Chapter 44
Emma didn’t relaxuntil the men returned. When Blaze walked back into the Dawg, looking the same as when he’d left, relief made her sag into her chair.
He was fine. Simon hadn’t been there. She knew he hadn’t by the way Blaze swaggered over to the table. If Simon had broken in, Blaze would look a whole lot angrier. And satisfied, maybe, because they would have caught him.
There was a woman with Kane. Slightly built, red hair twisted into a knot at the base of her neck. She carried a backpack slung over one shoulder and… was that a lantern?
Kane pulled out a chair for her. She took a seat, looking apprehensive.
“Hi,” Emma said, holding her hand across the table. “I’m Emma Sutton.”
“Daphne Bryant.”
Kane plunked beside Daphne, looking for all the world like a bear with a tooth ache. A big, grumpy, protective bear. “Order anything you like,” he said as he dragged a menu across the table and put it in front of her.
Blaze sat down and put his mouth close to Emma’s ear.
“She lost her job at the motel and has nowhere to stay. She broke in and set up a place to sleep in the front apartment on the third floor.”
“Oh,” Emma breathed. “Poor girl.”
“You think she’s from around here?”
“She didn’t grow up in town if that’s what you mean. Could have moved here at any point in the last ten years and I wouldn’t know her. Rory would, though. I can ask her.”
“Thanks, Sunshine.”
“Where will she stay tonight? She could have my place if there’s nowhere else.”
“Not a good idea while Simon’s out there. We’ll make sure she has shelter.”
Nikki came over to take Daphne’s order, and Emma excused herself to go talk to Rory.
“Nope, never saw her before.” Rory peered across the room. “You said she was cleaning rooms at the motel?”
“Yep.”
“Not everyone comes to the Dawg. I’d have remembered if she had with that hair.” Rory arched an eyebrow. “Looks like Kane’s decided to be her personal protector. Or he wants in her pants.”
Emma shot a look at the table. Kane was still hovering like a mother hen. He’d stopped flirting with Nikki for the time being, which had her pouting as she threw him looks whenever she walked by with an order.
“He’s flirty, that one,” Emma said. “Took me on a tour of the range and had me giggling like I was twelve.”
Rory looked amused. “How did Blaze take that?”
“I didn’t tell him. But it was before we’d started, uh, doing anything. So I doubt he’d care.”
“Oh, I bet he would.” Rory jumped then pulled her phone from her pocket. The screen lit up and she smiled.
“The engineer?”
“Yes.”
“You planning to tell me his name?”
Rory grinned as she thumbed a reply. “Casey Kyle. He’s very sweet, always checking up on me. I wish you could have met him tonight.”
“Me too. How’s the test going?”
“Boring. He wishes he were here.”
“Seems like you really like him.”
“Like I said, I’m taking it slow. He’s nice. Good-looking, but not rugged the way those One Shot guys are. He’s more of an indoor cat, I think.”
Emma laughed. “You’re saying Blaze and his friends are outdoor cats?”
“Scrappy toms who mark their territory and fight tooth and nail. Casey has glasses. And his hands are soft. I don’t think he’s ever thrown a punch in his life.”
“But does he make you spark inside?”
Rory shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t let him kiss me yet.”
“But you’re attracted to him, right?”
“Duh! He’s very attractive. Not too tall, a little bit stocky, but fit. Brown hair with some red in it, a beard, tanned, perfect teeth. I want to kiss him, but I don’t want to ruin anything. That’s why we’re going slow. He’s fine with it by the way. He’s been burned in love, too. His ex-girlfriend cheated on him with a guy she’d just met. Moved in with the guy and everything.”
Emma didn’t like the way that sounded. “He’s not on the rebound, is he?”
Rory swiped the bar with a towel. “It happened over a year ago. He’s just dipping his toe in the dating pool again.”
“Well, be careful. He might have baggage.”
Rory’s eyes flashed. “Of course he does, Idgy! But so do I. That’s why we’re perfect for each other. Neither of us want to get hurt again.”
Emma didn’t want her friend to see her doubt, so she smiled instead. “Okay, Ror, but don’t give up passion and heat for safe and boring.”
