Chapter 23
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Emma
The morning of Cassie and Derek’s wedding dawns and it’s glamorously chaotic. As soon as we arrived back from the lake last night we showered and climbed straight into bed. When I wake up and drag myself to the bathroom my hair looks like I’ve been dragged backward through a hedge.
Or, as Brooks so charmingly put it, like I’ve been fucked hard in a lake.
By nine I’m heading up to the main house with Mia for our hair and makeup appointment. Even though I’m not in the bridal party, Cassie was sweet enough to invite me to join them as they get ready, and for me to have my own appointment with her stylists.
So even though leaving Brooks felt weirdly painful, here I am, sitting in a leather chair, staring at myself in the mirror as the hairdresser attempts to tame my mangled waves.
Cassie’s family doesn’t do things halfway. They’ve created a whole salon in one of the upstairs rooms, complete with a wall of mirrors, those leather chairs that go up and down with one pump of the stylist’s feet, and a cocktail bar in the corner.
There has to be at least twenty women in here at different stages of styling. The woman next to me is having her hair put up into an elegant chignon. Mine is being tonged like it’s 1999. Next to me, Mia is drinking black coffee and groaning. Her hair is almost done, which is good because she was the last of the bridesmaids to arrive and was apparently supposed to be here an hour ago.
“I hate wine,” she tells me. “Seriously, why did it seem such a good idea to stay up so late?” She narrows her eyes at me. “I should have done what you did and snuck off early.”
“Yeah, but she only snuck off so she could have sex with her hot fiancé,” Cassie says, walking in to kiss our cheeks. She’s wearing a white silk robe and her hair and makeup are perfect. My heart clenches because she already looks gorgeous.
“Look at you,” I say, my throat thick. “You don’t look like you have any nerves at all.”
She gives me a smile. “I’m hiding them. And also, Derek came and found me this morning.”
“You’re not supposed to see the groom before the ceremony,” Mia says, her eyes wide. “Isn’t that bad luck?”
“We just needed some time together,” she says. “The two of us, alone. He woke me up and took me out on our horses to watch the sunrise. And he told me that he was so happy that it was his last sunrise as a single man, because from now on all his sunrises are mine.”
I blink, because that might be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. “No wonder you don’t have any nerves,” I say, smiling, because I’m so damn happy for her. “Especially, when he says things like that.”
“When you know you know,” Mia agrees, giving me a pointed look.
“Anyway, are you almost ready?” Cassie asks Mia. “The photographer wants to take some candids of us getting dressed.”
Mia wrinkles her nose. “What kind of candids?”
Cassie shrugs. “Just stuff like you fastening the buttons on my dress. Putting my tiara on. That kind of thing.” She rolls her eyes and looks at me. “You have all this to look forward to. I swear that woman and her assistant are everywhere. I won’t even be surprised if Derek and I are in the middle of consummating our marriage and her head pops up with a camera to her eye just to commemorate the moment.”
“You’re making it sound delightful,” I say. “Maybe we’ll just elope.” But there’s no energy in my words. I absolutely hate that I’ve lied to them. I feel like the worst imposter. Mia and Cassie are my friends. They’ve done nothing but be kind to me.
“No way,” Mia says. “There’s a line of people desperate to watch Brooks Salinger finally be made an honest man.”
“I gotta say, he looks amazing in a tux,” Cassie agrees. “And I know the whole grumpy thing doesn’t do it for everybody, but seriously, every time he scowls I think I might be in heaven.”
She’s only joking, I know that. She and Derek are so obviously made for each other. And once again, I start to think about how I’m going to tell them it was all a lie.
I’m not sure I can do it.
Maybe we’ll just agree to never tell.
I shake my head clear of the thoughts, because this is Cassie’s day and I’m determined she’s going to have the best one.
“There, you’re done,” the stylist tells me, holding a huge can of hairspray as she walks around me on each side, setting the curls. I get up and hug Cassie.
