“I’ve got my own to do,” Jeff said.
“I have to work. It’s Black Friday weekend,” Zack chimed in.
“You can’t spare a few hours to help your old dad out. You know Ican’t do it myself, and we can’t be the only house on the block withoutlights.”
“No, we can’t have that,” Glo shouted from the kitchen.
“I can probably break away on Sunday for a little while.” Jeffeyed Zack. “Will that work for you?”
Zack nodded but didn’t offer any information about what his Sundaywas like.
“I can help. It’ll get done a lot faster with more hands,” Dexsaid. “I hang lights in the winter to supplement,” she added when they allgawked at her.
Bill’s eyebrows rose. “Look at that, boys. She hangs lights.” Heglanced over at Emma. “I think you’ve got yourself a prize this time, Em. Don’tscare her away.”
“Dad. You’ve had too much wine.”
“Nope. Just enough.” He winked. “Right, Dex?”
“Right.”
The microwave must have beeped a hundred times before Emma heardher mother shout, “Where the hell is my coffee?”
“In the microwave, Mom. You put it in there about a half hourago.” Emma glanced at Dex, who was grinning widely.
“Jesus. If my head wasn’t screwed on…What would I do without you?”Glo’s voice rang through the house when she joined them in the living room andpicked up her book. Within fifteen minutes she was asleep in her chair.
Everyone else was focused on the football game when Emma grazedher hand across Dex’s thigh to pull her attention from the TV. “Take me home?”They’d been there way past the obligatory hour after dinner.
Dex nodded. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Emma stared into her eyes, trying to convey how she wanted thisnight to end. “I’ve been ready since you got here.”
Dex’s lips curved up to one side as she got up, took Emma’s hand,and led her out the door.
* * *
Dex had been awake for close to an hour watching Emma sleep.They’d made love again last night. When she’d woken this morning with Emma inher arms, she’d immediately wanted to do it again, but she’d looked sopeaceful, almost smiling in her sleep. Was she dreaming about the same thingsshe had—of a life filled with love instead of heartache? She didn’t know how,but Emma was slowly pushing Grace out of her heart. Not replacing her so muchas making a whole new place that seemed to encapsulate all of her. It wasn’t afeeling she could ever explain to anyone. She just knew Emma was special anddestined to be in her life.
When Emma opened her eyes and caught Dex staring, she blushed andbecame more beautiful, if that was possible.
“How long?” She rubbed her eyes.
“Have I been awake?”
“Have you been watching me?”
“Maybe an hour.” She smiled. “You’re easy to watch.”
Emma rolled her eyes before she reached up, hooked her hand behindDex’s neck, and tugged her in for a scorching kiss.
“You should’ve woken me. A whole hour has gone to waste while wecould’ve been doing something else.”
Dex chuckled. “Like breakfast?”
“That too.” Emma made tiny circles with her finger across Dex’scollarbone and seemed to go somewhere else for a moment. “Thanks for offeringto help my dad with the yard and the lights. He’s not as young as he used tobe, and I worry about him taking on all that by himself. My brothers are busywith their own lives. They’ll show up between games and put in an hour, butthat won’t be enough.”
“It’s my pleasure. I love the house, and your dad takes great careof the lawn.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. The grass looks like it’s been fertilized well, and I coulddo a lot with the landscaping.” Dex had noticed the overgrown holly bushes andunshaped crepe myrtles. She’d also seen a couple of nice-sized flower beds inthe front, flanking the steps to the porch, that needed to be cleaned out.
She stared across the room to nowhere in particular. “So, thiswhole girlfriend thing.” They hadn’t really gotten to discuss it earlier. Ithad just happened in front of everyone. “I may not be very good at it. I mean Ihaven’t been in the past.” She returned her gaze to Emma. “But I’d like to giveit a go if you do.”
Emma pulled her brows together and rolled her lips in. Dex’s heartraced. Maybe she’d made a mistake putting it out there since Emma seemed to bereluctant to introduce her that way to her parents. Then Emma reached up andcaressed Dex’s cheek with the back of her fingers.
Emma took in a deep breath as she hooked her hand behind Dex’sneck and brought her closer. “I do,” she whispered across her lips and thenkissed her.
Chapter Twenty
Grace came in hot as she pushed her way through Dex’s frontdoor. “I can’t believe you just abandoned me like that.”
“I didn’t abandon you. I was only a phone call away.”
“That’s a bunch of shit.” She dropped her purse on the end table.“You let that woman answer your phone all night.”
“She insisted.” Dex closed the door and followed her into theliving room. “She helped you better than I would’ve. She’s a great cook.”
“You don’t have control of your own phone now?”
“Of course I do.”
“So, why did you let her? She was condescending and bossy.”
Dex frowned. “Really? I heard the calls, Grace. I thought she waskind of sweet, considering you wereinterrupting dinner. You got through it, didn’t you?”
“Next time you’re coming to my house.” She flopped down onto thecouch. “You’re going to come over and help me decorate the tree tonight,right?”
“Isn’t Brent going to help you?”
“He’s going out with his buddies and won’t be home until late.”Brent was becoming absolutely useless around the house. It seemed he wasgetting comfortable now that they were married.
“I can come over for a little while, but I actually have planslater this evening.”
“Dex, this is ridiculous. Do I have to do everything alone becauseyou’re going out with her?”
“Her?”She stared at Grace. “You mean Emma. My girlfriend?”
“Great.” Grace rolled her eyes and made no attempt to hide herirritation. “Now she’s your girlfriend?”She should’ve never listened to Brent’s stupid idea to fix them up.
“Wasn’t that the
