Page 177 of Stolen Moments

I wish I knew what was going on in her head. She was adamant about me staying with her and not in the new house.Ourhouse. At least, I hope it will be someday. My plan is to sneakily get her input and make sure the contractor takes it all into account. I want this to be her dream home. Our dream home, where we will raise our family together.

I should have shown her the place before I let the contractor’s crew get a head start on the demolition, but I got really excited to start construction. Things are progressing quickly with Emery, and the prospect of moving into the new home with her, sooner rather than later, triggered my need to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible.

I was also honest when I told her that I cannot stay with Jace and Rylann when they return from their honeymoon. I need my own space for work, and I need to be as far away from their bedroom as possible. I’ve heard enough of them to last a lifetime.

When she looked around at the destruction and then demanded I stay with her, I wanted to whoop and holler. I want nothing more than to live with her. But is she really ready? I’m afraid that if we move too fast, it will ruin our progress or she’ll regret it, and all my effort to win back her trust will be for nothing. I don’t want to loseher again, and going slow is the right move. Now, I need to break my decision to her.

I pull my car in behind Emery’s silver BMW X5 and kill the engine. She turns to face me, her teeth sunk into her plump bottom lip. Fuck, she’s so pretty my chest aches every time I look at her.

Neither of us says anything for a minute as we stare at each other. The air shifts, the tension between us reaching a fever pitch. Her stomach grumbles, bringing me back to reality.

“You still need to eat.”

“I’m fine.” She waves me off like her well-being isn’t important. If she thought I was bossy before, she has no idea what she has in store.

I shake my head at her. “Nice try. Now, let’s go finish our dinner.”

I push open the door before she can argue and climb out of the car. She groans but follows me as I grab the canvas bags that contain our food.

Henry barks as we enter the dimly lit living room, and I head straight for the kitchen island, dropping our bags on top.

“What are you doing?” A wave of protectiveness washes over me as I watch Emery attach the leash to her tiny dog.

“Taking Henry out for a short walk. He’s been cooped up all day. It rained this morning and I’ve been gone, so he needs to work out his stumpy legs.”

“It’s dark out,” I state the obvious.

She smiles, rolling her eyes at me. I cross my arms and narrow my eyes at her. She can’t be serious.

“I walk him all the time. To the stop sign and back. That’s, like, five houses. I’ll be fine.”

Fuck, she is serious. Thoughts of something happening to her hit me like a punch in the gut. It’s dark out and people drive for shit. Anything could happen to her. It doesn’t matter that she’s on the sidewalk. Henry could get away from her, and she could chaseafter him without looking. I can’t let anything happen to her. I just got her back.

I shut down the dark thoughts pinching my chest, making me panic. “Of course you will be. I’m coming with you.”

“Okay, Mr. Bossy.” She giggles as the Yorkie happily yips, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

Emery ushers him down the porch and leads him to the sidewalk. I stalk after her, fuming that she walks him in the dark, late at night. From now on—I look at my watch and check the time—I’ll be here at eleven on the dot to walk him for her.

“Don’t be so grumpy. Let’s talk about something else to take your mind off whatever you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking you will never walk the damn dog by yourself late at night again. It’s my job now, and when I’m not here, I’ll hire someone to walk him for you.”

“You’re crazy.”

Henry stops to sniff the grass and I take advantage, pulling Emery into my arms. “Crazy for you.”

“Such a charmer,” she whispers.

“Only for you, baby doll.”

She sighs as I cover her mouth in a kiss that’s too short for my liking because the damn dog yaps, breaking us apart.Little fucker.

After another five minutes, the dog does his business, and we head inside to wash up for a dinner of cold pizza and nachos. We spend our dinner talking about her family and the events that led up the fake engagement to her childhood friend. If I had known what was going on when I was outside her father’s office, I would have walked right up and punched him in the face. The idea of any parent forcing their child to do something against their will—through manipulation or otherwise—is abhorrent. They should have put her happiness, not their business, above all else and loved her for the wonderfully kind and giving person she is.

Fucking assholes.

They don’t matter anymore. Emery doesn’t need them in her life. I’m here, and I plan on taking care of her for the rest of our lives. She doesn’t need to worry about family; she’ll have mine. My mom is already chomping at the bit to meet her as my girlfriend—which I hope isn’t for too long—and it doesn’t hurt that Rylann already adores her.

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