by Lynn LaFleur
He couldn’t have a life with Emma, not when he still loved Jana. Unsure again what to say, he remained silent.
Her tears overflowed and ran down her cheeks. Emma swiped them away. She returned to the closet, came out with several pairs of jeans and tossed them in the suitcase. “I’ll get the rest of my stuff later this week.”
She closed the suitcase and lifted it from the bed. Griff stood in the doorway, blocking her path as she tried to leave. “Don’t go.”
“I have to.” Her voice cracked on the last word. More tears flowed down her cheeks. “Please move.”
He reached out to touch her face. She tilted her head so he couldn’t. Short of tying her to a piece of furniture, he couldn’t make her stay. He stepped out of the doorway and into the hall.
She brushed by him, the flowery scent he now associated with her trailing behind her…and leaving him more alone than ever.
*
Thirty minutes later, Griff heard the slamming of a car door a moment before his back door opened and closed. Rising from the couch where he’d been nursing a glass of whisky to dull his pain, he turned to see his brothers walk into the living room. Both of them wore scowls on their faces.
“You are a goddamn idiot.” Dax walked up to within inches of Griff. “You’ve fucked up anything you could’ve had with Emma. What the hell is wrong with you?”
He didn’t have to ask how Dax knew what had happened with Emma. She would’ve told Alaina, who told Rye, and so on. “She left me.”
“And you blame her for that?” Dax pointed down the hall. “Is that door still closed to the master bedroom?”
Griff’s anger flared at Dax sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. “That’s none of your business.”
“The hell it isn’t! You lost Jana. I hate that. But you met Emma, who is gorgeous and sexy and smart and crazy about you. You need to go over to Rye’s house right now and beg her to forgive you for being such an ass.”
Griff looked at his other brother, who was uncharacteristically quiet. Rye normally jumped in as peacemaker when his brothers fought. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Because I agree with Dax. You are an idiot.”
Rye spoke again before Griff could even sputter. “I know how much you adored Jana. And I know it’s only been eleven months since you lost her. But Emma came into your life at a time when you really needed her. She’s been good for you, Griff. You’ve put on weight. You smile and joke the way you used to. Your face lights up when you see her. You may not be ready to admit you love her, but we know you do.” He clasped Griff’s shoulder. “Love doesn’t have a timetable, Griff. You knew Jana most of your life. You’ve known Emma for a month. You fell in love with both women.”
Griff looked from Rye to Dax and back again. He thought of how happy he’d been since Emma came into his life. He enjoyed talking with her, cooking with her, making love with her. Even sitting silently together while they’d watched TV made him happy and content.
His brothers were right. Emma had brought sunshine into his world when he believed he’d live in darkness forever.
Something seemed to melt deep inside and drift away…that part of himself determined to hold onto Jana, no matter what.
“So?” Dax asked, still scowling. “Are you going to see Emma?”
Griff shook his head. “No.”
“Griff—”
“Leave me alone, please. I need to think.”
“What the hell do you need to think about? She—”
“Dax, stop it,” Rye said, laying his hand on Dax’s shoulder. “Let’s leave him alone, like he asked.”
Dax didn’t look happy, but he didn’t argue any longer. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the room.
“Call me if you need me,” Rye said.
“I will. Thanks.”
After his brothers left, Griff slowly strolled down the hall. He stood outside the door to the master bedroom for long moments, staring at it. Finally gathering his courage, he pushed down on the lever and let the door open.
He stepped inside the room. The few times he’d been in here, he’d sensed Jana’s presence. He waited, but that didn’t happen this time. He was the only one in the room.
Turning to his right, he picked up the picture that had been taken on their fifth anniversary. He touched her cheek, the way he always did when he looked at the picture. “You’ll always have a part of my heart, Jana. I hope you know that.”
Griff opened a drawer in the dresser and laid the picture on a stack of Jana’s underwear. Squeezing his eyes shut, he closed the drawer on the picture…and his memories.
Slipping his cell phone from its holder on his belt, he searched for a number in his favorites list.
“I need your help.”
*
Thanks to Rye, Emma knew Griff would be out of town Wednesday to arrange for more supplies to be delivered for the restaurant. That gave her the perfect opportunity to collect the rest of her things from his house. She’d done her best to avoid him the last two days, even though she’d yearned for a glimpse of him.
How pathetic.
She’d get over him in time. Her first experience with love had taught her she didn’t want to go through it again. Having a different lover every week or two would be the way to go, just like before she met Griff.
Her stomach churned at the thought of another man touching her.
She’d get over that too. She and Alaina planned to drive to Dallas Friday afternoon to help Kelcey with her move. One last wild evening of fun was exactly what they needed before they settled into their new life in Lanville. Emma could pick up a really cute guy for a quick fuck. That would help her start to get over Griff and get on with her life.
