With each question, Amelia appeared to withdraw more into herself. Her face continued to fall, and as she neared their side of the room, Emerson could actually see dark circles under her eyes. Of course, Amelia had expertly covered them with makeup, but she knew her sister like the back of her hand.
Finally, Amelia reached her and Jack.
“Hey, Mia. Love your dress. When did you get that?”
Amelia looked down at the dress as if she had forgotten she was even wearing it. “Oh. I think I got it when I went with Charlie on one of his business trips. I needed something to do.”
What a weird comment. Emerson opened her mouth, but Jack beat her to it. He drew Amelia into a big hug, which actually seemed to calm her. When they pulled back, she asked about the bachelor/bachelorette party. They exchanged words, and then Amelia pointed at Emerson’s glass.
“What are you drinking?”
She reached for the glass and had it to her lips so fast that Emerson almost didn’t get out, “Wait, it’s scotch.” But Amelia took a long drink.
“I need some of this.”
“You don’t like scotch,” Emerson pointed out.
“Would you like me to get you something?” Jack asked.
“Get her a glass of wine. Rosé,” Emerson said.
Once Jack was out of earshot, she turned to her sister. “What is up with you tonight?”
Amelia shrugged.
Emerson held her ground. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.
Amelia sighed. “I thought everyone would be over asking me about being married. You’re the one with the new boyfriend. They should be peppering you with intrusive questions.”
“They’re all too gaga over Jack’s hotness to care about me.” Emerson giggled but noticed that her sister remained stoic.
“Your wedding was only six months ago. Sorry, sis, you’re still a hot topic.” She tugged on Mia’s hair, something she used to do when they were little. “What’s the problem anyway? Since when do you shy away from attention?”
“Since I feel...embarrassed about my answers.”
What? “Embarrassed? What in the world do you have to be embarrassed about?”
Amelia opened her mouth, about to answer, but Jack returned with her glass of wine. She downed half a glass in one gulp. She looked directly at Emerson. But Emerson got the distinct feeling that she wasn’t really seeing her.
“Where’s Grace? I thought she was coming tonight,” she asked distractedly.
“Where else?” Emerson said. “It’s Saturday. She had a wedding. But she’ll be by later.”
Amelia nodded. “I need to find Charlie,” she said abruptly.
Jack watched her walk away. “Is she okay?”
“I’m honestly not sure.”
“Emerson, Jack.” Beatrice’s voice echoe
d across the room.
Emerson took in her mother, wearing a gorgeous cranberry-colored dress with silver heels. Her dad looked handsome in one of his crisp black suits. They made such a picturesque couple. Her dad paused to press a kiss to his wife’s forehead. Despite everything, her parents truly loved each other.
“It’s go time,” Jack whispered in her ear.
“You look beautiful, Mama.”
Beatrice ran a hand over Emerson’s hair, pausing on her jeweled clip. “I see you wore black.”
“As you suggested.”
She coughed lightly. “You look lovely.”
Emerson’s mouth fell open. Had her mother just complimented her? And about her clothes? When was the last time that happened? Had it ever happened?
Jack jumped in. “She does look great, doesn’t she.”
Emerson finally recovered. “It doesn’t matter what I’m wearing. Everyone is here to see you.”
She surprised both herself and her mother when she pulled her in for a tight hug. Then she whispered in her ear, “You look absolutely stunning, Mama. As usual.”
Pulling back, Beatrice studied her carefully, with a small tilt of the head. “Something is different about you tonight, Emerson.”
Emerson twirled around.
“Seriously, Emerson Rose?” her mother said.
She actually giggled. She’d forgotten about the low back of her dress.
“There are elderly people here tonight.”
That just made Emerson laugh more.
Beatrice tapped a French-manicured finger against her lips. “Still, something is different. You seem...”
“Happy?” Emerson couldn’t keep the smile from blossoming.
Her mother’s gaze scooted over to Jack, who was listening to one of her dad’s joke, and then back to her. “In love,” her mother said firmly, knowingly, in that way only mothers had.
She had two options. She could deny it, or she could own it. Maybe it was being at her parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary. Maybe it was the fact that every time she looked over at Jack, she got a certain tingle in her stomach. Or maybe it was because she was sick of lying about something that was no longer a lie.
In any case, it was finally time for a little truth.
She met her mother’s stare head-on.
“Yes, I am.”
* * *
Jack was enjoying himself. Maybe a little too much.
He’d been talking and laughing with Emerson’s father for the last fifteen minutes. Emerson was deep in conversation with her mother, except for when another guest would interrupt them to offer congratulations and well wishes.
He was introduced to person after person as Emerson’s new boyfriend. Mr. Dewitt bragged about Jack’s bar, telling colleagues and friends that they had to stop by next time they were in Old Town.
Even Mrs. Dewitt had seemed to come around to the fact that he owned a bar. She was boasting about her painting job in The Wright Drink. She actually winked at him as one of her friends asked him questions about owning a bar.
Jack was feeling like a part of the family.
He grabbed another drink and took a moment to get some fresh air. He stepped outside, onto the patio, and found a quiet corner.
Part of the Dewitt family. Part of Emerson’s life. He wasn’t sure how to take that idea, because his head was telling him it was a dangerous place to go. But his heart really liked the thought of having people to support him. Of being part of a family again. Of being there to support the woman in his life, every day.
