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“It’s still new,” Maxine chimes in. “It’s nice to meet you at last, Emily. Sam has told me so much about you.” Her face lights up while she talks about my brother. Sam leans in and kisses her cheek. They look so sweet together. I’m so happy Sam found someone who makes him happy.
“I need to take Maxine home. We’ll talk when I get back.” I nod and watch them go.
I head back into the kitchen to finish making breakfast. Russell looks at me with curiosity and asks, “Did your mom really try to force you to marry a stranger?”
“She sure did. The only reason she let me go off to college is because she thought it would be a great place to meet a husband.” She is the absolute worst.
“That’s rough,” he says with a sigh.
“Tell me about.” Now I’m finally free.
“It takes a lot of courage to stand up for what you want. You should be proud of yourself.” My cheeks flush at his compliment.
“Thank you. I am,” I say, dishing out eggs onto our plates with bacon. Our breakfast smells amazing. My stomach is rumbling.
“Mind if we Watch Magnum PI while we eat?” he flashes me that damn lopsided grin.
“Of course you watch Magnum PI.” I giggle, shaking my head. “Explains the mustache.” I tease.
“Tom Selleck has nothing on me.” He wiggles his mustache at me. Now that I have seen Russell and his stache, he looks a lot sexier.
“I’ll give you that. You are sexier.” It’s out of my mouth before I can stop myself. My brain and my mouth are not working together around this man. I’m awarded with another sexy grin.
“I’m telling everyone the prettiest woman in the world thinks I’m sexier than Tom Selleck.” This man has me crushing hard. I could be in big trouble with Russ.
four
Russell
I pull up to the house with excitement bubbling over to see Emily. She’s only been here for a couple of weeks and life seems brighter with her around. I’m eager to come home after my shift, knowing I’ll get to see her smiling face. I only get to see her for a few hours during the day. It’s the best part of my day. My favorite time is in the morning. Sam spends most nights at Maxine’s. Which means I get Emily all to myself in the morning. We dance and sing while making breakfast. While we eat, she tells me about her adventures abroad and shows me the photos she takes around town. Last weekend I turned the shed in the backyard into a dark room so she could develop her film. Sometimes I’ll sit out there with her, watching as images come to life on paper. Her photographs are incredible. She is so damn talented. I’m in complete awe of her. Emily is smart and talented and gorgeous as hell. And out of my league. That will not keep me from going after what I want. And I want Emily.
The only thing that could get in my way is Sam. I know he wants the best for his sister. It’s my job to prove to him I can be that for Emily. I want to do everything in my power to help make all of her dreams come true.
When I step inside the house, I am greeted by the scent of cinnamon and vanilla. I leave my bag by the door and follow the smell into the kitchen. Emily is bent over the open oven, pulling out a baking dish with what looks to be cinnamon rolls. Our eyes connect as she sets the hot dish on top of the stove. A sweet grin tugs at her lips as she eyes me. I love those pretty blues on me.
“Hi Russell.” That sweet, raspy voice sends a wave of pleasure straight to my dick. “You are just in time for a fresh from the oven cinnamon bun.” She closes the oven door, then grabs the bowl of icing and pours it over the warm rolls. She makes doing the simplest things look so damn sexy. I could watch her type on her typewriter and get turned on. That’s the effect this woman has on me. She’s got me by the heartstrings and the balls and I am okay with that.
“They smell amazing. Kind of like the ones Mrs. Davis makes at Christmas time.”
“It’s her recipe,” she tells me. Making my mouth fall open in shock.
“How did you get her to give it to you? I have been trying for years to get it from her.” Her response is always, “You’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.”
“A few days ago, a couple of her cats were in the backyard and I took some pictures of them. I took them to Mrs. Davis, and she loved them. So much so that she asked if I could take some of all her cats.” She dishes out one roll and slides over to me. “While I was there, she gave me a cinnamon roll. I mention how I wanted to learn how to make cinnamon rolls, and she offered to teach me.”
“You are a miracle worker, buttercup.” She lights up at the nickname. I notice she doesn’t dish up a cinnamon roll for herself. “Aren’t you having one?”
“I can’t stay for breakfast this morning.” My heart aches at the news. “The Boston Globe called and they want me to submit a new piece.” Emily has been submitting her portfolio to several papers and magazines all over the country. She has her sights set on the job at the Boston Globe. It’s one of her favorite cities and it’s a quick plane ride from Pine Grove.
“That has to be a good sign, right?”
“I hope so. As long as I can nail this idea that I have.” She takes off her apron and I get my first full look at her. Damn, she’s wearing those cute as hell denim short overalls. The ones from the picture I stole. Yeah, I stole one of Emily’s photos. She left them out one morning and in the stack there was one of her in those overalls. Only in those overalls. She was taking a picture of herself in a mirror. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and you could see the curve of her breast peeking out the side. She had a goofy grin on her face. She looked so damn cute. So, I took it. I keep it in my wallet. When nights at the firehouse get quiet and lonely, I look at it. Dreaming of a life with Emily as my wife.
“What’s the idea?”
“I will tell you all about it tonight.” She grabs her bag then stops next to me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Enjoy the cinnamon rolls.” Then she’s out the door. I rub my hand along my cheek. Her kiss lingering on my skin. I’m falling hard for this woman. It’s time I talk to Sam.
As if he could hear my thoughts, Sam comes out of his bedroom with a yawn. “Was that Emily I heard leaving?”
