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I feel his eyes on me. The way they skirt over my body, and damn it, my body heats, wanting him to look at something he’ll never have. I’m wearing my tightest yoga pants and matching sports bra with a sweatshirt unzipped, so it doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination, but I was in the middle of practicing my new class set when Gillian called to say the realtor wanted to show the house immediately. I’d barely pulled out of the driveway before the realtor showed up with a middle-aged couple.
“I’m sorry you had to leave the house so quickly,” Gillian says, stopping me at her giant kitchen island. She tosses a bag of bread on the fancy marble counter. “The realtor said these people want into Willowbrook…” She continues talking as she grabs butter and garlic and all the ingredients for me to make garlic bread. The one recipe my mom perfected and passed on before she ran off.
I glance at Emmett, who is still watching me.
“I’m going to check on Sadie,” Jude says and flees the room.
“Yeah, I’ll join you.” Ben follows his brother. “Emmett?” He nods toward the door that leads to the porch.
Emmett shakes his head but doesn’t say anything.
“It’s fine, Gill. Thanks for letting me stay there until it sells.”
She finally pulls out a bowl and smiles at me. “Are you kidding? You’re my sister.” She runs her hand down my arm in that loving way a mother might before she turns and grabs salad fixings from the fridge. “Sorry for putting you to work, but you’re the best at garlic bread.”
“Garlic bread, huh?” Emmett says and pushes himself up on the counter, watching me intently put the butter in the bowl.
“Don’t you have something else to do?” I ask him.
“Emmett, why don’t you check if anyone needs refills on their drinks?” Gillian takes a knife to the lettuce.
The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board startles me. I look up to see Gillian’s vision only on Emmett.
“I’m not the host, your hubby is.”
“He’s not my husband,” Gillian says, her big diamond ring sparkling under the bright lights over the island.
“Practically.” Emmett shrugs. “So, Briar, what brings you back to Willowbrook?”
I cut up the garlic, not looking at him. “The yoga teacher position here on the ranch.”
“That’s right. I do love downward dog.”
“Emmett,” Gillian groans. “Ben, come get your brother,” she calls.
“Cute. You’re one of those,” I say, slicing through the garlic faster.
“One of what?” Emmett’s interest piques, and I regret engaging him.
“What’s up?” Ben walks back in and steals a cucumber from Gillian’s cutting board.
“Help Emmett get refills for everyone.”
I glance out the corner of my eye to see her give Ben a look and nod in our direction. Gillian already warned me to stay away from Emmett. That he’s the last thing I need right now. She has no idea that if Emmett was the last man on this earth, and it was up to us to recreate life, I’d knee him in the balls and push him off a cliff. Okay, that was kind of dramatic.
Emmett leans in close to my ear. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Let’s go, little brother,” Ben says, but Emmett doesn’t move.
“Hold up. I’m having a conversation with Briar.” Emmett quirks one eyebrow at me.
Why can’t he have gained fifty pounds around his middle and grown a few moles on his face? Lost a few teeth? But age has only made Emmett more muscular, more defined. His chin is a goddamn chiseled masterpiece. I bet he could hold me up against a wall and fuck all my problems away.
I still my mind and remind myself I hate the man. “You see yoga as sex positions.”
“Emmett!” Ben says louder.
Surprising me, Emmett hops down from the counter. “I just wanted to see that amazing ass of yours up in the air.”
