Chapter 4
Russell
I pullup to the house with excitement bubbling over to see Emily. She’s only been here for a couple of weeks and life seems brighter with her around. I’m eager to come home after my shift, knowing I’ll get to see her smiling face. I only get to see her for a few hours during the day. It’s the best part of my day. My favorite time is in the morning. Sam spends most nights at Maxine’s. Which means I get Emily all to myself in the morning. We dance and sing while making breakfast. While we eat, she tells me about her adventures abroad and shows me the photos she takes around town. Last weekend I turned the shed in the backyard into a dark room so she could develop her film. Sometimes I’ll sit out there with her, watching as images come to life on paper. Her photographs are incredible. She is so damn talented. I’m in complete awe of her. Emily is smart and talented and gorgeous as hell. And out of my league. That will not keep me from going after what I want. And I want Emily.
The only thing that could get in my way is Sam. I know he wants the best for his sister. It’s my job to prove to him I can be that for Emily. I want to do everything in my power to help make all of her dreams come true.
When I step inside the house, I am greeted by the scent of cinnamon and vanilla. I leave my bag by the door and follow the smell into the kitchen. Emily is bent over the open oven, pulling out a baking dish with what looks to be cinnamon rolls. Our eyes connect as she sets the hot dish on top of the stove. A sweet grin tugs at her lips as she eyes me. I love those pretty blues on me.
“Hi Russell.” That sweet, raspy voice sends a wave of pleasure straight to my dick. “You are just in time for a fresh from the oven cinnamon bun.” She closes the oven door, then grabs the bowl of icing and pours it over the warm rolls. She makes doing the simplest things look so damn sexy. I could watch her type on her typewriter and get turned on. That’s the effect this woman has on me. She’s got me by the heartstrings and the balls and I am okay with that.
“They smell amazing. Kind of like the ones Mrs. Davis makes at Christmas time.”
“It’s her recipe,” she tells me. Making my mouth fall open in shock.
“How did you get her to give it to you? I have been trying for years to get it from her.” Her response is always, “You’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.”
“A few days ago, a couple of her cats were in the backyard and I took some pictures of them. I took them to Mrs. Davis, and she loved them. So much so that she asked if I could take some of all her cats.” She dishes out one roll and slides over to me. “While I was there, she gave me a cinnamon roll. I mention how I wanted to learn how to make cinnamon rolls, and she offered to teach me.”
“You are a miracle worker, buttercup.” She lights up at the nickname. I notice she doesn’t dish up a cinnamon roll for herself. “Aren’t you having one?”
“I can’t stay for breakfast this morning.” My heart aches at the news. “The Boston Globe called and they want me to submit a new piece.” Emily has been submitting her portfolio to several papers and magazines all over the country. She has her sights set on the job at the Boston Globe. It’s one of her favorite cities and it’s a quick plane ride from Pine Grove.
“That has to be a good sign, right?”
“I hope so. As long as I can nail this idea that I have.” She takes off her apron and I get my first full look at her. Damn, she’s wearing those cute as hell denim short overalls. The ones from the picture I stole. Yeah, I stole one of Emily’s photos. She left them out one morning and in the stack there was one of her in those overalls. Only in those overalls. She was taking a picture of herself in a mirror. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and you could see the curve of her breast peeking out the side. She had a goofy grin on her face. She looked so damn cute. So, I took it. I keep it in my wallet. When nights at the firehouse get quiet and lonely, I look at it. Dreaming of a life with Emily as my wife.
“What’s the idea?”
“I will tell you all about it tonight.” She grabs her bag then stops next to me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Enjoy the cinnamon rolls.” Then she’s out the door. I rub my hand along my cheek. Her kiss lingering on my skin. I’m falling hard for this woman. It’s time I talk to Sam.
As if he could hear my thoughts, Sam comes out of his bedroom with a yawn. “Was that Emily I heard leaving?”
“Yeah, she has a lead on a story for The Boston Globe,” I tell him. Sam shuffles into the kitchen and pours himself a cup a coffee.
“Ooh, are these Mrs. Davis’s cinnamon rolls? Did I sleep so long that it’s Christmas already?” he asks, dishing one out of the pan and takes a bite.
“Emily made them. She got Mrs. Davis to teach her how to make them.”
“Wow, leave it to Emily to charm her way into the coldest of hearts.” He mumbles with a mouth full of food and takes a seat at the kitchen bar next to me.
“She is incredible.” Emily sure as hell charmed her way into my heart. While the courage is still flowing through me, I turn to Sam and say, “Sam, can I talk to you about something?” My heart is pounding in my chest.
“Is this where you tell me you want to date my sister?” My eyes go wide at his statement. I open my mouth, then close it again. How did he know? I’m always so careful not to give away my feelings for Emily.
“H how did you know?” I stumble over my words.
“Come on dude, you don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at my sister?” he asks, while casually eating his breakfast. “You look at her like I look at Maxine.” I didn’t realize my face was giving me away this whole time. He puts his roll down and swivels to look at me.
“Russ, you don’t need my permission to ask out my sister. Just like Emily doesn’t need my approval to date who she wants. Both of you are grown adults capable of making your own decisions.” I can’t hide the fact that I am surprised by how relaxed Sam is about me asking his sister out. “So, you really like my sister?”
“I’m crazy about her.” I can’t hold back the smile taking over my face. “Emily is an incredible woman. I would be damn lucky to be with her.” I would spend the rest of my life making damn sure she knows how grateful I am to have her in my life.
“I have only one concern,” he states, making my heart stutter to a halt. “What happens if Emily gets this job in Boston? Given the opportunity, she will take it. I know that for a fact. Emily deserves this opportunity in her career.” He is right to be concerned. Emily left her family to live a life of her choosing. He doesn’t want anyone holding her back.
“Emily is a talented photographer and writer. I won’t stand in her way. All I want is a chance to be the man she deserves and help her with her dreams.”
“Even if it means she leaves? I don’t mean to be a Debby downer. I just want to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. All I want is for both of you to be happy.”
“Thank you for looking out for me. This is what I want. I know it’s crazy, but Emily is the one for me. You, of all people, know how that feels.” He nods in agreement. When he met Maxine, he fell hard and fast. “If she gets the job in Boston, it’s just a plane ride away and if this goes as well as I hope it does, I can always get a transfer to Boston.”
His smile tells me he approves. “Make my sister happy and we won’t have any other issues.” I can hear the warning in his tone. He has nothing to worry about there. I will spend my days making sure she is happy and loved.