Page 88 of That Kind of Guy

Absolutely. I’ll be here when you get home.

Home. My chest felt the downward tug of disappointment, though. Did ImissEmmett? I’d only seen him that morning, but I had thought about him throughout the day, felt his fingers in my hair and his arms around me and his lips on mine. A fraction of me pulled away, telling me that this feeling was too delicious, too indulgent and that it wouldn’t last. The rest of me wanted more. The rest of me wanted as much Emmett as I could get.

Come by the restaurant around eight,I texted. I hesitated but my fingers texted the words before I could hold them back.I miss you.

I miss you, too, Adams. See you around eight.

My heart swooped and dipped and I bit back a smile before slipping the phone into my pocket and opening the door to my office.

Elizabeth stood in the doorway with her hand poised, about to knock.

A big grin stretched over my face. “Hello, there.”

Her face lit up when she saw me. “Just the person I was looking for. How are you doing, honey?”

I nodded. “Good, good. Come in.” I stepped back and she followed me into my small office, taking a seat. “The chaos of this morning is over and now we’re back to regular chaotic levels around here.”

She raised an eyebrow, the same way Emmett did sometimes. “I meant about tomorrow.”

The wedding. Right. I glanced down at the sparkly ring on my finger, the one I had gotten so used to wearing I wasn’t sure how I’d ever take it off. I was getting married tomorrow. Fake married, but still, married. An image of Emmett in his suit popped into my head and a little thrill rolled through me. I took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m feeling good.”

Elizabeth watched with a concerned expression. “It’s okay to be nervous. I was.”

I glanced up at her. “You were?”

“Oh, yes. Terrified. It’s a big day! All those people, watching, staring, waiting for me to trip on my dress or say the wrong man’s name or bolt before I got down the aisle.”

I stared at her in horror. I hadn’t been thinking about any of those things, but I sure as hell was now.

She threw her hands up. “Not that you’re going to do any of that! And if you do, everyone will just laugh it off.”

“Okay.” I sounded dazed and unsure.

She put her hands over mine. “Sweetheart. It’s going to be great. I know it.”

I looked at where her hands covered mine and smiled again. “I know.” I glanced up at her. “I’m really lucky to have you.”

She melted. “Honey, no. I’m the lucky one.” She sighed. “I always worried about Emmett. He’s the oldest and he’s the one who takes care of everyone else. When his brothers get into trouble or need help, it’s Emmett stepping in. He’s always at the house, doing repairs and making Sam and I dinner and buying us things. He’s so independent and I always worried that he’d never have someone in his corner, taking care of him.” She swallowed. “Until you, honey. I’m so happy he has you. I can see how much he loves you.”

My heart thrashed in my chest, desperate to get out. This sweet, kind, sincere woman had been nothing but welcoming to me since the day she met me, and here I was, lying to her. My throat squeezed. Ididlove Emmett, though, I just couldn’t tell him. The only person I was lying to these days was him.

I nodded at her. I wanted to be that person for Emmett, the person in his corner, looking out for him.

“I love him, too,” I admitted, and the tension in my chest eased a fraction. It felt good to say out loud to someone.

Her eyes crinkled. “I know.” She gave my hand another warm squeeze, as if she could see my anguish. “Tomorrow’s going to be a great day, and we’re going to celebrate as a family.” She gave me a meaningful look. “That includes you, now.”

Growing up, it was always just my mom and I. Even when my parents were still together, my dad wasn’t reallythere. Sure, he lived in the house, but he’d be out late with friends, claiming he was networking or making business deals or whatever. I didn’t really know his side of the family, and my mom was an only child, so I didn’t grow up with cousins and aunts and uncles like other kids did.

So stepping into the Rhodes family like this, with them ushering me in with a red carpet, open arms and all, it was like sinking into bed after a long day at the restaurant. It was everything I didn’t realize I wanted. Family. For now, at least.

Heart, meet wrecking ball. Prepare to get smashed into a thousand pieces when this is all over.

“Alright.” Elizabeth smiled at me a moment before standing. “I’m really excited about tomorrow. It’s going to be a great day and we’re all going to have a lot of fun. Now, give me a hug.”

I stood and let her pull me into an embrace. She smelled like lavender and I mentally catalogued this moment so I’d have it forever.

After Elizabeth had left, I returned to the bar to help. Dinner service flew by, and the last diners were finishing their meals when Keiko took a seat at the bar.

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