by Angie Wilder
The night he’d kissed Emma under the mistletoe, the sweet sexy encounter that changed everything.
“Ben promised we’d talk today. Soon. I have about ten more minutes to wallow with you before heading over to his place. I've got my best underwear on, and I’m hoping for makeup sex.”
Ah, hell. Evan grimaced, preferring his little sister keep that to herself. He realized she’d said it to put him in his place and out of her affairs.
“Sex with Ben, your best buddy. Do you have something to say about it?” She tossed the challenge out, folded her arms over her chest, and stared daggers at his broken lip.
“No, ma’am.”
“Excellent. Now that we’re square, explain to me what happened with Emma. I was sure this would work out for you both.”
“I didn’t know she was signing the paperwork today. I haven’t seen her since… I didn’t have a chance to make things right. There was an emergency.” He pressed his face into his palms. “I don’t feel all right, Kaley. I don’t know if I ever will.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. She’ll be home soon; you’ll figure it out.”
Kaley padded across the carpet to stop next to where he stood, then her arms wrapped around him. “You’re a good guy, Evan. Emma has been crazy about you her entire life. She’s not going to stop because of one fight.”
“She’s gone.”
“What are you planning to do about that?”
He looked at his sister as if she were nuts. There wasn’t a damn thing he could do about that.
With the weight of her career decision lifted, the afternoon flew by, though there was still a heaviness in her heart. Evan. They needed to talk, that hadn’t changed. Emma turned the dial on the windshield wipers another click. She was practically the only car on the road. The snow piled up, coming down hard, but she was almost back to Hillcrest. She wanted to grab that man and hug some reason into him. No more walking away.
With the steering wheel gripped tight in both hands, she traveled fifteen miles an hour under the posted speed limit of fifty-five, eager to return. The treacherous conditions were making the trip take forever. She plowed on, restless with the delay. When the car’s wheels slipped, lost traction, ice-cold panic coursed through her veins. In slow motion, she pressed her foot to the brake as the vehicle veered sideways. Metal against metal produced a terrible sound as the SUV rammed up against the guardrail where the highway crossed a frozen creek.
Once she came to a stop, Emma sat stunned. Her pulse whooshed in her ears, and her skin prickled. The safety rail had kept her from going into the ditch. She put the automobile in park and jabbed the button that activated the hazard lights. After a few deep breaths, the shaking in her hands eased, and she placed the car back in gear. She gave the car some gas, and it thumped forward. Her stomach tightened with the realization she likely wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Emma stepped out of the SUV, strode around to the passenger side, and saw that the tire had gone flat when the front corner bent inward from the impact. Aside from the crushed fender, there wasn’t much damage. It was both good and bad news.
With a hiss of frustration, Emma got back inside, behind the wheel, and assessed the situation. She was stuck; she hadn’t eaten a bite all day, but she knew who to call for a lift. Emma fished her cell phone from her purse and frowned over the low battery symbol. Of course, she hadn’t thought to charge her phone last night, nor while she’d been driving. She’d been too distracted with her thoughts. While she contemplated calling the Tow and Go or the Heartley home directly, she dug into the pastry bag and pulled out a jelly doughnut. There was a note attached.
* * *
My sweet Em,
Please forgive me.
Yours always—Evan
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
20
Evan got up from the sofa to pace the rug and glance out the window with the best view of the Gains’ house.
“Try to stay positive, Evan.” Kaley placed a plate of sugar cookies out on the coffee table then rested a hip on the arm of the love seat and leaned against Ben. It was the annual Heartley-Gains Christmas Eve gathering, and he worried why Emma was running late. So was the rest of the party. Outside the snow piled up fast, and the sun had set. After the guys shoveled the driveways clear, they settled into the Heartley’s family room.
“If only I’d talked to Em before she headed out for Minneapolis to meet with the lawyers. The partnership is a solid investment, but not if she backs out of the deal after signing. So that’s not a choice.”