“Good luck,” I tell her. “Next time we talk you’ll be Mrs. Sinclair.”
She beams at me. “It sounds good, doesn’t it?”
brOOKS
As soon as she walks onto the veranda where all the guests are waiting it’s like somebody’s sucker punched the breath out of me. I blink, dumbstruck as she stands on the wooden boards, looking around for something, her brows pinched.
And that’s when I realize that she’s looking for me.
She’s wearing a deep blue strapless dress that clings to her body the way I did last night. It’s so tight I can see her inhale softly as she searches for me.
Her red hair is curled into tumbling waves that contrast perfectly with the milky skin on her shoulders. Her makeup is barely there, but I still imagine myself kissing the nude lip gloss off all the same.
The dress comes to a cinch at her waist, then flares out to her thighs. And she’s wearing the most intricate, strappy silver heeled shoes I’ve ever seen. I’ll never figure out how to remove them, which is just fine by me.
When she finally sees me her face lights up in a way that I know is genuine. Because one thing I’ve learned about Emma Robbins this week is that she can’t lie for shit.
I think I love that about her the most.
Before she can take another step inside the room I’m striding toward her, aware that every guy’s eye is on this beautiful woman who can turn my whole body into a neanderthal with one smile.
“Hi,” I say, taking her hand and lifting it to my lips. Apparently I’m not just a neanderthal, I’m also turning into a nineteenth century gentleman. A strange combination.
“Hi.” Her voice is breathy as she takes me in. I’m wearing the same tux I wear to every wedding, but my tie and my handkerchief are blue to match her dress. I lean forward to kiss her cheek and she smells of fucking daisies.
“What time does the ceremony finish?” I murmur in her ear.
“No idea.” She smiles at me, looking confused. “Why?”
“Because I feel a trip to our private pond coming on.”
She starts to laugh, and damn if that doesn’t make me want her even more. “Turning up to the reception looking wet and bedraggled probably won’t be the best idea.”
I pout, because why wouldn’t it? “Later then?”
She kisses me softly. “Later.”
The wait staff walks through the gathered crowd, passing out mimosas as we wait to be escorted to the carts that will take us all to the wedding venue. They want us there an hour before the ceremony, which feels like a long time, but Emma will be there, which makes it easier to endure.
A cart driver walks up and checks his clipboard. “Okay, we’re looking for Marsons, party of four, Chichester, two, and Devries and Manning.”
Emma doesn’t even flinch when Will’s name is called. I like that way too much.
For the next twenty minutes cart drivers come in calling out names. I grab another drink for us both as Emma tells me about the salon Cassie’s dad had installed for this morning.
“Can you imagine having this much money?” she asks me.
“No,” I say truthfully, though I feel weird, because my family is rich. Beyond what she probably knows.
“What would you do if you were this rich?” she asks, taking a sip of her drink.
I clear my throat. “I don’t know.” I don’t think I’d change anything, truth be told. “What would you do?”
“Buy the building off you.” She grins, and for a second I have no idea what she’s talking about.
And then I remember. The building I own. The one I’m trying to throw her out of. Just the thought leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I must look as weird as I feel, because her brows dip.
“I was just kidding. I’m sorry.” She touches my cheek and I turn to kiss her hand.
“Don’t be sorry. That’s the first thing I’d do too. Give you the building.”
“No you wouldn’t.” She shakes her head. “You’re a businessman. That’s not what businessmen do.”
Maybe not. But it’s what fiances do. It’s what good men do.
I want to be a good man. For her.
The next cart driver who walks in calls out our names, along with six others. I follow them out, Emma talking to another woman who I think she went to school with. I’m about a step behind her as I take out my phone and type out a message into the group chat I have with my brothers.
What are you all doing next week? I need you all to attend a meeting and back me up with Dad. I’ve changed my mind about the plans for the Redfern Building. – Brooks
Emma stumbles on the pathway that leads up to the waiting horse and cart. Somebody calls out her name and I can see that Tex is there, standing next to the cart behind ours.
