I knocked quietly at first, then harder without a response. I had to remind myself I hadn’t been invited and she wasn't going to exactly be thrilled to see me. I was the one who had arrived unannounced, hoping for time alone with her.
I knocked a few more times and then stood at the door before planning my next move. I gave myself a pep talk and decided to wait for a bit, making myself at home on the little bistro set placed on the side of her front porch.
Still no answer, still no sounds in the house. But her Mercedes was home so I knew she was here. Probably ignoring me, not that I blamed her.
I stood up, reasoning with myself it was time to leave, I tried and I could always try another time. I had a lot to talk about and one night wasn’t going to cover it. Maybe tonight just wasn't the night.
Frankly, after seeing her at the party at Wyatt’s, I really just wanted her in my life. I placed my arm up on the side of her doorframe and gave the door one last hard set of knocks before I relented. I stayed in the same spot for another beat.
My breath hitched when Emma opened the door, her hair up in a sloppy bun, in a towel that had enough room for another person. I would gladly volunteer as tribute.
She had little beads of sweat with the smell of lavender. It made me want to lean into her to bring her to me, but I resisted for now, anyway.
“Cash? What in the hell are you doing here?” She may have cussed but her facial expression was telling me something else completely.
I realized I hadn't moved from the doorframe and had already begun to lean in to her instinctually.
“I needed to see you,” I mumbled.
She didn't respond but looked at me, trying to compute what I was thinking. I wasn't sure if she was going to slap me, rack me, or kiss me. I had hoped for the latter.
“You saw me today…”
“I didn't get to really see you. It was chaos. Plus Wyatt inviting the prick…”
“Prick, huh? I thought he was pretty nice.” She smiled, getting the reaction out of me she wanted.
“Would you just give me ten minutes? Then I promise I’ll leave,” I said, trying to be convincing.
“Promise?”
I regretted saying that as soon as it had left my tongue. I had promised her before, and broke those promises without a second’s thought.
I then did what I knew I was going to regret, but I didn’t care. I felt like my body was in total control and it wouldn't listen to any reason. Then again, I had little thoughts when I was with her.
I leaned in and pulled her head toward mine, stealing a kiss. My eyes were closed tasting her, taking in every second.
Her response could not have been more perfect. I opened one eye, then the other, fearing I would break the spell, that single moment I had been blessed with, but on the contrary. Emma gripped my shirt into her fist and pulled me through her door, then kicked the door shut.
In seconds, her towel had fallen, she had dropped her hair out of the bun, and I had her up against the door, kissing her like my next breath depended on it.
I lifted her legs around my hips and held her there while we kissed. I could not get enough of her, and it appeared she had the same feeling.
Thank you God for this moment. I owe you one.
She tasted like wine, and I couldn’t get enough of her taste.
I wasn't letting go tonight, and I hoped I could convince her I wasn’t the same Cash. I was better now, although I still had a long way to go.
I’d be damned if I didn’t feel like I was in heaven when I was with her, and there was no way I was going to accept anybody else but her, my Emma.
9
EMMA
I tapped my pen on my enormous glass desk in my office, staring out the windows at the beautiful sky. My office was one of the largest on the floor, with more room than I would ever use. I had one leg tucked under me in my leather chair and the other slightly twisting the chair back and forth.
I couldn’t keep one person out of my mind, and although I tried to pretend what happened last night was only a dream, it wasn’t. I had let Cash get the best of me again, and I was furious with myself. It wasn’t just a weakness though; I wanted him last night just as he did me.
Why did I continue to harbor feelings for a man, I know was horrible to me? Could he really be a better man?
I wanted to laugh at myself or slap myself, not sure which.
But when he kissed me, I felt something in me I had never felt, an emotion that took over me. That is why I weakened around him. His touch, the way he looked, and the look in his eyes. He felt something for me, I felt it but what I wasn’t sure.
Clearly anything that came out of his mouth was a bunch of bullshit. I was sure I was just another notch on his bedpost but damn if he wasn’t for me this time.
I hated I was going to have to tell my best friend that once again, I failed. I let him take down my walls even if it was temporarily.
Breigh would analyze it a million ways until Sunday and still I’d be hopeful that maybe, just maybe. Over and over again.
“Ms. Gray, you
