“What can I do?” I ask as we clean up our empty wrappers.
“Nothing. We’ve got a good team here today. Thank you though.”
I nod. “Dinner tonight?” I know damn well she’s going to turn me down.
“Landon—” She shakes her head with a grin.
“Hey.” I hold my hands up in mock surrender. “Just asking a friend to have some dinner, share a meal, shoot the shit.”
“Uh-huh.” She’s all-out grinning now and I love every second of it.
“I guess I’m gonna go.” While I say the words, I make no move to pull my ass out of this chair.
“Thanks for lunch. I’d offer to repay you, but I know better.” She points to my face. “That look tells me I’m right.”
“You’re welcome, Em.” I force myself to stand and am surprised when she does as well.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“Any new adoptions?” I ask as we walk toward the front door.
“Not this week. They come in spurts. We’re actually due for another adoption fair. Aubrey and I need to get on that,” she says absentmindedly.
We reach the door and I turn to face her. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Yeah, see ya soon,” she agrees and waves.
I want to hug her or kiss her or beg her to let me stay, but do none of them. Instead, I let my lead-filled feet carry me to my SUV.
“Where are you headed?” Chance asks, climbing out of his SUV as I reach mine.
“Home.”
“I thought you brought lunch?” he asks, opening the back door and lifting his son out of his seat. “Can you say hi to Landon?” he asks his son.
The little boy waves, resting his head on his dad’s shoulder. “Yeah, I did. Em and I just ate.”
“And you’re leaving?” He raises an eyebrow.
“She said she doesn’t need any help.”
“And you took her word for it?”
“I made a scene, got all pissy when I walked in on a situation that wasn’t what it looked like with a volunteer. I’m sure your wife will retell the story.”
“What’s your version?” he asks.
“Mommy!” CJ yells, holding his arms out.
“Hey, sweet boy,” Aubrey greets us. “Cocky.” She grins, going on tiptoes to press her lips to Chance’s.
“Princess,” he whispers, and even I can hear the love in his tone.
“See you inside,” she tells him, then turns to look at me. “You got our girl all flustered.”
“Yeah.” I run my hands through my hair, not sure how much Emma has told her.
“Good. She needs someone to keep her on her toes. You’re a lucky bastard that you have her attention.” She grins like she just won the lottery and I have no idea what that’s all about.
She doesn’t give me the chance to comment before she’s strolling off toward the building, her son telling her all about daycare this morning.
“Well?” Chance asks once his wife and son have finally disappeared from view.
“I guess they slipped on some spilled water. He was lying over the top of her, and I walked in just as it happened. He helped her up, had his fucking hands all over her. He recognized me and asked for an autograph.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
I wince. “I might have told him to get his hands off my girl and I would oblige him.”
“Ouch. I know Emma, and I’m sure that didn’t go over well.”
“She was pissed, but I apologized and now she seems fine.”
“And?”
“Is that normal? She just accepted the apology without another thought. I was expecting to have to grovel or something.”
He laughs. “Maybe from a woman who wants to be the center of your attention. Not from a woman like Emma. She’s one of the good ones. She’s not unreasonable. You gave her a sincere apology and she accepted. Move on.”
“She friend-zoned me.”
He nods. “I’m guessing that wasn’t your intention?”
“Fuck, I have no idea.”
“You better figure it out.” He points to where Emma stands with Tony, the guy who was all over her on the floor. Her head’s tilted back as a laugh flows from her full, beautiful lips. My fists ball at my sides.
I want to go to them, to wrap my arms around her and show him that she’s off-limits, but she’s not. I force myself to climb into my SUV with a wave to Chance and drive away. He’s wearing an amused smile as he watches me, and I ignore him.
What is this woman doing to me?
* * *
It’s just after seven and I’ve already run five miles on my treadmill and ordered takeout. It was a Chinese food kind of night. Now here I am pacing the living room floor. I eye my keys on the table and I’m tempted to drive to her house to see her. That’s pushy even for me, and besides, what am I going to say? I can’t give you what you want, what you deserve, but I don’t want anyone else to either?
My phone rings and I fumble to grab it from the couch cushion, hoping it’s her, but I should have known better. In a way, it’s the next best thing. “Hey, Mom,” I answer.
“Landon, how are you? It’s been too long since we’ve talked.”
“I know.” Guilt washes over me. “Sorry, just been busy getting back into the groove of things this season.”
“How’s the team looking?” Dad asks. They have me on speaker and I smile. These two are the epitome of two peas in a pod.
“Great. The rookies are meshing well with the veterans, and I see good things in our future for the season.”
“How about you give me your non-PR prompted speech?” Dad chuckles.
“This time it’s the truth. Practices have been on point and I think we can take it to the Super Bowl this year.”
“What’s wrong?” Mom asks.
“Nothing.”
“Landon, don’t make me come there,” she warns in her mom's voice. I never could get anything past her.
“I met someone. At least, I think I did.”
“What do you mean you think you
