Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Emery
I was so done. Two years of my damn life I’d devoted to that bastard, and it had been one year and three hundred and sixty-four days too many.
I was only giving him a day’s concession because my birthday wasn’t over.
In fact, I was going to go out as planned, because when my friends from work had found out that the lowlife I’d been engaged to had screwed me over for a woman—complete with a hefty divorce settlement to invest and a seven-bedroom palace on Mercer Island—they’d all decided on a night out.
And the bastard hadn’t even been honest about the reason why.
The lie had hurt. Kids had never been a thing.
Being a guy didn’t mean we couldn’t have a family.
It had come up in a very frank conversation when we’d started dating.
I didn’t want a surrogate because my own childhood had been no picnic, thanks to a set of parents who wanted a child as if it was a fashion accessory, and my mother had no intention of giving up her martini lunches or gaining—shudder—stretch marks.
I couldn’t do that, and I certainly wanted a family, but adoption, duh?
Then, when Graeme had proposed a year ago to this very day, and he’d taken me out to a ridiculously expensive restaurant on my birthday and had gotten down on one knee, he’d finally hinted that starting a family might be something we should talk about.
I’d pointed out that the adoption of newborns was expensive and difficult, and I didn’t like the thought of surrogacy, but I’d be very interested in fostering to adopt, as there were thousands of older kids that didn’t have a home.
Graeme had simply said he was happy with whatever I wanted.
Yeah, right.
But right up until yesterday morning, when Graeme tried to blame our split on my lack of family values, I’d believed him.
What a crock of complete shit. I knew damn well he had dollar signs on his mind, not what color to paint the nursery.
Not for the first time in the last twenty-four hours, I thanked my lucky stars I’d found out what a complete ass he was before I let him put a ring on it.
There were to be seven of us going out in the end.
We’d decided to meet locally in Minton, just north of Ellensburg, because three of us had no transport, and Gemma’s uncle owned a small bar called Molly’s with a live band that her younger brother played in.
Frankly, I didn’t care where I went. In fact, I was done with expensive restaurants and smart suits for the foreseeable future.
Graeme hated me in jeans, and that was exactly what I was going to wear, along with more eyeliner than I was probably comfortable with because I felt like doing it.
You rebel you. I arched one darkened eyebrow humorously at myself.
At the last second, I grabbed a few tissues in case the fluttery feeling in my insides wasn’t excitement but the start of something I’d picked up from any one of the thirty kids I’d been up close and personal with this week, and I raced to the door when I heard the cab.
“Evening, Mr. Valentine.” Henry Nesbit smiled and opened the cab door for me.
I grinned good-naturedly at my cab driver.
Cab drivers weren’t usually so gallant, but Henry’s five-year-old granddaughter was in my kindergarten class, and since Henry’s son and daughter-in-law had gotten a divorce, Maisie had all sorts of issues to work through, and I’d done my best to help.
But today wasn’t only my birthday but the official start of summer vacation, which was perfect because I was going to need the full eight weeks to sort my life out.
“So, does this mean you’re staying in Minton?” Gemma asked as we wound our way through the crowd to the table. I could see Valerie Smith, my vice-principal, and Danny Jacobson, my teaching assistant, both already sitting there.
Danny’s eyebrows rose as we both sat down. “You’re staying in Minton?”
“I don’t know. I gave up my lease.” Because Graeme’s house was much bigger, and he had three dogs, which would’ve been impossible in my tiny apartment, but the move had also meant giving up my job.
My first call after Graeme had stormed out of my apartment yesterday had been to Rick Sanchez, the principal of Minton Woods Elementary School.
Rick had been outraged for me, but my replacement had already signed a contract, and our small school had no openings.
My new job was in Bellevue, which meant a two-hour commute each way, technically possible but miserable for anything other than short-term.
Still, Rick was likely to know if there were any opportunities nearer before they became official.
The waitress appeared, and much to my delight, we all ordered a round of cocktails to start the night off.
I was so ready to forget everything, and three more friends I worked with showed up.
After a second round, I was starting to enjoy myself.
In fact, at one point, Gemma dragged me onto the tiny dance floor until I cried off, needing water after ten minutes.
