Chapter 18 Emery #2
Thankfully, the bartender was quick as he filled up a glass of ice water and handed it to me. I drank half before I set it down on the counter.
“What did that man say to you?” Noah’s voice was deep and startled me.
I turned to see him standing right behind me, a look of fury in his gaze.
“What?” I asked, my brain trying to catch up with what was happening.
Noah searched my gaze. “Are you okay?” he finally asked.
I studied him for a moment before I turned my attention back to my water and took a sip, reveling in the feeling of the ice-cold water sliding down my throat. “I'm fine,” I lied.
Of course I wasn't fine. There was nothing about the situation that could make me feel fine. I was barely prepared to talk to the opposite sex, much less date them. I’d finally come to terms with my grief after Carson, and now I was being forced to pick at that scab. I doubted I was ever going to be fine.
Noah didn't look like he believed me. It was evident when I turned back around to face him once more. Thankfully, he didn't push me further even though I could see that he wanted to say something.
I was itching to get away from him. It was one thing to stand next to strangers who had no clue about me or Carson.
Someone with whom I had no history. It was a whole other thing to stand next to somebody who could see right through me.
Who knew and understood what I had lost. As much as I didn't want to go back over to speak to Will, I didn't want to stay there under the scrutiny of Noah any longer.
I forced a smile as I picked up my glass of water and headed back over to where Abigail and Will were still chatting.
My external did not match my internal, but I didn’t want to hint to anyone that I was struggling.
My struggles didn't matter to the board. I was here to find someone who fulfilled the requirements they’d thrust upon me to keep my job. That was going to be my focus.
"You okay?” Abigail asked, leaning close to me as soon as I stepped up next to her.
Her voice was hushed, but it didn't matter. Will had heard her, and I could tell that he was wondering the same thing. It was evident in the sympathetic smile he offered me.
I held up my glass of water. "Just thirsty," I said and punctuated my words with another sip.
I could tell that Abigail didn't believe me, but thankfully she moved on. "Will is the owner of the Aurelian.”
Shit. I turned to him and offered an apologetic smile.
I knew how amazing it was that Bash had snagged the Aurelian for the hotel, and here I was, having a panic attack and walking away from the owner of the restaurant without excusing myself.
I was letting my inability to control my emotions when it came to Carson affect my business relationships.
I needed to get a grip, and I needed to get one now.
“Oh!” I said, a bit too loud. I instantly pressed my fingers to my lips. “I’m so sorry,” I muttered. I gathered myself and dropped my hand before I offered him a soft smile, one that I hoped told him I wasn’t crazy. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
Will’s smile was genuine as he studied me. “Trust me, the honor is mine.” He kept his gaze on me, and my cheeks warmed from his attention.
“I was just telling Emery that it would be nice for someone to show her around the island,” Abigail said.
I whipped my gaze over at her. “I mean, as someone who has been exploring himself, it would be perfect for a newbie to show her all the must-see places.” Abigail wrapped her arm around mine and pulled me closer.
Will frowned. “Don’t you live here?”
Abigail laughed. “Yes, I do.”
I was staring hard at her now. What was she trying to accomplish? I finally got her attention as she glanced over at me for a moment before she turned back to Will.
“But I’ve been here for years. I don’t know what new people want to see.” She nodded toward him. “You know the places that are good and the places that you can skip.”
“I’ve only really been to the hotel and a bakery.”
“See!” Abigail waved her hand in his direction. “You would be the perfect person to escort Emery around the island.”
Will didn’t look like he believed a single word.
My entire body felt like it was going to catch fire. I wanted Abigail to stop talking and to stop talking now. Will stared at Abigail as if trying to figure out what she was doing. Finally, an understanding smile spread across his lips as he turned to me.
“You really don’t have to be my escort,” I said, giving him an out if he wanted one. “I’m not going to be here long, and I’m sure you are busy.”
Will shook his head. “I’d love to show you around, if you want.” His expression was genuine, and I appreciated that he didn’t turn me down flat. I’m not sure I could come back from the humiliation if he did.
Truth was, I wasn’t sure what I wanted. At this point, I knew I had to do something about the board’s mandate. But with how horrible my flirting game was, Abigail’s suggestion of faking a relationship with Noah was looking better and better.
I mentally told myself to shut up. Doing anything with Noah wasn’t an option. I should not even entertain that thought. I wasn’t broken, I was just rusty. Going on a date with Will would help. Even if nothing came of it, it would give me the practice that I so desperately needed.
I smiled. “I’d love that.”
He chuckled and then paused. “Well, I’m leaving tomorrow for a few days. Maybe when I get back?”
“How about tonight?” We both turned to stare at Abigail. She glanced between us and then laughed. “I mean, no time like the present. And it’s not like you have anything going on after this.” She raised her eyebrows as if to dare me to reject her proposal.
I stared at her, hoping she’d pick up on my reluctance, but her smile didn’t falter. So I turned to Will. “She’s right. I have nothing going on after this.”
“How about drinks?”
The more this man took Abigail’s meddling in stride, the more curious I was about him. He didn’t miss a beat with every suggestion she made. Perhaps I would have a good time with him if we went out.
“Drinks?” he asked.