The parents gathered in the kitchen. Evan assumed the clustered folks meant to give their delinquent horny children privacy to talk, the space to adjust, now that everyone’s secret relationships were out of the bag.
At least the explosive situation—yesterday’s confrontation that forced his sister to reveal her baby’s father—had smoothed out for Kaley and Ben. The new couple looked happy.
Ben’s mom was thrilled over the baby. The soon-to-be grandmother had come to the party toting fabric samples for custom crib bedding and had parked a deluxe stroller next to the Christmas tree. Sophie’s ability to accomplish all that within the last twenty-four hours amazed Evan. Then again, her daughter was also amazing.
“What am I saying?” He paused to shake his head. “If Emma backed out of the contract it would kill me knowing she’d missed out on her big dream career. She can’t give it up on my account. There is no way to win.”
Kaley folded her hands in her lap. “Let’s wait to hear what Emma has to say.”
He turned away. Evan figured his sister would rather be holding Ben’s hand, but she dialed the public affection down. Kaley was thoughtful to avoid rubbing salt in Evan’s wound, to showcase her happy status while Evan suffered. Through the window, huge flakes filled the view, white against the night, almost festive with the glow of holiday lights. Almost. “Emma shouldn’t be driving in this storm.” He was about to say more, but he heard his mother answer the phone and use Emma’s name. Evan strode to the kitchen, followed by Kaley and Ben.
“What’s your location? Okay, okay…” Mom replied and penned notes on a tablet. “Don’t be silly. The garage will send a truck soon… it is a busy night, but… okay. Stay warm. That’s good. We’ll do—”
“Let me talk to Emma.” Evan lifted a hand for the phone.
His mother placed the device on the counter. “She hung up. Emma’s cell has a low battery. She asked me to let everyone know she’s fine but needs a tow.”
Dad set his coffee mug aside. “I got this one—”
“I’ll go,” Evan cut in. He grabbed the sheet of notebook paper with his mother’s handwriting and headed for his coat. “I still remember how to work the truck.” A roadside rescue was a heck of a way to gain a chance to talk. On the upside, Emma wasn’t going anywhere without him.
Evan tapped the paper against his leg, as that last thought sunk in and it dawned on him how he and Emma could make things work. As long as she’d have him, she wasn’t going without him.
The garage was a quick drive across town, and the directions his mom jotted indicated that Emma was less than ten minutes down the highway. Due to the winter weather and the Christmas holiday, the roads were empty, which made her mom’s little SUV easy to spot. He had to pass Emma where she waited on the opposite side of the road to turn the rig around. Evan fought the urge to pull off to the shoulder and run to Em, but he had a job to do first. When they were on the same side of the road, he backed up into position, and hopped down from the SuperCab.
As Evan neared the car, the nagging worry that she might not wish to see him slowed his stride.
With her head tipped down, Emma brushed her hands over her face. When she lifted her gaze, there was a flash of hesitation, of recognition.
I know we can be incredible together. If this didn’t go well, he was done for. Evan hoped a roadside apology would make the cut, though Emma deserved better.
She tugged up the coll
ar on her coat.
He took in the damage to the passenger wheel. He heard the click of her door as it opened and closed and watched her approach. They met in the space between his rig and her front bumper.
As Emma approached, he saw that her eyes were watery, her nose red. There was a jelly stain on her white wool coat, and a soft smile curved her lips. She had never looked more beautiful.
He’d never felt more vulnerable.
“Evan, you came?” Her footing slipped as she made her way wearing those fancy shoes of hers.
He closed the distance between them, close enough to touch her. “I will always be here for you. I promise never to walk away, or speak to you like that, again.”
“I promise too.” She lifted her hand, accepting his.
“Em, I’m sorry.” The wind swirled the snow around them. She shivered, and his arms ached to hold her.
“Me too. Evan, nothing has ever hurt as terrible as that fight. I was wrong to say those painful words.”