Shaking off how depressed that made her feel, Emma carried several flat cardboard boxes to the bedroom and laid them on the bed. She’d start in here with her clothes, then pack the ones in Griff’s office. She put one box together, taping the bottom so it would be more secure. Ready to start packing, she turned toward the closet. Her heart jumped up in her throat when she saw Griff leaning against the bedroom’s doorjamb.
“You aren’t supposed to be here.”
“Why not? This is my house.”
“Rye said you had to pick up supplies today.”
“I know. That’s what I asked him to tell you.” He pushed off the doorjamb and walked toward her. “I want to show you something.”
To protect her heart, she had to get out of here as soon as possible. “There’s nothing you can show me that I want to see.”
“I think you’ll like this. At least, I hope you do.” He held out his hand to her, palm up. “Please?”
She looked at his hand, then back at his face. She couldn’t tell anything from his neutral expression. “Just tell me what it is.”
“My mom has worked here the last two days,” he said, still holding his hand out to her. “I’d like to show you what she’s done.”
Beverly usually cleaned her sons’ homes on Wednesday, but perhaps she’d had other plans for today and came earlier this week. Emma couldn’t imagine why Griff thought the lack of dust bunnies would interest her. “Griff, I don’t—”
A finger to her lips stopped her. “Please, Emma.”
The sooner she agreed, the sooner she could finish her packing and leave. She blew out a heavy breath. “All right.”
She let him take her hand, ignoring the jump in her pulse at his touch. He guided her out of the bedroom and down the hall to the closed door that led into the master bedroom. He gazed into her eyes for a long moment, then pushed down the door handle and let the door swing open.
Emma peered inside the room. Not believing her eyes, she stepped inside and slowly let her gaze sweep the room. Her black bedspread covered the bed. Several jewel-toned throw pillows were propped against the headboard. The silk flower arrangements had been removed from the walls, to be replaced with works of metal. All the pictures of Jana had disappeared.
<
br /> She watched Griff open the walk-in closet. His clothes hung on the right side, hers on the left.
“Griff, what…” The burning in her throat wouldn’t let her say anything else.
“I didn’t have time to get the chairs in the sitting area recovered, but I can. Or we can buy new ones if you’d rather do that. Maybe we should buy new living room furniture too. Would you like that?”
He couldn’t possibly expect her to answer that question when her head was spinning. “Griff, what does all this mean?”
He walked back to her. “It means I was a fool to ever let you leave me. It means I’ve put the past behind me. I’ll never forget Jana, but I’m ready to move on.” He cradled her face in his hands. “It means I’m completely in love with you too.”
Tears filled her eyes as he kissed her with love and tenderness. He smiled at her and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Shall we go to Rye’s and Alaina’s house and get the rest of your stuff?”
She’d love nothing more, but she had to be positive Griff truly wanted a life with her. “Are you sure you’re ready? I would never push you, Griff. You have to be ready for a life with me.”
“It’s a funny thing about decisions. When it’s right, you know it way deep inside.” He brushed away the last of her tears. “Yes, I’m sure I want you, for as long as you’ll have me.”
Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Then I’ll have you forever.”
The End
About the Author
Lynn LaFleur was born and raised in a small town in Texas close to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Writing has been in her blood since she was eight years old and wrote her first “story” for an English assignment.
As well as writing at every possible moment, Lynn enjoys reading, scrapbooking, photography and learning new things on the computer. She’s a software junky and loves to try out new programs, especially anything to do with graphics.
After living on the West Coast for 21 years, Lynn now lives 17 miles from her hometown in Texas. She’s a romantic at heart and can’t imagine ever writing anything but romances. A full-time writer, she spends her days creating stories of people who find their happily ever after, sometimes with the help of an alien or psychic or vampire.
Lynn welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Lynn LaFleur
A Cupid’s Work is Never Done
A Wish Granted
And Best Friend Makes Three
Capsized
Coopers’ Companions 1: Rent-A-Stud
Coopers’ Companions 2: Michelle’s Men
Coopers’ Companions 3: Almost Perfection
Door Prize
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails I anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction IV anthology
Lavender Lace 2: A Date with Mr. Wonderful
Lavender Lace 3: Two Lovers for Molly
Mirage
One Night of Pleasure
Premonition
Scandal and Sin
Soft Focus
Tarot Café: A Different Path with Randi Monroe
Tarot Café: Turning Point with Randi Monroe
Tarot Café: Whispered Surrender with Randi Monroe
Unexpected
Print books by Lynn LaFleur
Almost Perfection
Candy Caresses anthology
Coopers’ Companions: Michelle’s Men
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails I anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction IV anthology
Enchanted Rogues anthology
Happy Birthday, Baby
Holiday Heat anthology
More Than Love
Rent-A-Stud
Tarot Café: Destiny’s Path with Randi Monroe
Tarot Café: Whispered Surrender with Randi Monroe
Turning Point with Randi Monroe
Two Men and a Lady anthology
White Hot Holidays Volume 2 anthology
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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