“Really?” She sounds like years just fell off her shoulders. “I’d love that! You promise?”
“Promise. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Tanner. Bye. Oh, I can’t wait to tell Ryder!” The line goes dead.
CHAPTER 16
T ANNER
I get so distracted by my ambitions. Seems the further along in years I get the more apparent it becomes that I need to connect with people more deeply.
I’m an expert with money.
People are hard.
They have feelings.
I prefer keeping mine locked up.
As I walk into the hotel I stroll directly to the front desk. The clerk glances up and a professional smile appears. “Happy Saturday, Mr. Hamilton. Can I help you with something?”
“No, everything is fine. I just wanted to tell you that my maid does an excellent job. I’m not sure if it’s one or many working together, but every time I return I’m always very pleased with how my room looks and feels.”
Her eyebrows lift and the smile fills with happiness. “We have a team per floor. I will let them know you said so.”
“Please tell your management staff I said so, as well.”
“I will, sir, thank you!”
“And what is your name?”
“Taylor.”
“I always walk by, and you always wave, but I’ve never asked your name. I’m sorry about that.”
Tapping the desk I stroll away, sliding my hand in my pocket and heading for the bar. As modern barstools and a male bartender shining a wine glass comes into view I think better of it and head for the elevator.
I’m glad Dan has Emma’s number and I don’t. But if I called him when buzzed or drunk, I might force it out of him. I don’t want to lose the upper hand here. She has no idea the effect she’s having on me. I need to keep it that way.
Walking into my suite I find it pristine, as usual, and toss the Maserati’s key fob, and room’s plastic card, on an accent table by the door.
“I’ll eat here tonight. Nobody to have dinner with,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair and looking around for something to do until then. Normally I’d find someone in the bar and bring her up for a one-night joyride, but I’m not in the mood, which is peculiar. I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything.
Emptying my pockets, I hesitate, phone hovering above the coffee table like I can’t set it down. My thumb twitches over Dan’s number, and I toss it, skittering on the marble, and walk to the window.
How did this phone get in my hand again?
I was just over there.
Fuck it.
Normally I cut him off, so when I say nothing, he slowly asks, “Tanner?”
I clear my throat. “What time is our showing tomorrow?”
“You said after two. I picked 2:45 P.M..”
“Excellent. Do some digging on her.”
“Give me ten.” The line goes dead.
I pace and I pace and I pace. When my phone rings I nearly jump out of my shoes. “Well?”
“There’s virtually nothing about Emma Cocker online except for her bio on Cora’s realty website. No social media, but that goes for most of the family it seems—discovered that when I dug around. Internet searches brought up photos of her and Hannah Cocker, her cousin—paparazzi style shots of them. Candids mostly. Oh and there’s one of her at a Falcon’s game cheering for her brother Eric, the quarterback I told you about. She’s with Hannah there, too. Guess they’re pretty close. Beautiful girl.”
“Obviously,” I mutter.
“I meant Hannah. I would never call a woman you’re interested in, beautiful.”
Snorting I ask, “Scared of me are you?”
“Not a line I will ever cross,” he matter-of-factly tells me.
“Good man. And you can have Hannah. I’m not into blondes.”
“Uh yeah, I don’t think so. Don’t want to get my ass kicked. She’s with Tobias Kyrkos.”
“Who’s that?”
“The MMA fighter? Won two champion titles? I think it was two, maybe three. Never mind. You need to get out and have fun more often. Or ever. Want your messages now?”
More irritated for knowing absolutely nothing about sports I grumble, “Later. Oh, and by the way, I’ll be chartering a boat when I return. So I do get out and have fun, as you call it.”
Dan laughs as I hang up and mutter, “I really do pay him too much.”
Virtually no online identity and yet her brother is on a major football team, her cousin’s a rockstar, her uncle used to be a Senator. I seem to remember something about Jake’s father, her grandfather, being in politics, too. And her cousin Hannah is famous for what happened when she was a child. I may not know about sports but I do watch the news for the stock market and changes in the economy in general, so I catch the big stories. Hers and her father’s was truly memorable.
Staring out at Atlanta’s glittering skyline I imagine her out there, somewhere, and ask aloud, “Emma Cocker, how’d you stay sweet and unjaded surrounded by all those high-profile people? Did they shine while you watched? Or are you content just selling houses? I saw the passion for it in your eyes. Perhaps the spotlight isn’t your thing. Have to admit...I like that.”
CHAPTER 17
EMMA
A fter Mass ends, a stream of people pour outside the church’s iron doors to enjoy donuts and conversation. Aside from the singing and the silent prayers this is my favorite part. Everyone is in a good mood, which always feels nice. Plus it gives me a chance to connect with my cousins, Zoe, Samantha and Lexi. Nate and Hunter always take off right after, to who knows where, but I bet they’ll have to do confession for it.
As the sunlight hits our faces, Zoe takes my hand, green eyes dancing. “You excited you’re about to be an auntie?”
I call over to Samantha as she goes to buy us donuts, “Just the chocolate bar for me.”
“Got it!” she