Rory frowned. “There’s nothing wrong with safe.”
“No, there’s not.” Emma put her hand over Rory’s on the bar, stopping the motion of the towel. “But safe can also be exciting. It shouldn’t be boring.”
“Speaking of excitement…” Rory waggled her eyebrows. “How is Mr. Tall, Dark, Sexy, Broody in the sack?”
The subject change was lightning fast, but Emma understood. She wasn’t going to keep pushing.
“Not giving you details, Ror. I told you that.”
“Fine, no details. But is he at least, you know, a decent lay? Knows his way around the lady bits? Not afraid to kiss the kitty?”
Emma cursed the pale skin that made every blush noticeable.
Rory cackled.
“You did that on purpose,” Emma said.
“Yep. Now answer the questions. Vaguely is fine.”
“Okay, yes,” Emma said, pitching her voice low so the people nearby couldn’t hear. “He knows his way around, not afraid of the kissing. And he’s in no hurry for any of it. He’s very thorough.”
“Yep, I’m jealous. But who knows? Maybe Casey will prove himself quite adept when the time comes.”
“Or you could saddle up Chance Hughes and go for a ride. Just dropping it out there.”
Rory sighed. “Emma Grace, I love you, but you gotta let that idea go. I’m not letting a guy who pisses me off so thoroughly, who’s such a jerk, get anywhere near my bits. It might be worth the annoyance in the short term if he’s as hot in bed as he looks, but never in the long-term.”
Her gaze drifted over to where Chance was standing with his arm against the wall, leaning toward a woman whose back was to it. She laughed as he said something, and he trailed a finger over her jaw and into her hair where he twisted a long blond lock.
“Ugh, see? Total player. I’m sure he says all the right things, but he doesn’t really feel any of them.”
Emma lifted both hands and shook her head. “You win. I won’t mention it again. I can’t wait to meet Casey. Whenever you’re ready to share him, I mean.”
Rory smiled and leaned over the bar to loop an arm around Emma’s neck. “Thank you, babe. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“Now get back to your man and stop interrupting me while I’m working.”
“You only say that because I won’t share details.”
Rory grinned and shooed her away. Emma made her way back to Blaze. He stood at her approach and folded her into the circle of his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
She wanted it to be this way always. Wanted to walk into his embrace in public, kiss him, and know he was hers. But she’d have to take what she could get, which was this moment right now.
She had to be happy with that.
Emma looped her arms around his waist, uncaring who saw them. She didn’t feel that itch on her skin, and she wasn’t worried about Simon. Even if he was there, Blaze would protect her. She believed it with her whole heart.
The warm-up band started to play a slow song, and Blaze led her to the dance floor. Then he pulled her in close, breast to hip to thigh, and swayed to the music without ever taking his eyes off hers.
She could feel the eyes of envious women following them. Wondering what Blaze must see in her. Wondering how long it would last. She wondered how long it would last, too. How she’d manage to come to the Dawg when it was over and see him with someone else.
“You’re thinking awfully hard, Sunshine. Everything all right?”
She pasted on a smile. “Everything is perfect.”
“Liar. I can tell when the smile isn’t real, you know.”
No, she didn’t know. And she didn’t know what she thought about it. Was she bad at hiding her feelings, or was Blaze very good at reading people?
“I was thinking there are a whole bunch of women in this place who wonder what the heck you’re doing with me.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
She nodded.
“If they wonder that, then they’re either blind or just plain dumb. You’re perfect, Emma. Remember that.”
This time her smile wasn’t fake. “Hardly perfect.”
“Mmm, true. You hogged the covers last night. That’s a serious flaw.”
“I could go back to the guest room if it helps.”
He frowned, clouds chasing across his eyes. “You may want to if I have another nightmare.”
Her heart ached for him as she put a hand on his cheek. “If you have another nightmare, I’ll be right there with you. You don’t have to go through it alone, and I won’t push you to talk about it.”
He curled his hand into hers, pressed his lips to her palm, and bent to kiss her right there on the dance floor. “Thanks, Sunshine.”