It felt good to be part of such a momentous event. Thirty years of marriage. He couldn’t help but think about his parents. No doubt if his mom had survived the cancer, they would have stayed together. They had adored each other.
It was little things with his parents. Small shows of affection. His mom always brought his dad coffee in bed, fixed just the way he liked it. His dad left little notes for his mom around the house. He brought her flowers all the time too. Daisies.
The same flowers he’d given to Emerson when they had gone out on their first date.
Wow. He hadn’t even realized. It was like his father’s gesture had seeped into his subconscious.
His parents were a unit. They were home for each other.
Jack had been all over the world. Experienced everything, from jumping out of a plane in Hungary to seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa to hiking a volcano in Hawaii. Yet he’d mostly been alone on those adventures.
Mr. Dewitt seemed interested in his stories. It was nice to have someone to share them with. He’d told a couple to Emerson and had enjoyed watching her eyes widen as he had detailed walking along the Great Wall of China and snorkeling along the Barrier Reef.
He was starting to realize that it would have been nice to have these same conversations with his dad, whom he’d basically denied a relationship with him.
“Someone is deep in thought.”
Clearly he had been, since he hadn’t even heard Xander creep up on him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked as Xander squeezed a lime into a gin and tonic before taking a sip.
“My firm does a lot of work with Mr. Dewitt’s. I’ve actually known your pretend girlfriend’s dad for a couple of years now. Speaking of your pretend girlfriend, where is she?”
Jack pushed a hand through his hair. “Actually, I wouldn’t say we’re all that pretend anymore.”
“Nooo.” Xander overexaggerated the word and put a hand to his chest like he was in shock.
Jack answered by way of a finger of choice in Xander’s direction. For his part, Xander simply chuckled.
“Give me all the fingers you want. But the truth is the truth.”
Jack loosened his tie. “And what exactly is the truth here?”
“That you’ve fallen hard for Emerson and it’s been clear to anyone with half an eye that the two of you are wild for each other.”
“Interesting, since I didn’t even know that.”
“Well, you’ve always been on the slow side.”
Jack punched him in the arm, and Xander feigned being hurt.
“So, you think this thing with Emerson is a good thing?”
Xander’s jovial expression slowly faded. He studied the contents of his glass and swirled it around before finally talking. “You know me, dude. I can’t get on board with any relationship.”
“Why is that again?”
“It’s what I believe. They don’t work. They’re not right. I see the results every day, in my work.” He paused, glancing up. “But I do like seeing you happy, and if Emerson makes you happy, then great. As it turns out, I have something else that is going to make you happy.”
Intrigued, Jack waited.
“I was finishing up some business with one of my clients today when he mentioned that he was looking to open a restaurant and bar. Asked if I knew of any locations.”
For some reason, the hair on the back of Jack’s neck stood up on high alert.
“I told the guy all about The Wright Drink. He was really into the location. Wants to know if he can come see it this week.”
What should have been a happy development had the result of making Jack’s stomach sink. Wasn’t this what he wanted?
He took a long, deep breath.
“What?” Xander asked. “I thought this is what you wanted.”
“It’s definitely one possibility. I’m just not... I don’t know.”
Xander nodded knowingly, just as Emerson sidled up to them.
“There you are,” she said.
He instinctively put his arm around her. She just felt so right up against his side.
“Needed some air,” he said.
She laughed lightly. “Are you calling my parents’ friends stuffy?”
“Oh no,” Xander joine
d in. “They’re all great. Barrels of fun.”
“Shut up. When you two are my parents’ age, you’ll be having the same kinds of parties, talking to the same kinds of people.”
Xander responded to that with a joke, but Jack didn’t really pay attention. He was too busy thinking about what Emerson had just said.
Would he and Xander still be friends in thirty years? Would they even be in the same place? If he sold the bar and left town, would they stay in touch? They had last time, but they were getting older.
“Jack.”
He shook his head as Emerson pinned him with a look. “Sorry, what?”
“I asked what you guys were talking about before I walked up.”
Jack looked to Xander, but his friend’s lips were sealed shut. He’d clearly learned his lesson after the party in the bar.
But Jack didn’t want to lie to Emerson.
“Xander has found a possible buyer for The Wright Drink.”
He could feel the tension ratchet up between him and Emerson, as if someone were building a wall right between them.
He reached down and grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I haven’t made any decisions yet.”
“But you’ll need to soon.”
Unclear of how to respond, he simply nodded.
He didn’t like the lines forming on her forehead or the way her lips were turned down in a frown. He wanted to tell her he would stay. But Jack just couldn’t do that. Something was holding him back.
“Emerson—” But he was cut off as the patio doors opened and scores of party guests spilled out into the crisp night air.
“I think my parents are going to give a toast.”
The interruption was probably better. He truly wasn’t sure what he had been about to say back there.
People gathered in every available inch of space. Luckily, the Dewitt’s had a spacious backyard and patio area.
Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt were the last people to step outside. They took up a spot under one of the porch lights, as if a spotlight were shining right on them. A microphone appeared from somewhere. Obviously this was not the first large party that had happened here.
The Dating Arrangement Page 15
