Page 111 of That One Night
“I know.” She nodded. “But I need to be on the back of your bike right now.”
“Okay.”
He got back on his bike, trying not to react as she climbed on behind him, her body warm against his back. She fitted against him like they were made for each other, her arms wrapping around him, her head against his spine.
It warmed him more than he could say that she was letting him take the strain right now. There were times for words and there were times for actions. She was better with the former and he was always so much more at ease with the latter.
But right now her actions were telling him that he had some hope. For their future together.
It was only a couple of minutes before he turned onto the lane leading to their farms. She kept her tight hold on him, like she needed this closeness as much as he did.
And when they reached the offshoot that housed their farms, he slowed down to a stop, turning to look at her.
“You want me to pull up outside your place or mine? Or let you off here?” he asked her.
Because if he pulled up outside hers, and her mom saw her climbing off his bike, she’d have a thousand questions. He needed to know that Emery was ready to answer them.
Their eyes caught for a moment. God, she was beautiful. “Mine,” she said.
There was a stubbornness in her jaw that warmed him. She might have just gone ten rounds in the ring with her ex, but she was ready to face her mom, too.
“Let’s do it.”
Her arms tightened around his waist as he took a right into her mom’s drive, stopping next to her steps, cutting the engine and kicking out the stand. He climbed off, turning to look at the woman he loved sitting on his bike, her hair flowing down her shoulders, her eyes shining.
Then he helped her off, his hands warm and strong on her waist, and she took a long breath in as he kept them there.
“Emery?” her mom said, opening the front door, looking confused when she saw her daughter standing in Hendrix’s arms. “What’s going on? Where’s Trenton?”
Emery frowned at the mention of his name. Like she was trying to make a point, she put her hand in Hendrix’s, squeezing it tight. “You’re coming in with me, right?” she asked him.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Emery? What’s going on?” Her mom sounded almost frantic.
“It’s a long story,” Emery told her. “Can we come inside? And maybe get some sweet tea?”
“Him too?” Her mom asked, frowning at Hendrix.
Emery winced at her mom’s tone. “Can you at least call the man I love by his name?” Emery said.
And for a second, there was complete silence. Her words felt like a mac truck hitting his chest. But in a good way.
The best of ways.
She loved him. After all he’d done. He didn’t deserve it, but he would take it.
He’d work so damn hard every day to be the man who deserved her.
“The man loves you, too,” he said, his eyes meeting Emery’s. Her lips parted as she exhaled softly.
There were tears in her eyes.
Emery’s mom was still staring at them, completely confused.
“Mom, I know this is a shock. There’s a lot I have to explain to you and I will,” Emery promised. “But you need to know that Hendrix is a good man and I’d like you to treat him that way.”
Her mom looked from her to Hendrix, like she wasn’t sure what to do next. “But Trenton is your fiancé. How can you be in love with another man?”
