Noah #2
With her receipt in hand, I distracted myself with lifting the dress that Nancy has slipped into a garment bag off the counter.
I followed Emery who’d paused to thank Nancy.
I celebrated inside when this allowed me to beat Emery to opening the door.
Even though she was in front of me, I reached over her head and pushed it.
She glanced up at me, but didn’t stop as she made her way outside. I kept a few paces behind her as she led us to Cookie Monster Bakery. Abigail and Bash were sitting next to the window with a wiggling Timothy wiggling across from to them. I could tell from here that he was chatting their ear off.
I held the door open for Emery and then followed behind her as she walked up to the table.
“Everything good?” Abigail asked, but her question wasn’t directed at me. There was an intensity in her gaze as her focus stayed trained on Emery.
“Yep. All good,” Emery said. “I bought the dress.” She waved in my direction.
Abigail seemed a tad disappointed in Emery’s response. It was as if she hadn’t been talking about the dress being good, but something else. Her reaction intrigued me, but I doubted if I asked, she would give me any sort of explanation.
“Oh,” Abigail said as she followed Emery’s gesture. Her gaze landed on me. I raised the dress as confirmation that what Emery had said was true. “That’s awesome.”
“Mommy, I’m bored.” Timothy walked up to Emery and fell the last few inches into her. His head was tipped up and there were chocolate smudges on both sides of his mouth.
Emery reached down, wrapped her arms around his chest, and pulled him up before spinning him around. “You’re bored?” she asked as he let out a loud squeal. “What’s a mommy to do?”
Abigail and Bash stood. They were smiling at Timothy and Emery while trying to avoid getting kicked by Timothy’s wayward feet.
“Maybe we can get your tuxes and then head back to the hotel?” Emery stopped spinning and set Timothy down on the ground. He teetered back and forth as he attempted to walk in a straight line. “Maybe we can go swimming?” Emery announced the question like she was the host of a game show.
Timothy cheered and seemed to find his balance again because he was upright and jumping up and down.
Emery had to shush him as the other patrons cast judgmental looks their direction.
I had half a mind to march up to them and tell them off, but Abigail, Bash and Emery were already heading out of the establishment with Timothy in tow.
We kept our time at Gentleman’s Attire to a minimum. Thankfully, Bash and I didn’t need too many alterations and Timothy fit a suit off the rack. Ralph promised to have our tuxes done and ready for pickup tomorrow. We paid and headed out to the parking lot.
Emery and Timothy rode with me while Abigail and Bash rode together. Timothy kept the conversation flowing until we hit the edge of Harmony and he grew quiet. I glanced at Emery and Timothy to see that they were both staring out the window as the scenery passed by us.
It was so calming to sit together and not feel the need to speak. The radio played softly in the background as I drove. If I had to explain what a family felt like, it was this. Complete peace and calm while driving together, no one speaking but everyone content.
My heart squeezed in my chest as realization slammed into me. I was falling hard for the two people in my car. They were quickly becoming my world. I couldn’t remember who I was without them. A dull ache filled my soul at the thought of walking away in three years.
It hadn’t even been a week since we started this facade, and I was already dreading the end.
Timothy was equal parts energy and conversation as we got out of the car and made our way into the hotel. Emery was engrossed in both answering his questions and keeping her arms out in an effort to guide him to the elevators.
I allowed myself to fantasize that we were a family on vacation. I’d never felt the desire to make something real as I felt in this moment. I wanted this. I wanted the wife, the kid, the life. I’d been so lonely for so long and now, my life was full.
Timothy barreled into their hotel room as soon as the door was unlocked. Emery lingered in the hallway, her gaze focused on the key card that she tapped between her forefinger and thumb. I wasn’t sure what she wanted, but I was in no hurry to leave her presence.
“Bash and Abigail are picking up pizza on their way here,” she said, her gaze finally meeting mine.
“That’s good,” I said, but the truth was, I wasn’t interested in eating.
“Timothy and I are going to head to the pool.” She shrugged. “If you want to join us.”
If only she knew what I wanted to do. The desire to kiss her was overwhelming and I found it hard to focus on anything but her pouty lips and her wide, beautiful eyes.
I wanted to ask her if she needed more practice desensitizing to touch.
I would gladly practice over and over again until she was comfortable.
I would sacrifice myself as tribute.
“Only if you want to,” she said quickly.
That’s when I realized I’d been so caught up in thoughts of kissing her that I hadn’t answered her. Guilt settled in my gut as I leaned forward so I could catch her gaze.
“I would love to come.” I didn’t hide my feelings as I spoke that word. I didn’t hold back in my gaze either. I was in love with Emery Torres and all I wanted to do was tell her that.
I wanted her to be mine.
She swallowed as her gaze softened. She studied me before a smile tugged at her lips. “Okay.” She turned to her hotel room door and then paused. “See you in a few minutes?” she asked, her gaze meeting mine.
I nodded. “Sure.”
I waited until she had slipped inside with the door shut behind her before I retreated into my room. Once I was safely behind my door, I blew out my breath. I closed my eyes and tipped my head back, letting my body sink against the wall next to me.
Even though I should have texted Emery and backed out of pool time, I didn’t.
I hurriedly changed into my swim trunks like some idiot and spent the next ten minutes standing next to my door so I could hear when Emery and Timothy emerged.
I didn’t want to appear too eager even though that was exactly what I was: eager to spend every minute with her.
My stomach lightened when I heard their door open. I could hear Emery’s muffled voice tell Timothy to wait, they needed to get me. I forced myself to pause when I heard Timothy’s excited knock and once I counted to three, I pushed down on the handle and opened the door.
Timothy’s eager smile greeted me. He had on a pair of goggles that were pulling his skin so tight that his eyes looked like slits behind the plastic.
“Ready to go swimming, Noah?” he asked as he bounced on the balls of his feet a few times.
I chucked as I stepped into the hallway. “Yep,” I said.
I glanced over to see Emery standing there. My body heated as my gaze dropped to her black bikini and the mesh sarong she had tied around her waist. I forced my gaze up to her face, cursing myself for being so weak. I smiled, hoping that she didn’t notice my momentary lapse in judgement.
“Ready?” she asked.
Her voice was soft and her cheeks seemed more flushed than normal.
I wanted to believe it was because she saw me check her out and was flattered, but I pushed that thought to the depths of my mind.
She’d just wrangled an energetic boy into his swim trunks.
She was probably exhausted from the sheer amount of muscle it took to contain that kid.
“Yep,” I said as I extended my hand so she could lead the way.