I collapsed onto one of the chairs and started fanning myself with a small coaster that was nowhere big enough.
Hell, I should’ve been fitter than this.
Gemma sat down next to me. “If I didn’t know you were only twenty-five and a guy, I’d say it was your age.
” She giggled good-naturedly, and I rolled my eyes. But she had a point.
“Can I ask you a question?” Gemma leaned in, but to be honest, it was so noisy there was no danger of anyone hearing her. She bit her lip. “You can tell me to mind my own business.”
I groaned theatrically. “What is it?”
“You seem more upset about the job than splitting up with Graeme.”
I gazed at my perceptive friend. To be honest, I’d been reaching the same conclusion.
“Maybe there was a reason I wanted to live together first before we set a date,” I acknowledged.
Graeme had been comfortable, easy, but was that really a good basis to start a life together?
Maybe Graeme’s client had done us both a favor.
She certainly seemed to have bought more than insurance from him.
“Mom says you’re welcome to the apartment above the bar, but it gets really noisy.”
I smiled. “Your mom’s a sweetheart. Jack’s offered me his spare room, and Annie Mellor says her brother is a realtor, and they just got the contract to sell the new development out on Poplar.” To be honest, I intended to swing by there tomorrow.
“I guess Jack’s nearer your new job,” Gemma agreed.
“Yeah, and I could be waiting years to get a job in Minton.” I’d been such an idiot, but Graeme had been so persuasive, and I did love his three dogs.
I’d half wondered if the three dogs had been more of a draw than the man himself.
I couldn’t keep a dog myself when I was out at work so much, and my landlady would never have allowed it anyway.
I really wished I could just go home and wallow. The initial buzz was definitely starting to fade, and I couldn’t help the small sigh escaping.
“Are you feeling okay?” Gemma frowned.
“I’m fine,” I assured her. “Just a headache. It’ll be all the stress.” I hated to lie, but overnight, my life had seemed to go to hell.
Gemma’s dad shouted something to her, and she quickly went to help.
After another hour, I was counting the minutes until I could go home without upsetting anyone. I breathed out a sigh of relief when Gemma’s dad begged her to help them behind the bar again when the band came on for their second set.
“To be honest, Gemma, I think I’m gonna call it a night,” I admitted. Jamie’s husband had joined us, and the others seemed to have either paired off or were dancing.
“Oh?” Gemma looked worried.
I shrugged, deciding to be honest. “I don’t want to be a party pooper, but it’s been a difficult couple of days, and I’m still processing.”
Gemma nodded, her gaze searching mine. “How are you getting home?”
“Henry Nesbitt.” I chuckled. “He told me he’s working in town all night, and he can be here as soon as I call him if I didn’t get a ride earlier.” Gemma’s brother had offered to drop me at home when we were through, but I didn’t want to interrupt my friend’s evening this early.
Gemma’s face cleared. “Which we both know means he would drop everything if you call.”
I nodded. It was nice to be appreciated, even though I’d been honored to help. I knew firsthand how bewildering a divorce could be to a child.
Gemma hugged me quickly and then stood back, seeming disconcerted. “Miss you already.”
I grinned. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.
” I waggled my eyebrows, which got the giggle from Gemma I’d been aiming for, and I promised to text her tomorrow and let her know what my apartment hunting/job hunting plans were.
I waved bye to my friends who were still dancing.
Then I quickly tried to push my way through the crowd to the entrance.
I had my phone in my hand, ready to call Henry as soon as I got to the door.
It was packed, and I was beginning to wish I’d just made up an excuse not to turn up, which wasn’t like me at all.
I tried to slide in between two huge guys that had just walked in.
Someone jostled me, and I put out a hand, convinced I was going to overbalance, and touched the huge broad shoulder in front of me.
And fell headlong into a pit of fire.
Absently, I knew I’d dropped my phone as it slipped uselessly from my numb fingers.
I heard voices all around me, but they could’ve been speaking alien for all I knew or all I cared.
Deep gray eyes gazed at me, trapped my own.
The man had swung around so fast that one second I was facing a shoulder, and the next, I was drowning as the stunning gray eyes lit with smoky hues, and the fire robbed me of oxygen.
