Page 50 of Blitzing Emily

“Did you see him? Did someone else tell you about it?”

“The neighbor,” she whispered.

“She or he saw it?”

Emily nodded. She closed her eyes. In a second, she was back there, and she wrapped her arms around herself again.

“What happened then?”

“I told my mom.” Forcing the words out was a Herculean effort for her.

“What did she say?”

Her voice sounded like it was coming from a million miles away. “It was awful. She was so pale, and I felt like I slapped her. She asked me who told me, and then she went upstairs, packed a bag for Amy and me, and we went to stay overnight at our grandma’s house. By the time we came home, my dad was staying in the guest room. Mom wouldn’t talk about it.”

“Did you try talking to your dad?”

“We didn’t see him. He worked all the time.” She rubbed her nose with one hand. Brandon was stroking her upper arm, slowly. He listened, and he didn’t seem to judge. To her surprise, the tension drained out of her as she spoke, and she sagged against him.

“Were you close before?”

“We were closer.”

“What do you think would happen if you tried talking to him about it?”

She swallowed hard. “We don’t.” The unwritten rule of the Hamilton family: Never,evertalk about what happened with Mom and Dad. It wasn’t open for discussion. She’d tried, more than once over the years. It didn’t go well.

“Maybe you should tell me what happened at dinner, then.”

Emily took a deep breath. “My parents aren’t happy about a fake engagement. They’re worried other people will find out.” She forced lightness into her voice. “Plus, we’re making a mockery of the institution of marriage, according to them.”

“Is that so?” Brandon appeared to be stifling a laugh. He patted her knee with his free hand. She felt herself relaxing more and more.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I don’t hate you.” For the second time today, she was apologizing. She evidently enjoyed the taste of shoe leather. Before she could stop herself, she reached up to kiss his cheek. His stubble tickled her nose. She couldn’t stop the cross between a snort and a giggle she made.

“I know you don’t.” He moved closer, turning toward her. “I’m sorry for bringing up something that made you cry.” His arm slid to her waist and tightened around her. He took her cheek in his free hand. Electricity sizzled over Emily’s skin. He wasn’t going to kiss her, was he?

Seconds later, his mouth brushed over hers, the barest contact. “Are we okay?”

Adrenaline arced through her. In an instant, she was breathless, boneless, and nodding at him like one of those bobbing-head dog figurines people used to put on the back window ledge of their cars.

“Um, yeah. Fine.”

His voice dropped. He stroked her lower lip with his thumb. “You’re sure about that?”

She started nodding again, and his hand slipped to the back of her neck. He was definitely going to kiss her. Her eyelids fluttered shut.

She felt the tender touch of his lips on hers, the way her mouth molded to his. She couldn’t help but smile a little. He kissed her as though he had all the time in the world. He lingered, he teased, and Emily wondered how she managed to get through every other day of her life before experiencing what it was like to kiss him. She felt the tip of his tongue sketch the seam of her lips, and she tasted mint as that tongue slipped into her mouth. Mint, and some indescribable thing that she could never identify to anyone else, but knew she’d never forget. She reached up blindly to slide her fingers into his hair, which curled around them like liquid satin. The melting spread.

She couldn’t remember why she originally objected to his kissing her, but she’d officially changed her position on it. He was really, really good at it, she discovered, and she wanted more. She felt the warmth of his breath in her hair as she snuggled against him. She tried to catch her breath.

“It might be tough to be engaged to a woman who hated me,” he continued. “I’ve dated women who’ve hated me. I’ve even slept with a few of them. They weren’t wearing my ring, though.”

Emily had to smile. “There’s a first time for everything.”

She heard his low chuckle. He hadn’t let go of her. She could get used to this.

“Back to the subject.” He thought for a moment. “Maybe you should talk with your dad about all this.”

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