Page 25 of Unveiled Wishes

“He’s adorable,” Emily cooed.

My imagination raced, trying to picture what my kid with Em would look like. I must not have hidden my thoughts very well because How made faces at me behind Emily’s back. I looked at him as if he was crazy, not getting the message. It wasn’t until Flo squeezed my bicep that the slight twinge brought me back to reality.

“Thank you. He has his uncles wrapped around his little pinkie.” Flo patted my arm again before she let go. “There’s nothing going on until dinner, so I figured you might want a nap this afternoon. How can show you to your room. It’s all ready for you.” Flo smiled.

“Thank you. That sounds nice. It snowed last night, and I left a few hours early to make sure I made it to the airport. They weren’t leaving without me.”

“Come on, princess.” How grabbed the handle of her suitcase and led Em to the spare rooms.

Flo waited until they had reached the hallway before she laughed at me. “If you’re going to win her back, you need to work on your conversation skills. You stood there staring at her, rubbing your foot on the floor.”

I didn’t know why I asked. It came out before she could walk back into the kitchen. “Will you help me?” I asked her. “I don’t know what I am doing.”

“Relax and figure out what you want, and then go from there.” She turned and walked away from me. I went to call out to her again, but she turned around at the kitchen door and watched me. “Sabre didn’t have a choice. He had to decide if he was going to be in JR’s life. You’re the type of man who needs to live in the moment. Don’t think about the future because it’s just going to overwhelm you.” She left, walking through the kitchen door.

Chapter 10

Actions Speak Louder

Emily

I knew why my brother, and Tyler to some extent, had patched in with the Iron Shield. There was noise and chaos everywhere, and for my brother, it differed from what we had grown up in. My parents had hardly been home, instead choosing to leave us with nannies and staff. The penthouse halls had been silent, but the club filled their home with laughter. It was addictive.

There was this charge in the atmosphere. I didn’t know what it was, but I wanted to gather some of it and take it with me back to New York. The city was a lonely place, and I was collecting as many memories as possible.

It was a good thing that Eric and I had discussed the past. Anytime Tyler and I were in the same room, the brothers targeted him mercilessly. They didn’t direct the comments at me, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable. However, I had secondhand embarrassment for Tyler. If one brother started in on him, it wouldn’t take long for a few more to keep the conversationgoing. My brother never joined in, but he’d diffuse the situation if necessary.

I was grabbing a seat across from Eric at breakfast when, a little further down the table, Op pulled out the chair next to him. He patted the seat and called out to me, “Hey, Emily. Why don’t you come sit next to me? I need some answers about your man over here.” He pointed to Tyler, who was sitting across from him.

“I’m single.” I sat my plate down on the table and pulled out my seat.

“See, Zook? Even better,” Op said, pointing his fork at him. “Emily, your man said he had to make amends, but I haven’t heard him speak two words since you got here.”

“You know, Op. It’s not really words that matter. Actions speak louder.” I didn’t want to put Tyler on the spot. If he wanted to get into my good graces, then he had to be the one to make the effort, and not just because one of his brothers pushed him into it.

“Seriously, Op. Leave them alone,” Eric stepped in. “Just because you love ’em and leave ’em, doesn’t mean everyone else does.”

“What about you? I don’t see you bringing anyone home to meet the family.” Op turned to my brother.

“If I was, you’d be the last person I’d introduce them to. ‘This is Op. He’s the creepy uncle, so make sure you’re not alone with him.’” My brother winked at me and then swallowed a forkful of egg.

“I accept that.” Op went back to eating breakfast, but it wasn’t long before he tried again. “So, Em, do you have any prospects in New York?”

“Why? You thinking about moving to the city?” I asked, not taking him seriously at all.

“Nah, it’s too fucking cold.” He pondered that thought for a minute. “If I found myself a rich cougar, I could play kept husband.” Op stroked his chin, as if it was a real possibility.

I looked at my brother, and he raised his head to look at me. We both smiled at the same time and said, “Mrs. Porter.”

“Is she still on the prowl?” Eric asked me.

“Her latest boy toy just aged out of her system. Once they hit twenty-five, she’s done with them. I haven’t heard that she’s looking for a replacement, but it’s probably only a matter of time. Op might be a little old.” I loaded my fork with a piece of watermelon.

“I’m not old. This is Grade A choice beef.” Op stood from his chair. Raising the bottom hem of his shirt, he displayed his six-pack stomach and one side of his adonis belt.

“Don’t ruin my breakfast. No one wants to see that shit,” Tyler spoke up. I could appreciate a well-built man, but Op would never be Tyler.

“Eleven words. That’s progress.”

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