So I drive in silence, not wanting to sully the rebuilding of her strength and self-worth with aimless chit-chat. I feel her sneaking looks at me but I don’t meet her eyes. Instead my knuckles tighten on her leather steering wheel. It’s not long before she instructs me to slow down and points to a home I know is not going to work. It looks dreary and abandoned. The paint is fine, but the trees are too many in number.
Being a practical man I consider telling her this is a waste of time. But I’m not practical when I’m around this woman, and she needs this. I spring out of the car and call out, “Don’t you dare!” as she starts to open her door. She waits with a flash in her eyes.
Offering my hand I smirk, “It’s so confusing letting a man be a man.”
“It is,” she frankly admits, eyeing me. “But I don’t mind it.”
“You just got angry. I saw it.”
“Habits die hard, that’s all.” Smoothing down the lovely red dress she wore to work today she gazes at the house and frowns. “Mr. Hamilton, the photos did not look this bad. And this home I haven’t personally toured but I did study up on it so let me show you what’s good about it.”
“I can’t wait.”
Her gait is much stronger as we walk inside and she expertly rattles off intricate details with dates attached to each and every one. As the tour ends in the backyard she inhales and announces, “While I’ve gathered clues regarding your tastes and preferences, you’ve kept pretty quiet about exactly what you’re looking for so I’m not certain what that is. But as your realtor, I have to look out for your best interests. I do not believe this property is the right choice.”
Sliding my hands into my pockets I tilt my head. “Oh?”
“I’m afraid that’s my opinion. I think you can do better. But what do you think? Is this what you’re looking for?”
I know she means the house, but I’m thinking of her question in regards to her. Truth is, I don’t think I could do better than this sweet, quiet strength I see staring back from those whiskey eyes.
“You’re right, Ms. Cocker. We saw better houses for my purposes. I appreciate your honesty.” Flicking a glance to the sun I think for a moment and run my tongue along my teeth. “I wasn’t going to tell you this. Dan is the only person on Earth who knows. But I do want to share it with you.” I pause while she patiently waits for me to work it out. “Maybe it’s because I know you’ll respect my plan and I want to impress you. Or perhaps it’s because I feel as though we haven’t just recently met, like I’ve known you longer than this brief period of time. That I can trust you. That you’re…a friend. I’m not sure. Meeting you, I’ve been confronted with feelings that are unknown to me, so excuse me while I ramble.”
“You sound so cold when you talk about feelings, like a scientist observing an experiment.”
“Do I?” I frown. “I guess it’s not a subject I broach often. Hmmm.”
We stare at each other as birds chirp in the overgrown trees around us. Her smile is kind as she asks, “Are you going to tell me or…?”
Blinking to the ground I rake my hair back. “Oh, I haven’t, have I?”
“No.”
I inhale deeply on a frown. “I have anonymously hired a team in town to interview social workers. They’ve been doing it for weeks. Also interviewing volunteers because, while they will be paid, if someone is willing to work hard for nothing they’ll work harder for something. We’ve been looking into teachers who will work part time and split shifts. The bookkeeping will be handled by my company’s accountants until I find local businesses I can trust. Piece by piece I’m building an orphanage that will double as a school teaching grades pre-school through sixth. Even when the children get placed in a home they will continue their learning here so they keep their friendships and their special needs, battling feelings of abandonment and other challenges, will be accommodated by professionals who know how.” Emma’s lips part in surprise. My eyebrow cocks as I wait for her to say something. When she doesn’t, I smirk, “Did you think these enormous homes were intended just for me?”
Her eyes say yes, but she shakes her head. “No, I didn’t think that.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
She blushes and instantly I want to kiss her. So I pull her to me, expecting her to object. But she melts into my arms and stares up at me like I’m a hero. “That’s why I wanted you to know. The way you’re looking at me now. What man wouldn’t want this feeling?”
Tracing my face with searching tenderness, Emma confesses “I heard that you were ruthless.”
“I was, once.”
“What changed?”
“Later. Right now I have to kiss you.” Crushing my lips to hers the lightning I felt before is multiplied by thousands. She gasps into the kiss, feeling the electricity too, and rises up on her tiptoes, arms softly encircling my neck as the kiss becomes more passionate and puzzling. I’ve been with so many women, but her I feel in my pores. She moans and I marvel at the sound, embracing her closer. I want to hear her purr.
CHAPTER 24
EMMA
I catch my