“Emma, if it’s all right by you, I’d rather not have this conversation until after I have the car secured. It’s warm in the truck, and I can see that you’re cold. Please, go get out of this weather and wait inside? It’s not safe to be out in this mess wearing those heels.”
Emma glanced to her snow-covered feet, took hold of the hand he offered, and let him lead her to the truck. Once there, rather than let go, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Evan, I have to tell you, I didn’t find your note until after the crash. I wouldn’t have left for the city if I had found your message this morning.”
Evan pulled her to him, wrapped her in his arms. “We’ll work it out.” He pressed his face into the silky waves of her hair, breathed in the sweet scent, and said, “As long as we’re together.”
The top of her head rubbed his chin when she nodded, and she whimpered in response. After several heartbeats, Emma tipped her gaze to meet his. Snow was coming down, falling on her eyelashes. She blinked and said, “Be quick, okay?”
“You’re crying.” Her eyes were shiny and it wasn’t just snowflakes.
Emma stroked his face. After a quiet moment, where only their eyes spoke, she lowered one palm and replaced the warmth with her lips. She kissed his cheek, then drew a step backward. “There’s so much I want to share, but I’ll go wait.”
His gut was in knots. “What you have to say, will it be good stuff or bad?”
“Evan, I just gave you a hug and a kiss. Good stuff, I hope,” Em said with a sweet smile.
Relief washed over him. It shouldn’t be too terrible then, but there was still the topic of California.
Evan knew what he had to do.
Emma hadn’t anticipated that Evan would come for her. Low on cell phone battery, phoning the Heartley household had seemed like the wisest option. The Tow and Go would either dispatch a truck right away, or Lisa would send Ben. When Emma had seen Evan standing there instead, her breath had caught, and her heart had leaped. Later, once she was in his arms, in that hug, all the things she wanted to say, especially that powerful little L-word, were ready to burst from her lips.
Then he asked her to wait.
Of all the requests. It was impossible to be patient.
The cab of the truck was quite roomy and had that new car smell. There were two large bucket style seats with a wide vacant slot in between. Emma frowned at the distance that separated the chairs, longing to be positioned closer to Evan. She missed his touch. Behind, in the cab’s rear, was an expansive bench for accommodating a vehicle full of stranded passengers. Emma’s gaze traveled to the side mirror again, where she might seize a glimpse of Evan at work. The SUV was hooked up, and the rig hummed while the towing mechanism hauled the car into place. The delay wouldn’t be much longer. The words I love you ached in her heart and throat and fluttered in her belly with the need to be spoken. Emma shifted, unbuttoned her coat, and contemplated removing it. The wool had gone damp when it had been blasted with the heavy snowfall, then thawed. She bumped up the heater and tossed the wet outerwear to the backseat.
The door opened, and Evan ruffled snow from his hair and off his jacket sleeves, then climbed inside.
All her aches and flutters kicked up to double pace. Emma angled her body so her feet occupied the open gap between the chairs. “Evan—”
“Let me speak first, Em. Please?” The blue jacket looked black over the shoulders, where it must be soaked. Evan’s gaze took her in, then he shrugged out of his coat. His motions were slow as he folded the garment and placed it on the back bench next to hers. The tension was weighted while he drew out the moment with measured movements.
Emma didn’t want to wait for Evan to go first. Her news was too big, but since he asked…
Evan held a hand out, asking for hers. The large palm was warm and comforting against her skin, and he offered her a tender smile.
She couldn’t help but notice that her brother had left a mark. “Your lip, does it hurt?”
“Nothing a kiss can’t make better.” There was a twinkle in his eyes.
That was all the invitation she needed. Emma moved from her chair to his lap, settled in his arms. Cuddled with her back to the window and their lips a mere inch apart is where she belonged. “We still need to talk.” The words lost the desperation from earlier. Emma was safe in this space, wrapped in Evan’s undivided attention. It was cozy, soothing, being held there by the dim glow of the accessory lights, surrounded by the silent beauty of the falling snow.
