Chapter 12 #3
“Hey!” I greet, meeting each person in the eyes except for August. I don’t know why my brain refused at that moment, but I didn’t miss his not-so-subtle perusal of me when I walked up.
Like he’s remembering all the places he held me last night.
It makes me squirm just a bit. “Sorry, I had to walk my dog and change. I’ve got my sketch pad and plans.
” I add. “And I already know August since he’s Addie’s father, but I’d love to formally introduce myself.
” I reach my hand out to Emmett unnecessarily, it’s a small town and everyone knows everyone. But I’m trying to be polite.
“Emmett.” He introduces. “Nice to formally meet you, Evangeline.” He smiles with a kind of familiarity that says introductions are not in order.
“Just Evie is fine. Thanks for helping us out.”
“Thank you for finally joining us.” Mrs. Johnston chides.
This woman constantly exasperates me. I’m hardly late.
“We were just discussing the height of the Christmas trees and the stands that will need to be built to accommodate their height, but now that you’re here you can help Emmett and August visualize the big picture and see what can be accomplished tonight.
There’s no rush, as we have a few weeks until the program, but it's better to stay on top of things.” She turns to head out of the door and it takes all of my self-control to not make a comment just like hers about leaving for the day.
But I digress. I have a gorgeous man standing here waiting for my command.
I walk August and Emmett around the stage of the multipurpose room and do my best to help them see my vision for the space.
The big picture of it is pretty simple but it shines in its details.
August’s eyes have not dropped from me since the second I walked in and he seems to be hanging onto every word out of my mouth.
That thought makes me nervous and sends my blood coursing through my body.
But I am loving having his undivided attention.
I pull my sketch pad out to see how we can turn it into finalized schematics and I suddenly feel itchy and exposed in my tanktop. It’s then I notice that my shirt has the full attention of Emmett. August seems to notice at the same time with the scowl that’s etched into his face.
I feel bad and pull back a little, although I don’t know why. I don’t belong to August, and Emmett is perfectly single, gorgeous, hardworking, and to top it off, kind. It’s then I decide I want to work more with Emmett on this project. He seems like he’ll calm my nerves and be a good support.
“Does that set design seem to make sense?” I end my little presentation to the two of them but direct the question to Emmett.
“Evie, this set is going to be the best this town has seen! You’ve created serious art here.
” Emmett encourages and suddenly a huge weight feels like it just evaporated off of my entire body, like this program is possible and will be great.
I beam back at Emmett feeling accomplished and we haven’t even touched a hammer or nail yet.
I don’t miss August stiffen in my peripherals at this interaction.
Content that my explanation went well, August heads over to the rest of his crew members to delegate their tasks, leaving Emmett and I alone.
“Hey, we can get some work done tonight.” I suggest. “Want me to help you start on those Christmas tree stands you guys were talking about earlier?” It seems like a simple enough job that we could maybe even finish tonight and by the way he’s still smiling, Emmett seems to love that idea.
“Yeah, Evie. That sounds great. Mind helping me get a few things out of the truck that we’ll need? Then we can get started at the stage.”
“I’d love to.” We start across the room to Emmett’s truck in agreeable silence, but I can feel his gaze on me every so often so I decide to start up a conversation so I can look at him too.
Even if a slight pang of irrational guilt hits me at the thought.
“So, how long have you known the Vons?” Seems like a safe topic, and I’m nosy.
“I’ve actually known them since I was a kid.
” This surprises me because I genuinely thought Emmett wasn’t from here.
“My family used to vacation here every summer when I was growing up,” oh, “and I met the Von family while swimming at the lake one year. We hit it off, and my parents fell in love with Pine Lake. We moved here when I turned seventeen.” I’m shocked by how much of an open book this man is.
It is so refreshing. “Once I graduated, my parents realized that they only really like to vacation here, not be stuck up here. So they left and I stayed, and even though I was eighteen at that point, the Vons kind of took me in as an adopted brother. The rest is history.” Adopted brother is right, especially since he looks nothing like them.
He has a similar build, especially for all the manual labor I assume he does for work, but where the Vons are all brown hair and green eyes, Emmett has dark black hair and crushing blue eyes I could take a deep dive into.
But even with how gorgeous and sweet he is, he doesn’t turn me into putty like August does.
Emmett somehow already feels like a kindred spirit.
Like a really good, reliable friend. And I’m very hopeful about that prospect.