I gaze at her, a little stunned as Emma rises up and grabs a grape from the fruit bowl, peeling it with her thumb.
“That’s an incredible idea. I’ll do it.” Standing up I shout at the house, “DAN!”
He comes jogging out, eyebrows raised. “Yeah?”
“I’ve got a new project for you, come here!” Over my shoulder to Emma I smirk, “He’s going to either love you or hate you for this.”
“I can take the heat.”
“Oh, I know you can.”
My assistant joins us, curious. “What’s up?”
I’m about to launch into it when I see a beautiful brunette in a biker jacket, jean short-shorts, black boots, and a motorcycle helmet under her arm, appear in the back doorframe. “What the hell is this I hear about my Emma getting engaged?!”
Emma screams, “Sofia!” and they run into each other’s arms, laughing and bouncing around like teens.
Dan mutters from the corner of his mouth, “Someone should film that. My heart just stopped.”
Laughing I cross my arms and wait for the introduction. Emma grabs her cousin’s hand, asking, “Did you see the house? Isn’t it perfect?”
“I only saw some of the first level, but it’s better than the image I had in my mind, from what you described to me on the phone. Give me a tour?”
“Absolutely.” Emma turns to me, whiskey eyes shining with happiness. “Tanner Hamilton, this is the wild child of my cousins—Sofia Sol Cocker.”
I extend a hand and she shakes it, grey eyes scrutinizing me.
“Yes, you’re Jett’s daughter. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Probably not everything,” she smirks. “So Emma found herself a swanky sophisticate with a heart of gold. Hmmm.” Circling me like a panther, Sofia continues to hum while checking the stock I’m made of.
One of my eyebrows is cocked as I wait, eyeing Emma like, Is this really happening?
She stifles a grin, biting her lip. “What do you think, Soph?”
“Not bad. Not bad. I have to say I’m not surprised.”
Both Emma and I ask, “Oh?”
Sofia plants herself in front of me, next to my fiancé, and holds her helmet in front of her with both hands comfortable around its middle, like a pregnant woman holding her baby. “I knew the man you’d choose wouldn’t be a child. And he’d have to scare your brothers a little, too. But look at those eyes…smart, aren’t you?”
“I’m no slouch,” I confirm.
“You’ll do.” Turning her attention to Dan, Sofia gives him a wink and strolls over. “You’re a cutie. Who’re you?”
“I’m his executive assistant, Daniel.”
“Daniel, is it?” I smirk. He shoots me a look.
Ignoring my teasing him, Sofia Sol boldly running her fingers down Dan’s cheek. “Such a sweet face. What are you doing tonight?”
His eyes widen. “Uh…uh…”
Emma and I share a look, but she’s not surprised like I am. Even still, I don’t hesitate to speak for him. “He’s taking you to dinner, aren’t you, Dan?”
Flicking a glance from me to her he straightens up. “Anywhere you want to go.”
Giving him a sexy grin she pats his chest, “Perfect, now I’m ready for that tour. Ready, Emm?” Setting down the helmet, she takes Emma’s offered hand and they stroll into the house talking about all that I’ve been doing with the place.
Dan and I stand here, watching until they disappear. We both run a hand through our hair at the same time and exchange a look before I wag a finger at his tablet. “Time to take notes. We need a new team to oversee forming a coalition. It’s not first priority. This house comes first. But after we’re settled and our kids are past the first stages of acclimation, feeling safe, that’s when we’ll be reaching out to the other orphanages and schools who work with them to see if we can’t all work together to make a difference.”
Dan mutters, staring at the table, “Sure. Dinner. Eight o’clock. Have any food allergies?”
Rolling my eyes I groan, “Oh great.”
CHAPTER 42
EMMA
“T urn right at the light,” I tell Tanner with a squeeze of his leg, wind whipping my ponytail back.
“We going to your brother’s?” he asks, slowing the car for the turn. “Or Hannah’s.”
“No, just a short cut.”
He smiles, “Good, I’ve been looking forward to this time. Just us.”
“Me too.” I gaze at the greenery flying by as we make our way up the quiet Buckhead street my family lives on. “Slow down close to Ethan’s. I want to wave if they’re in the front yard.”
“You got it,” he says, sun shining on his relaxed profile until we both look over, “See them?”
“Um…no, but keep going slow in case Hannah’s in her yard. They’re just up a few houses so I—”
“I know where she lives,” he smirks, but then his eyebrows twitch as he spots the For Sale sign on a lovely brick house, deeply inset from the street behind a gorgeously kept, bright green lawn. Glancing to me he notices the mischief in my eyes for the first time. “Oh you little sneak.”
A grin breaks loose as I bounce in my chair. “Turn turn turn! Let’s check it out!”
Tanner laughs, spinning the wheel. “I’m guessing you just happen to have the access code, too, don’t you? Or are the owners here?”
“They moved out last month because the house was in escrow with another buyer, different agency, but it fell through! Tobias called and told me he saw the ‘sold’ tag disappear, that’s what made me check it out.”
“Give me a minute,” he chuckles, and removes his sunglasses while throwing on the emergency brake and eyeing the two-story. He jumps out and strolls around the car to open my door.
Hand in hand we walk up the charming stone path that leads to a red front door. I unlock it with my app as Tanner surveys the wide porch.
“Needs a hammock,” he muses. “Did you already see inside?”
“No! I waited for you. We might hate it.”
“We might,” he mumbles, kicking
