Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Emma scrubbed the makeup from her face, climbed into her pajamas, and pulled out a Scottish historical romance novel by her favorite author.
The one part of history she did find intriguing—the dynamics of Highlander life—instantly swept her away into a world of warring clans, divided loyalties, and a love story that would always end happily ever after.
A pounce alerted her to Riley’s presence.
Riley was an orange short-haired tabby her brother had inherited from a psycho ex-girlfriend whom Emma had never liked.
Riley was a sweet cat, the only thing good that had come from that relationship.
He kneaded his paws on her thigh, then glanced up and gave an urgent “meooooow.”
“Alright, alright. Looks as if Mason left without doing his job.”
She set her book down and moved toward the laundry room. The cat was so close to her heels that he was halfway tapping along beside her and almost under her feet. He reminded her of the cat their mom had brought home when she and Andrew were still young. Emma missed that cat… and her mom.
Her father had moved into a small condo and sold their childhood home to her brother. Andrew had taken over the master bedroom, which meant that Mason must be staying in there, one door down from her old room that she’d never quite moved out of.
As Emma leaned to fill Riley’s bowl, Mason walked in through the garage door. When he saw her, he quickly glanced away, but it wasn’t fast enough to hide the sadness and regret that ate at the corners of his tired gaze.
“Excuse me,” he said as he skirted past her and headed toward the back of the house.
His shoulders drooped as they had on the day his mentor, the football coach, had been carted off the field with a fatal heart attack. He looked utterly devastated, and she wanted to go to him and soothe the hurt, but that would only lead to more pain for her.
* * *
Emma and Mason successfully avoided each other for days.
Her priority was finding a job, so most of that time was spent scouring the internet and filling out online applications.
On the third day, she answered a call from a local department store she’d applied to.
They’d been expanding, and the owner was having difficulty managing her accounts.
The position sounded perfect, and an interview was set up for the following day.
Feeling confident, Emma left the house to hunt for a new place to live.
Even if Mason were only temporarily in her brother’s house, she couldn’t stay there indefinitely.
She loved Andrew, but as her older brother, he took it upon himself to be a little overprotective.
He had scared off most of her boyfriends. With his size and position as center of the football team, he’d dominated the halls. Everyone moved for Andrew Mitchell. Even after he’d graduated, Andrew kept tabs on her through the younger players who had admired him.
By the end of the day, she was exhausted. She’d seen rooms for rent in houses and apartments that were either above her budget or full of college students. Neither would do. She needed a quiet place with well-established people who wouldn’t be keeping her up all hours of the night.
The early darkness of the December evening closed in.
Instead of getting the winter blues, the cool, crisp air cleared her thoughts and brought clarity.
Despite her rocky start, something about being back in Charlottesville—perhaps the familiarity with the quaint little city, the friendly people, the holiday lights strung on neighbors’ homes, or picking up Chinese from her favorite takeout—was refreshing and comforting.
When she stepped into the house, Mason’s scent hung in the air and hugged her in a warm embrace. He reclined on the sofa, the book she’d almost thrown at him the other night in his hands, and Riley sprawled in his lap.
“Hey,” she said. Then she attempted to look uninterested when what she really wanted to do was curl up next to them and soak in their warmth.
“Hi,” he returned. Although not as bright as the other evening, his smile still melted her to the core.
Perhaps it was because she’d made progress in her searches and didn’t feel vulnerable now. It was also that she wanted to make amends for driving him from the house the other evening. So she held up the bag. “I picked up from Golden Noodle.”
“I’ll eat whatever you have left over.” An eager glint twinkled in his gaze.
“You won’t have to. I ordered you cashew chicken.”
His eyes practically sparkled. She used to live for moments like that. Just seeing the sheer pleasure he found in food.
“You’re the best.” He set his book on the sofa and cradled Riley, picking him up, then resettling him on a blanket nearby.
As they ate, the conversation turned to football, then Mason’s parents, then they talked about Andrew. It was natural and comfortable. Maybe it was time to let go of the past.
“I’m sorry about the other night.”
“No worries. I’d forgive you almost anything. And besides, you know the way to my heart,” he teased.
Her breath caught. Oh, how she wished she had known. She was being more serious than he could know when she asked, “What’s that?”
“Cashew Chicken.” He laughed. “Or really, any food, for that matter.”
She giggled along because it was true. Mason enjoyed food.
“Let’s start over then. I miss our friendship.” And it was true. She hadn’t let herself realize that in hoping for more with him, she’d given up on the one person she’d confided all her childhood secrets to.
They may not be destined to be together, but they would always share a special bond. She’d just have to tamp down the sexual frustration she felt around him.
They could be friends again.
She could do this.