“Harmony Pub is great,” Abigail offered.
Will looked from Abigail back to me. “I hear Harmony Pub is great.”
I forced a thoughtful expression. “I think I’ve heard that as well.”
“How about eight?”
I smiled. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Perfect.”
“Okay.”
I wasn’t sure how to end our conversation, but then Bash appeared, declaring that there was someone I needed to meet. I gave Will one last smile before I turned and followed Bash through the crowd.
I didn’t have a chance to talk to Will again before the evening was over, which I was okay with.
I was going to spend some one-on-one time with him tonight without Abigail there to be the social lubricant between us.
I’d rather save potential topics of conversation for our time together at the pub than use them up just to have small talk at this event.
Timothy was tired, but Bash still needed to stay, so Abigail handed the keys to her car over to Noah and told us that she would ride home with Bash.
She demanded that Noah get me home so I could get ready.
Just as I turned to leave, she reminded me that I needed to be at the Pub promptly at eight looking like “a woman who wants a man.”
I stared at her as I felt Noah’s shoulders tighten next to me. It was strange, but I didn’t want him to know of my plans for the night. It made me feel vulnerable.
If Abigail picked up on my unease, she didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, she told me that she had a little black cocktail dress that would be perfect for me in her closet. She eyed Noah before telling him that he was not allowed to go with me.
I could feel that he was not happy with her declaration, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he just took her keys and led the way out of the hotel.
He was quiet as he drove us back to Abigail’s apartment.
The sound from Timothy’s show was the only thing filling the silence between us.
I couldn’t help but glance over at him, only to find that his jaw was set and his gaze focused as he drove.
I couldn’t tell if he was upset with me or with Abigail, but he was definitely battling with something.
And, for some reason, I wanted to know what was wrong with him.
“Are you really going on a date with that guy?” His question startled me. I turned to face him, but he was still staring straight ahead.
“Yes,” I said, my confidence faltering with each second that passed. It was easy to feel confident in my decision with Abigail standing next to me, egging me on. But now, alone, I was struggling to justify my decision to myself, much less Noah.
Noah didn’t respond to my answer. Instead, his grip just tightened on the steering wheel.
When we got back to Abigail’s apartment, I got Timothy showered and in his pajamas before I turned my attention to myself and my appearance.
It didn’t take me long to locate the dress that Abigail had been talking about.
Once I locked the door to the bathroom, I stared at my reflection and then the dress.
It was short and tighter than I was used to wearing.
I knew why Abigail had offered it. It said sexy single lady, instead of grieving single-mom widow. Since I was a woman in search of a husband, wearing this dress made sense. But it had been a long time since I was sexy single lady. I wasn’t even sure how to be that woman again.
I shook my head as I shimmied out of my floral dress and slipped into the black one.
I was thinking too much. I just needed to rely on Abigail’s confidence that I could do this and push all of my own doubts from my head.
If I thought too much about it, I was going to throw on my pajamas and cancel the whole evening.
I decided to take my makeup into an evening look with a little smoky eye. I let my hair fall around my shoulders before I took a curling iron to the ends to give it a little more life. By the time I was finished, I was impressed with myself.
I would date me.
After I put away my makeup and gathered my floral dress, I pulled open the bathroom door and turned off the light. With my floral dress tucked into my suitcase, I smoothed down the little black dress and headed out into the living room.
Noah and Timothy were busy playing some video game.
Their gazes were directed at the TV, and it wasn’t until I was halfway through the living room that Noah glanced up.
His entire expression froze as he stared at me.
His gaze was dark and unreadable, and it sent the butterflies that were already living in my stomach into overdrive.
Why couldn’t I read this man? And why did his opinion matter so much to me?
Needing something other than Noah’s reaction to focus on, I turned my attention to the clock over the oven.
7:45
Crap.
“I should get going,” I said as I walked over to the counter where I’d set down my purse earlier. By the time I turned back around, Noah had stood and was heading toward me.
“Do you think I should come?” he asked.
I watched him for a moment before I glanced back at Timothy, who was so tuned into his game that he hadn’t even looked up.
“No. I’m okay,” I said as I turned my attention back to Noah.
“Abigail and Bash aren’t back yet, and someone needs to stay with Timothy.
” I took in a deep breath. The desire to cancel this date washed over me, but I fought through it.
It was just drinks. I wasn’t promising my life to him.
Noah’s gaze felt like it was piercing me as he stared at me, his blue eyes turning stormy. I held his gaze before I pulled the strap of my purse higher up onto my shoulder.
“I’ll only be an hour or so.” I reached over and grabbed Abigail’s keys, which had been next to my purse. They jangled as I hooked my finger around the keyring. I gave Noah a quick smile before I crossed the room and sat down next to Timothy.
He was so engrossed in his game that he didn’t look over, and when I leaned in to kiss his cheek, he moved to the side to see around me. I told him goodbye twice because it wasn’t until the second attempt that he actually acknowledged me.
I didn’t meet Noah’s gaze as I headed through the living room to the front door, even though I could feel it follow me. I didn’t look back as I shut the door behind me and headed out to Abigail’s car.
It wasn’t until the engine was started and I had backed out of the parking spot that fear took ahold of me and I paused.
What the heck was I doing?