“Hey lovebirds,” he says, a huge grin on his face. “You chosen the real ring yet?”
Emma walks over and hugs him, and once again I marvel at how lovely she is. “Nope, still wearing yours.” She leans forward to kiss his cheek. “I’ll send it back to you as soon as we get the real one.”
“You know what?” he says. “Keep it. This is the real one. Any other is just fake.”
My phone buzzes as she walks back over to the cart and I help her climb up, because those shoes she’s wearing might make me want to fuck her, but they have broken ankles written all over them. Once she’s sitting down I grab my phone and surreptitiously check the screen. There are message notifications all over it.
You never change your mind. You’re the most stubborn asshole I know. – Liam
Well that one’s probably valid. I pull up the next message.
We’re at the lake. All of us, including dad. Come join us on Monday and we can talk then. – Myles
I let out a breath. I was hoping we could do it by video conference. Mostly because I want to be close to Emma. But whatever, if I have to travel to Virginia to tell them I’m giving Emma the building then so be it.
Bring your swimsuit. The kids are here and they miss their Uncle Brooks. – Eli
I miss their Uncle Brooks too. – Holden
That one makes my throat feel tight. I’ve spent the last couple of years avoiding my brothers. Sure, I’ve been busy with work, but it’s more than that. It’s been this feeling that I’m different to them. That I’ll never have what they have.
Emma snuggles against me as the driver shakes the reins and the horses start to move. One final message appears on my phone. This one is from Linc, outside of the group chat.
I assume this is about Emma. And I assume that you’ve figured out that you’re in love with her. Everybody’s asking me questions. I’m not telling them shit, but they’re going to find out. And I’m happy for you, man. Whatever you want to do about the building, I’m on your side. We’ll make it work. – Linc
My throat feels tight as I turn to look at Emma. She’s laughing about something with the woman sitting opposite us.
“Want to go to Virginia when we leave here?” I ask her.
There’s a smile still playing on her lips when she turns to look at me. “You’re not heading straight to New York?”
“No. I need to make a pit stop.”
“Why Virginia?” she asks me.
“My family is there. I want you to meet them.”
Her gaze catches mine and I feel lost in the depth of her eyes. “You do?”
I nod, a smile on my own lips. Because they’re going to love her. More than they love me, but that’s okay. I feel that way about all my brother’s wives.
“I need to get back to Granddad,” she says, her brows knitting. “When we left him…”
There were fucking boxes everywhere. I wince, because I know she’s right.
“Shut up the shop. He can come with us.”
“Just like that…” she murmurs. “If only.”
“I’ll buy some books. All the books. Whatever.” I need her there with me. The thought of not having her close makes me feel anxious. I have no idea why, but it’s the truth. “You won’t lose any revenue. I promise.”
“I’ll come next weekend. Or the weekend after. I just need to get back to the shop first,” she says. The firmness in her voice tells me there’s no persuading her otherwise. “I already feel bad for being gone this weekend.” She nudges my shoulder with hers. “And anyway, won’t it be nice to see your family without me?”
“No,” I say grumpily and she laughs softly. “I want you with me.”
“You’ll have me. Next weekend. I promise.”
I let out a breath, because I know this woman. She may be an angel but she’s also got a spine of steel. “Okay. But after that we need to come up with a plan.”
“What kind of plan?” she asks me.
“One where I get to see you more than once a week because I’m not doing this long distance.”
She runs the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip. “I can’t move to New York.”
Yeah, I know that. And on paper I can’t move out of New York. But something has to give. I can’t go back to the life I used to live. Not after I’ve seen how good life could be with her.
I kiss the tip of her nose, then her jaw. “We’ll work it out,” I promise. Right after I’ve spoken with my brothers. “Trust me.”
The corner of her lip quirks. “Strangely enough, I do.”