Page 63 of Blitzing Emily

“I’m sorry to hear it,” he said. She wasn’t meeting his eyes. He’d bet his next contract bonus that the guy dumped her. Women didn’t cry like this over telling a guy to hit the road. They put on some spike heels, called their girlfriends, and hit the club instead. In the meantime, the guy in question was an idiot.

“It wasn’t working, but I can’t figure out why I’m crying like this.” Amy sniffled a few more times, and reached out to pat him on the knee. “I’ll get myself together and clear out. You’d like to be alone with my sis.” She started to get up from the couch, and Brandon reached out for her elbow.

“No. You need some girl time right now. That Ben & Jerry’s isn’t going to eat itself, you know.”

Amy gave him a watery smile. “Want to split it with me?”

AFEW DAYSafter the opera benefit, Emily was on a plane again. Her performances with San Diego Opera went well. She stretched to doTurandot, and the outcome was worth it. These were the greatest performances of her career so far, in a venue that would get international notice in the opera world. To say she was happy about this was an understatement. There weren’t words to describe how it felt. It also didn’t hurt that she had a wonderful and tragic death scene, too. She didn’t want to leave the stage afterward, and she didn’t come down from the adrenaline high of having an audience fall in love with her and her voice for hours afterward.

She scheduled additional practices and worked with others in the production to make sure everything was seamless. She got wonderful reviews, and David was fielding even more calls from opera companies hoping for holes in her schedule. The media was also interested in the diva with the NFL-playing fiancé. She spent every post-performance evening on the phone with Brandon. He wasn’t able to be there. He was ramping up his lifting and required practices before training camp.

“So, you miss me?” he asked every night, with laughter in his voice.

“Yes, I miss you. Do you miss me?”

“Hurry home, sugar.”

No matter how long they talked, there was always more to talk about. He never said a word about ending their engagement, and she wasn’t going to bring it up. She was having too much fun with him. Obviously, it was really helping her career ... or so she kept telling herself.

EMILY ARRIVED BACKin Seattle just before Memorial Day weekend. She missed the routines of home, but mostly, she missed Brandon. The slow progression of their relationship was about to undergo its first big test. Brandon was coming to Sunday dinner to meet her parents. When the day arrived she broached the subject at the breakfast table.

“Good job, sugar.” Brandon pushed his empty plate away and patted his stomach.

“All it took was a phone call.” Restaurant takeout was a modern miracle. Emily was still attempting to master the basics of cooking without supervision. She took a deep breath. “Baby.”

“Hey, where’s my latest nickname?”

“For today, you’re Godzilla.”

He laughed, and squeezed her hand. “You look a little apprehensive.”

“It’s my parents. I don’t even know how to explain them.”

“Try me.”

“They’re still really mad about the engagement.” She gripped her hands together. “They accepted James because they thought he understood my schedule and my goals. I’ve told them they need to meet you before they make up their minds about who you are and why I’m with you.”

He let out a chuckle. “I wish I cared about James, but truthfully, sugar, I don’t. Right now, though, what you’re trying to tell me is that I may not get an especially warm reception from your parents.”

“I—I’ve talked to them about you. They’re freaking out.”

“I spend all day Sunday from September to February dealing with people who don’t necessarily like me.” Emily felt herself relax at his amusement. “Listen. I’m going to dinner. I’ll do my best to show them I’m not a jerk.”

“Everyone else loves you.”

“You’re good for my ego.”

“It’s true,” she said. Everywhere they went, women were helpless in the face of his charm. Emily should know. She was one of them.

The ride to Emily’s mother’s house was quiet until Brandon murmured, “Penny for your thoughts.”

“I’m nervous.”

“I’m the one who’s supposed to be nervous,” he said, but his lips curved into a teasing smile. “It’s going to go perfectly.”

Emily’s nerves increased as she reflected on the fact Amy wouldn’t be at dinner today. She was delivering and setting up wedding flowers. She might stop by later.

Brandon pulled into a parking space in front of her mom’s house. As Emily reached down to pick her handbag up off the floorboard, he slipped his arms around her.

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