She was noticing him now, though.
She stood with her face tilted up toward him, her gaze scanning his as if searching to understand something. Could she tell what he was thinking?
A faint flush of color on her cheeks led him to believe she just might.
“There will be more weddings at Two Willows,” he predicted.
Wye’s eyes widened for a moment, and her lips parted, but she didn’t say anything. Did she know he wished he could walk her down the aisle, even if that was putting the proverbial cart way before the horse?
“Cass is pregnant,” he pointed out. “Someday her children will marry here, I would think.”
“Oh… of course.” Wye’s flush deepened.
Interesting.
Had she hoped he was thinking of a different marriage? One between two people who were almost strangers but not quite?
“Wye—” He wasn’t sure what he meant to ask her, but he needed to ask her something—anything—to get their relationship going.
She waited for him to continue, brows raised a fraction of an inch.
“I was wondering if—”
“Wye, are you down there?” Cass called from the top of the stairs. “I have a list a mile long, and I keep thinking of more things to do, and I’m losing my mind!”
“Be right there!” Wye called. “What were you wondering?” she prompted Emerson, moving an inch closer.
Her proximity increased the tug toward her he’d felt for weeks. Wherever she was, his body was painfully aware of her.
“I was wondering if you’d like to—”
“We’d better start with breakfast,” Cass called down. “Is Emerson with you? Tell him I’m about to put the coffee on.”
Hell. That was his cue. The General was very particular about his coffee. If he didn’t get up there before Cass got going with the coffee maker, there would be hell to pay.
“I was wondering…” Hell, he didn’t have time to spell it out. Before he could overanalyze his impulse, Emerson bent down and stole a quick kiss.
Wye sucked in a surprised breath, but she didn’t pull away. Quite the opposite, actually. She put out a hand to brace herself against his chest. “Emerson?”
He couldn’t help himself. He kissed her again, a kiss that lasted a fraction of a second longer. “Save me a dance later,” he told her. “At the reception. And remember, I’m your backup today.”
“O-okay,” she said.
He covered her hand with his and shifted it so it lay over his heart. Could she feel it beating strong and loud—for her?
Lifting it high, he pressed a last kiss into her palm. He hadn’t planned any of this. Had figured he needed to take his time to get to know Wye—to woo her.
Well, she knew where he stood now.
“See you later. Gotta get the General his coffee.”
“Of course.” Wye didn’t move.
“Wye? Where are you?” Cass called plaintively from the top of the stairs.
“Coming.”
Emerson, already turned toward the steps, grinned over his shoulder at her. “Let’s go.” He offered his hand.
She grinned shyly and took it. Heat—and hope—surged through him.
Things were looking up.
“Wye? You okay? You’re not getting sick, are you?” Cass asked after breakfast as the two of them washed the dishes and got them put away.
“I’m fine. Just… woolgathering, I guess. I’m happy for Alice.” Wye busied herself getting the last of the plates stacked in the cupboard. They needed a clean kitchen in order to take on the dinner they’d be serving in twelve hours or so.
Cass’s expression softened. “I’m happy for her, too. All my sisters safely married and settled. Who would have thought it could happen so fast?”
“Who would have thought the General would turn matchmaker?”
Cass laughed. “Right? You’re the only one left, you know.” She set a clean frying pan in the dishrack.
“Me?” Wye squeaked. “I’m not getting married.” She couldn’t help but think of Emerson’s kiss brushing her lips. She hadn’t been able to get her mind off it since it happened. Sitting across the breakfast table from him had been torture. She was sure everyone could see what had happened between them in the basement, even if she wasn’t sure exactly what that was. Why had Emerson kissed her—three times?
“I’ve seen the way Emerson looks at you.” Cass plunged her hands back into the soapy water and pulled out a spatula. She got to work scrubbing it. “Have you ever considered him?”
“For marriage?” Wye fought to control her voice. “I haven’t considered marriage at all. You know that.”
Cass rolled her eyes. “I know your parents didn’t have the best relationship.”
Wye snorted. That was the understatement of the year.
“That doesn’t mean you should stay single all your life.”
“It doesn’t mean I should go rushing into things, either.”
“You could go on a date with Emerson. See what happens.”
“He hasn’t asked me,” Wye said primly, wishing Cass would drop the subject. During the whole meal, Emerson had watched her with a look on his face she couldn’t quite decipher. It wasn’t triumphant or anything galling like that. It was… determined.
Wye had no idea why that tugged at something deep and primal inside her. Even if Emerson had set his cap for her, that didn’t mean she was interested.
Although she had to admit she was—a little.
Hell, a lot.
Had she learned nothing?
“The last time I thought about dating a man, he tried to kill your whole family,” she pointed out.
Cass waved that off. “Will fooled all of us, but Emerson is totally different. You can trust him.”
“How do you know?” Although Wye felt the same thing. Emerson was the sort of man who was entirely himself. You knew exactly what you were getting, and although it pained Wye to admit it, she liked what he was offering.
Emerson was handsome in a way that had nothing to do with his features and everything to do with the quiet, absolute self-confidence he exuded while going about his business. The sort of man who came to a decision, made a
