Chapter 4 #2
And to really grow into his body. He’s always been attractive, but fuck me, when I say he’s a man, everything about Emmett Walker is all man.
“Still. Let me at least make supper this time as a thank you,” I offer, moving to stand.
As soon as I make it to my feet, a wave of dizziness hits me hard, causing my head to spin and my ass to fall back into the chair.
“Lexi!” Emmett’s shout is full of worry as he rushes across the backyard towards me.
Keeping my eyes closed, I hold my head in my hands. “I’m okay,” I groan, as a wave of nausea hits me.
“No. You’re not,” he insists. “Lexi, this is the third time this week you’ve almost fainted.”
“It’s the heat. I’m fine,” I reply stubbornly.
“Maybe so. But please, for me, can we go get you checked out?”
Opening my eyes, I find his blue, worried ones staring back at me.
This man has me wrapped around his finger. And I know I can’t say no to him because the idea of making him worry about me makes me feel like I’m disappointing him.
“Fine,” I sigh. “I’ll go in tomorrow.”
“Nope.” Emmett scoops me up into his sweaty arms, laying me against his hard chest. “You’re going now.”
“Emmett!” I hiss as he carries me into the house. “Put me down!”
“And risk you falling?” he snorts. “I think not.”
He places me on the couch, and I stare up at him with an annoyed glare.
I’m not actually annoyed. It felt nice having his hands on me.
“You’re cute when you're angry,” he chuckles, and boops me on the nose, making me scowl for real. “Now, where’s your purse?”
“Over there,” I grumble, pointing to the table.
He jogs over, swipes my phone and purse before coming back to me.
“Really?” I groan as he picks me up again.
“Shhhh,” he laughs. “Just take it like a good girl.” He winks.
Dear mother of god. My cheeks blaze, and I know, I just fucking know he smells how much his words affect me.
Emmett is a sweetheart, though, and he doesn’t show any signs that he does as he carries me out of the house.
“Hold onto my neck,” he tells me.
“Huh?”
“Just do it,” he laughs.
Rolling my eyes, I wrap my arms around his neck, pushing myself closer to him, our faces an inch apart.
He smells good. So damn good. Even over the sweat, I can smell his sweet maple syrup scent.
Would it be wrong of me to lick him right now?
What is wrong with me?
I’ve never been this horny in my life. I don’t like it.
Using one hand to support my legs, he uses the arm that was around my back to take my keys and lock the door before wrapping it back around me.
“You’re ridiculous, you know that, right?”
He just grins, carrying me down my front steps to his truck.
It’s a nice upgrade from that shitty rust bucket he came into town with. It’s not a newer model, but he’s proud of it. I remember how hard he worked to save up for it and how proud he was when he finally had enough to purchase it with cash.
Emmett places me in the passenger side before jogging over to the driver's side. “They might not even have time to see me today,” I tell him as he pulls out of my driveway.
He shoots me a look. “Lex, you own the town. Do you think they won’t drop what they’re doing to see you?”
“Doesn’t mean I want them to.”
“Your stubborn side is normally sexy, but right now, you’re driving me nuts, crazy woman. You will not put your health on the back burner, do you hear me?” His words are firm as his eyes stay on the road.
My eyes widen, and I gape at him. Why is bossy Emmett just as sexy as sweet, caring Emmett?
Wait. Did he just call me sexy? He totally did right?
He also called me crazy, but I’m not going to focus on that part.
“Okay.” I cross my arms and look out the window.
I know I’m being a brat, but when I’m around Emmett, I feel safe. I can let my guard down. I don’t always have to be the level-headed Lexi.
I also shouldn’t let him take care of me like this, it’s not healthy to depend on him. It’s like I’m just moving the responsibilities of taking care of me from Silva to Emmett.
Still, any time he fusses over me, I let him. Because fuck me, I like it. So damn badly it hurts.
I make sure to take care of him, too, though. He overworks himself a lot. When he’s not working at the club, he picks up odd jobs around town, helping people out whenever he can.
When he looks like he’s done too much, I force him over to my house for food, movie nights, and sleepovers.
Sleepovers where he sleeps in the same damn bed as me, and I get no actual sleep because I’m too focused on the hot Omega sleeping next to me and how much my body reacts to him.
We pull into the clinic parking lot, and I don’t even get the chance to open my door before Emmett is racing over to my side.
“Okay, this is too much,” I mutter. “I can walk.”
“I know you can.” He scoops me up anyways.
“People are staring,” I grumble, looking around, my cheeks heating when the people mulling around look over, giving amused smiles.
“Let them look,” Emmett says without a care in the world.