We both held still for such a long minute, but then I managed to wrench my eyes downward to see long fingers curled around my wrists.
There was another man, maybe two, because the man shared glances at either side of him, but I still couldn’t make out the clipped order he gave them.
I thought one picked up my phone, but my mouth was so dry my lips couldn’t have formed words even if my brain could’ve supplied them.
The throbbing of the music in the bar behind me suddenly seemed to match the staccato of my heart.
“Are you okay?”
The outside world crashed back, and I yanked my hands away. I looked at the other man who was politely holding my phone out. God, but he was huge. The one standing in front of me was big, but that man was a bear.
“Are you okay?” he repeated. The man who’d stopped me from falling was currently looking at me with narrowed eyes.
“Phoenix?”
I turned without being given a chance to answer as Danny joined us.
“Danny,” Gray eyes in front of me responded, and they shook hands.
Danny smiled. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
“We don’t,” he answered without giving me the chance.
“I dropped my phone,” was all I could manage.
“Are you okay?” Danny asked. “Gemma said you weren’t feeling well.”
“You’re sick?” The giant—no, Danny had called him Phoenix—asked as if he was honing in on something important.
I flushed even more. “Just a headache and a little warm.” Great, now I sounded like I was seventy.
Phoenix nodded and then started issuing instructions, and, in barely a few seconds, I was sitting down on one of the outside tables clutching a cool glass of iced water, trying to get a hold of myself.
Phoenix seemed to be talking to Danny. I could see his lips moving in firm sensuous movements that had me immediately focusing on my own.
I licked mine in a mockery of the action that I felt simultaneously in so many other places I had no business feeling.
Phoenix’s hands moved a fraction over mine, still gentle, careful, but to grab my attention. I laughed idiotically at the insane thought I’d be giving my attention to someone else. He repeated the same question, and I finally realized he was talking to me. “How are you getting home?”
“A cab,” I managed to articulate.
Phoenix frowned. “I’ll take you home.”
“Oh no, that won’t be necessary.” I refused, starting to feel a little better in the fresh air. I was an avid CSI watcher. There was no way I was going to let three strangers drive me home.
Phoenix smiled as if I’d said something amusing. “Danny will vouch I’m not an axe murderer.”
And as if Phoenix had conjured the younger man, he immediately jumped in.
“No, Emery, honestly. Phoenix has been remodeling my mom’s house, and our families have been friends forever.
You would be totally safe. And that’s Bayer and Kaylan,” he said as an afterthought, and the slimmer blond man huffed to indicate he didn’t think much of Danny’s demonstration of his social skills and stepped forward.
“Emery? Kaylan. And the giant over there is called Bayer,” the blond man introduced himself.
I stuck out my hand, not missing the fraction of hesitation before Kaylan took it and bowed theatrically. The noise Phoenix made in the back of his throat told me he didn’t think much for the performance.
“I can call—”
“You really can’t.” Phoenix stood up and took the empty glass from my hand, and as our fingers brushed, I couldn’t help the shiver in reaction.
My eyes immediately shot to Phoenix’s, and my insides clenched.
Crap. No, it’s shock. I couldn’t seriously be drooling over some guy the same day I’d broken up with the man I was going to marry.
Yeah, you can, a little voice whispered seductively. I took a breath and mentally told the little voice where to shove it… and now I had another image as my ass clenched. No. No, absolutely not. I wasn’t listening.
Phoenix just held out a hand to Bayer, who immediately passed him a set of keys. Kaylan threw an arm around Danny and steered him inside, and with a polite tip of his head, Bayer followed them both into the bar.
“Your chariot awaits.”
I hesitated. I knew Phoenix had cataloged my reaction.
I knew full well if I invited him to stay, he would.
I’d never been one for one-night stands.
Not that I hadn’t dated before Graeme, but I was sure going home with someone less than twenty-four hours after breaking up with my boyfriend didn’t say anything very complimentary about me. Reckless much?
I hesitated again for a fraction of a second while the devil on my shoulder gave me another nudge and decided that reckless might be somewhere new I could hang my hat for a change.
I was definitely homeless as of tomorrow, anyway.