Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Emerson
I awoke to the morning sun beaming through the window. Rolling over, I stared at the beauty of the vineyards that graced the area.
“Hi, Emily. Mom and Dad. I’m doing okay. I’m here in Napa, sis. Just like we always talked about. It’s so beautiful here. Well, from what I can see out the window. I just got in last night and haven’t had a chance to explore yet, but I will as soon as I get some coffee and get dressed. Give me a sign that you’re here with me.”
Climbing out of bed, I showered, got dressed, and popped a k-cup in the Keurig they so graciously provided in the room. As the coffee filled the cup, there was a knock on the door.
“Room service.”
I frowned. They must have the wrong room. Opening the door, I froze when I saw Alex standing there with a cart.
“Alex, what the?—”
“Good morning, Emerson.” The corners of his mouth curved into a smile.
“What are you doing here?”
“I brought you breakfast. I hope you haven’t eaten already.”
“You came all the way from Malibu to bring me breakfast?”
“Something like that.” He winked. “Are you going to let me in, or will we stand here and debate while our breakfast gets cold.”
I waved my hand and stepped aside, letting him inside the cottage. I couldn’t help but let out a light laugh as I watched him wheel the cart in.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. Wheeling that cart in like you’re the help. How did you know where I was?”
“I have my ways, Emerson. Since you refused to tell me last night, I had no choice but to do some digging on my own. Now come and eat.”
“What if I don’t want you here?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes at him.
“You do.” He smirked.
“No, actually, I don’t. Do you not remember our conversation yesterday?”
“Yes. I remember it well. Now sit down and eat.”
I walked over to the table where he had set the plates of food. He removed the metal cover, revealing a plate of eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and toast. He picked up the carafe and poured coffee into the white ceramic mug.
“Thank you,” I spoke as I sat down.
“You’re welcome.”
Placing the napkin on my lap, I looked at Alex.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“Why not?”
“Did it ever occur to you that I left to get away from you?”
He shrugged. “Yes, and I away from you. But the truth is you’re glad I’m here,” he smugly spoke. He looked around the cottage. “This is very nice. I approve.”
“It’s all they had available.”
“Nice bed. Is it comfortable?”
“Very comfortable. I slept like a baby last night.”
He took a bite of his eggs. “Good. Then I’m happy to know I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.”
My eyes darted up at him as I grabbed my coffee. “Excuse me? You aren’t sleeping in that bed. If you plan on staying, you better get your own room.”
“Can’t. They don’t have anything available, and since I’m paying for this room, I’ll be sleeping in that bed right there.”
I laughed. “I’m paying for this room. This is my room.”
“Correction, Emerson. I’m paying for this room. I gave Noelle my credit card and told her to charge the entire stay on it.”
“Who the fuck is Noelle?”
“Who the fuck is Felicia?” He grinned.
“You really do live in your own little uptight world. Don’t you?”
“Yes. I suppose I do. Noelle is the blonde at the front desk.”
“Ah. I see. So, she told you what cottage I was in. Isn’t that against policy or something? What if you were here to murder me?”
“Money talks, baby. I slipped her a hundred for the info.”
“Did you just call me ‘baby’?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Yeah. Don’t take it too seriously. It’s just part of the phrase.” He winked, and suddenly, my panties melted.
“You can’t steal my lines.” I pointed my fork at him.
He chuckled. “So, what are we doing today?”
“I’m going to explore Napa. I don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Guess I’m exploring Napa with you.”
I sighed and then looked down. Placing my napkin on the table, I got up from my seat.
“Today’s not really a good day, Alex, and I prefer to spend it alone.”
He got up from his chair and walked over to me. “I know what today is.”
“How?”
He didn’t answer me. His eyes stared into mine, and I knew at that moment how he knew where I was.
“Oh, my God! Adam told you, didn’t he? He told you I was here.”
“I promised I wouldn’t say. But he didn’t want you to be alone.”
“He didn’t want? What about what I want? Damn him!”
Alex clasped my shoulders. “If you really want me to go, I will.”
His scent. That damn scent got me every time. Fuck my pheromones.
“You came all the way here, so you might as well stay. By the way, how did you get here?”
The corners of his mouth curved up. “There’s these things, and they’re called planes. Maybe you heard of them.”
I smacked his chest and smiled as he pulled me into him.
“Emerson, I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“You suck, Parker. But apology accepted.” I smiled up at him.
“Are you going to tell me who Felicia is?”
“Are you still on that?” I reached for my phone, googled “Bye, Felicia,” and handed it to him.
His eyebrow arched as he read the definition aloud from the Urban Dictionary site. “When someone says that they're leaving and you could really give two shits less that they are. Their name then becomes ‘Felicia,’ a random bitch that nobody is sad to see go. Their real name becomes irrelevant because nobody cares what it really is. Instead, they now are ‘Felicia.’ I think I’m insulted.”
“You should be.” I grinned.
He leaned in, his lips mere inches from mine, his scent soaking my panties. “I think I need to kiss that sassy mouth of yours.”
“Oh yeah? What if I don’t want you to,” I whispered.
“You do.” His lips softly brushed against mine.
Our soft kiss became passionate as our tongues met once again. The ache below was fierce, and I was on fire, wanting to feel him inside of me. Suddenly, I heard something. I broke our kiss and stared at him.
“Do you hear that?” A smile beamed across my face.
“Hear what?”
“Come on!” I grabbed his hand and flew out the door.
“Emerson, stop. We’re going to get wet.”
“Alex, it’s raining. The rain was my and Emily’s thing. We loved it,” I spoke as we stood on the cobbled walkway in front of the gardens while the rain fell down on us. I began to turn in a circle, holding my hands up to the sky with a smile across my face. “This is because of Emily. I asked her earlier to give me a sign that she was here. This is her sign.” I smiled as I looked at Alex.
“Of course, she’s here with you.” He took hold of my hand.
The smile never left me as I looked up at the sky, letting the rain hit my face.
“Come on.” I pulled him behind me.
“Where are we going?”
“For a walk in the rain. Sometimes, Emily and I would walk until it stopped. We always said that the rain washed away the sins of the past. It cleansed our souls, so to speak.”
“Do you think that maybe we can grab an umbrella?”
I looked at him and shook my head. “No, Alex. Don’t you see the beauty of the rain?”
“Umm. I don’t see what the beauty is in getting soaking wet.”
I sighed.
“You take a shower, right?”
“Of course.”
“Why do you take showers?”
He stared at me blankly. “To get clean.”
“Exactly! The rain is pure. A gift from God. It cleanses the land, helps things grow.” I let go of his hand and started walking backward so I was facing him. “You take a shower or bath to cleanse your body, but you walk in the rain to cleanse your heart and soul.”
“Oh,” he spoke.
I laughed. “Feel the rain. Lift your hands up and feel how it falls on them.” I took his hands and faced them upwards. A small smile fell upon his lips as he stared at me. “I’m sure your soul needs a lot of cleansing. Take it all in, Parker.”
“Thanks, Emerson.” He frowned.
I laughed as I let go of his hands and picked up the pace in front of him. Before I knew it, he came up from behind and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. I stopped, placing my hands on his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking in all the beauty.” He kissed my cheek.