It’s nothing new for the people of Widows Peak. Emmett and I kind of get lost in our own little world sometimes and don’t pay attention to the people around us.
I’m sure most people in town think we’re already together. And when they ask, and I correct them, they seem very surprised.
I kind of like it, because if people think we’re together, then less women come into the club to hit on my man.
Not your man, Lexi. He’s your best friend. That's it.
Sadly.
Ugh. I want him to be mine!
Wake the fuck up, woman, and tell the man who’s carrying you bridal style that you love him.
Love. Huh. That's a strong word.
Do I love him?
Of course, I love him. But am I in love with him?
I look up at him, and he catches me looking, giving me a smug smile.
Yeah. I'm in love with this man. I’m so screwed.
When we step inside the lobby, I wiggle in Emmett’s arms. “You can put me down now.”
“Mhhm,” he hums. “I don’t know. I kind of like having you in my arms.” He winks but sets me down.
It’s moments like this that have my mind racing. He says it in such a flirtatious way, but I don’t know if he’s being serious or not.
“Lexi?” Amy, one of the nurses, greets me with a friendly smile. “What brings you in here today? Is everything okay?”
I like Amy. She’s a nice woman and very good at her job. We’re lucky to have her here in Widows Peak.
But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to growl when her eyes drift over to scan Emmett.
It’s just now that I realize the fucker didn’t put his shirt back on, and he’s standing there in only a pair of low slung jeans with the top of his boxers peeking out, showing off a very tantalizing V just above it.
“Lexi needs to be seen by Dr. Herrera, please,” Emmett says, not paying any attention to the fact that Amy is checking him out.
I mean, I can’t blame her, he is just standing there looking like a snack.
“Uhhh.” Amy blinks a few times, bringing her attention back to me. “She’s with a patient right now.”
“Oh, would you look at that, she’s busy. That’s fine. We’ll try again tomorrow.” I spin on my heel to leave, but Emmett holds out his arms.
“We’ll wait, let her know we’re here, please," Emmett replies.
“Of course,” Amy says.
Emmett grips my shoulders and guides me towards the waiting room.
“Sit,” he instructs, nodding to the chair.
“You sure you’re not an Alpha?” I mutter. “Sure are bossy like one.”
He raises a brow, crossing his sinfully delicious, muscled arms over his chest.
“Lex,” he says in a warning tone.
“Em,” I say back, mimicking his pose.
He’s trying to be stern, but I can see his lip twitching at the side.
Leaning down, he brings his face just in front of mine.
I both hate and love being this close to him. His scent invades my nose again, and I have to hold back a moan.
“Sometimes I wonder, who’s the older one between the two of us when you start acting like a stubborn child.”
My heart races, my mind going blank. Normally, a comment like that would earn him an arm slap, and he’d laugh it off.
But the energy that crackles between us has shifted. I’m far more affected by this man than I should be.
I lick my lips, and his eyes follow the movement. They grow darker, his nostrils flaring. He steps back, clearing his throat, but not before I scent the spike of sweetness in his maple syrup scent.
“Could you just please sit and wait to see the doctor? I know you don’t care, but I do. And I’d feel like shit if I brought you home and something happened after I left.”
My shoulders drop, and any fight in me dissipates. I sit in the chair, deciding not to fight him on this anymore.
“Thank you.” He sits down next to me.
We’re quiet for a few minutes with only the music playing in the waiting room and the sound of hushed whispers around us.
“You couldn’t even stop to put a shirt on?” I question, breaking the silence.
“What?” Emmett frowns down at me.
“This.” I wave at his chest. “You're just walking around half naked.”
His lip twitches. “I’m pretty sure half the town has seen me without a shirt on by now.”
My eyes narrow, and jealousy surges through me. “Excuse me?”
“You know, with all the outside work I do.” He grins. “Gardening, construction, stuff like that. Why, what did you think I meant?”
I look away. I shouldn’t be this jealous. I have no right to be. He’s my friend. Nothing more. He can be with whomever he wants to. Do whatever he wants.
Yet the idea of him touching another person in a sexual way makes my eyes sting. My head is in too much of a mess for this right now.
“Hey,” his voice softens. He lightly grips my chin, guiding my head towards him. “I’m just joking, okay? I’m sorry I didn’t put a shirt on. I was more worried about getting you seen.”
And now I feel like a dumb-ass. “It’s fine,” I tell him. “It’s not a big deal, really. I’m just nervous.”
His eyes search mine, his thumb brushing along my jawline ever so slightly. My body breaks out in goosebumps, and I suppress a shiver.