“I know we do, but it doesn’t hurt to make up, get on the same page.” Raw emotion showed in his eyes and in the strain of the tendon in his neck. “My sweet Em, I love you.”
Emma memorized the moment, tucking it away for safekeeping, as her fingers splayed over his collar, trying to sooth the tightness from his shoulders. She freed the words that had burned at the back of her throat all day and had resided in her soul for a lifetime, “I love you too, Evan, with all my heart.”
His embrace snuggled her in, drawing her close. “Thank god,” he whispered against her lips as his featherlight kiss owned her mouth.
Emma swayed, ached, dizzy with love, soaking in the warmth and goodness of this man, her friend.
With an arm around her back and a warm palm against her hip, he eased away. There was more to say. “Let me go with you? To California.”
“What?” She sat up.
“I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to choose between a relationship or your partnership. I love you so much, Em. All that matters is that we are together. That is, if you’ll have me?”
“Oh, Evan…” Emma pressed her face to his neck as tears flowed hot. “I love you too.”
She hugged him, never wanting to let go, as she absorbed the magnitude of what he offered. If he was willing to chase after her, move across the country, Evan desired her in ways she’d only dreamt. She’d hoped for more than a holiday romance, but this was so much bigger. She hadn’t considered he’d really uproot his life, follow her, but no matter. Those plans were behind her now. “I love you, Evan. I always have. Today, more than ever. I had wanted California, but I chose you. You have me. I didn’t sign the contract.”
“Come again?” He tensed. “Em, look at me?” Evan’s hand stroked her hair, and he waited for her attention. “If the Beverly Hills practice is what you desire, we’ll make it happen. Together.”
“I want better than what they have to offer.”
Evan gave a half-hearted chuckle, and she could tell he didn’t catch her meaning.
“You, Evan. My family, which includes yours. My cat.” She smiled and continued, “Daddy’s clinic is where I belong. This past month, being home, I’ve come to realize how much I miss everyone. I’ve lived too long without being able to hug the people I care about. In California, I’m constantly occupied with chasing my career and always lonely. I’ve been so single-minded in my focus, but being home with the people I care about most has made me realize that I don’t have to trail after someone else’s idea
of what ‘made it to the top’ looks like. I need to follow my heart and make my dreams come true. It’s crazy that I thought I’d be satisfied chasing this goal, shutting down relationships, when love is what I was missing. I hope you’ll forgive me. I hope everyone will forgive me.”
“Of course I…we will, Em. You don’t have to apologize for working hard. Are you sure about California?” Evan searched her face. “I can’t stand to think that I might be responsible. That later—”
“I’m positive. I’m taking responsibility for choosing Hillcrest. I’ve been tempted to stay since returning, but I was worried about falling short of expectations that I’d built up in my mind as the path to happiness. I came to the decision to stay with the understanding that you might not take me back.”
“Not take you back? Em, I was hurt but walking out was the wrong move. The wrong way to handle the conflict.”
“You didn’t stay away long. The rest is my fault. I was hurt too, but I should have apologized for my reaction to my momma’s question straight away. I wasn’t saying no to love, rather to her enthusiastic assumptions. It all sounded so good, but we hadn’t talked. The kitchen wasn’t the place for it. Then all my worst fears of losing you bubbled over into thoughtless words I wish I could take back. You are everything to me, Evan. No man has ever compared. We’ve only been a couple for a week, but we’ve been friends for all our lives. You have to know how much I love and respect you.” She grinned and kissed his dimple. “I guess in the future I’ll recognize when you’re that upset you just require some space. I can give you that.”
“No way. I prefer that pin-me-down-and-make-me-listen-to-reason method of yours.”
“Like this?” she purred, pressed her breasts to his chest, and teased her mouth over his lips.
“Emma…” His hands drifted down her back.
