Page 17 of Blitzing Emily

A short time later Emily was nibbling on a bagel and cream cheese she had found in the refrigerator when heavy footfalls sounded on the staircase.

“Good morning.”

“Morning,” he mumbled. He looked a bit dazed. “Coffee.”

“It’ll be done in just a few minutes,” she reassured him. “How’s your neck?”

He rubbed it a little. “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”

He invaded the kitchen, found a mug in the cupboard over the sink, pulled the carafe out of the coffee maker, and stuck his mug under the stream. He replaced the carafe without spilling a drop. He sauntered to the other side of the kitchen. He wore a pair of navy-blue shorts, which matched his navy blue boxer briefs. She looked anywhere but at his bare chest, the vertical line of hair on his abdomen that vanished under the waistband of the shorts, and a six pack she wanted to lick.

“Navy blue?” she asked.

“I like blue.” He rubbed his eyes.

“Oh.”

“Billowing white cotton.” He indicated her nightgown.

“I like it.”

“It’s kind of ... virginal.” He glanced at the kitchen floor, and a faint flush spread over his cheekbones. “And much hotter than most of the lingerie I’ve seen,” he said.

He avoided Emily’s eyes. She walked away from him.

“Want to sit down?” She tossed the words over her shoulder.

“Hey, let’s get the news,” he said, and flipped to ESPN.

“Excuse me,” she said. “SportsCenteris not news.” Despite his commandeering the remote again, she had to smile.

“It’s the most important news.” He laughed, and turned up the volume on the television. There was a photo of Brandon on the screen, and one of her.

“It’s the end of an era this morning,” the announcer said. “Our sources tell us that Brandon McKenna, the Seattle Sharks’ All-Planet defensive end and ladies’ man, is off the market. McKenna’s engaged to opera diva Emily Hamilton. Wedding plans are pending. Our congratulations go out to the happy couple.”

Emily turned to Brandon in shock. He grinned in response. Her home phone and cell phone both started ringing.

Chapter Four

EMILY’S MOUTH OPENEDand shut, and opened again.

Brandon just sipped his coffee. The phones were still ringing. They stopped, and then started again. Emily’s voicemail was going to be full if she didn’t pick one of them up. Right now, though, it was the last thing she intended to do.

She took the deepest breath she could. “This is anaccident.They think we’re engaged?” She gasped. “We—we’re not engaged. We’re not even dating. I met youyesterday.Why are they— Oooh!” Emily pointed at the television screen. “We have todosomething about this.”

Brandon didn’t seem upset by this development. His body shook with laughter, and he put his cup down on the table in front of them. “Not dating? We could change that.” Emily’s glare was lethal. He ignored it, and stretched his arm out across the back of the couch, his fingers brushing her shoulders. “According to ESPN, you’re my betrothed. I’m thinking this could work out well for me.” His smile was confident. “How about making me some breakfast, sugar?”

Emily’s mouth dropped open. In the meantime the bare skin he was touching was starting to tingle just a bit. She was spellbound by her head shot on the television screen and she didn’t answer.

His voice dropped to a murmur. “Of course you want to do this for me.” Emily swallowed hard. She could feel the hot flush spreading over her cheeks. Even more, things were—liquefying. Yeah. She knew she owed him something for making sure she was still amongst the living, but cooking wasn’t one of her talents.

She shouldn’t be reacting to him this way. She knew better than that. “Player, player, player,” she mentally chanted. He could charm a rock, though.

He abruptly shoved himself off the couch. “I need to use your phone.” He grabbed the cordless as he strolled away from her. It rang again before he could hit “talk.” Brandon answered it.

“McKenna.” He turned back to Emily. “Just one moment.” She took the receiver from him. “It’s your manager,” he said.

“Hi, David.” She got up from the couch, walked to the kitchen table, and dropped into a chair.

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