Page 8 of Mine to Hold
“I really don’t know if that’s what she wants.”
“I just read the texts, man. That’s what it looks like to me and she hasn’t let go of that history.”
“There’s a big part of me that isn’t sure that at twenty I even knew what love was. I thought I did and I gave Edwina two years of my life. Looking back, I think I loved the idea of her. But I was young and stupid. I look at our life growing up. Being one of seven, as nuts as it was at times, was fantastic. I thought I wanted all that.”
“Are you saying you don’t want a family at all now?”
“I’m almost forty-three years old. I think that ship has sailed.”
“Jesus Christ. Have you forgotten you’re talking to yourolderbrother. I’m forty-five. My wife is in her early forties. We’re seven months away from having a second child.” He jerked his head toward Rumor, who leaned against the bar, tugging at her bun. “The reason I brought up Edwina is she’s the first woman to put that spark of life in your eyes.” He held up his hand. “Since then, outside of Tessa, all you’ve had are a string of one-night stands, short romances?—”
“I’m not a dirty dog.”
“I’m not saying you are,” Rhett said. “But in the last eighteen years you’ve had maybe three real relationships. Ones where we all thought you might have learned to trust again and be vulnerable. But as soon as the shit got real, you got out. Didn’t matter that your eyes danced with the promise of something bigger, you chose to let fear rule you. You and I shared that trait.”
Emmerson wouldn’t deny that fact. “Okay. I hear you. Edwina fucked with my head.” He shrugged. “I have serious trust issues with women. Outside of Seth and Nathan, we all did, thanks to Mom or some other chick who broke our hearts and trust. What does that have to do with Rumor or me renting my pool house to her?”
“We are our mother’s sons and we jump in with two feet and our eyes closed and I can already see the writing on the wall.”
“I’m not interested in Rumor like that. I don’t even know her. Besides, she’s too young.”
“That’s an excuse you’re trying to sell yourself. It’s not a big deal and trust me, little brother. I’m not blind. I’ve been sitting here with you for the last hour and you can’t take your eyes off her.”
Emmerson didn’t have the energy to argue. Rhett was right. Emmerson wanted to get to know Rumor. He wanted to know what possessed her to get tattoos. What they meant. Were they special? Why did she move to Lighthouse Cove? What was her history?
He had a million questions and they had plagued him all night.
“I’ll admit she’s gorgeous and there’s something about her that has held my curiosity for more than five seconds. But you know me, I don’t act until I know more. Not unless I’m being a dog.” He arched a brow.
“I doubt she’s the type of girl who does one-night stands.” Rhett laughed. “Look. You always overthink things. You’re the cop, I’m the private dick. So let me do what I do best. I’ll do the background check for the pool house. I’ll do a little research into her past. If there are any red flags, I’ll bring them to you. Otherwise, I’ll keep what I find to myself.”
Emmerson arched a brow. “I don’t like you knowing more about her than I do.”
“The point is for you to get to know her the old-fashioned way. You know, take her out on a date. Ask questions. Tell her things about yourself. If at any point you really feel the need to see what I’ve learned, we can talk. But if you do it up front, you’ll never go out with her to begin with, because if she even has one unpaid parking ticket, you’ll run for the fucking hills.”
Emmerson shifted his gaze. Rumor had moved from the bar, carrying another tray, this time filled with shrimp on a stick. She stopped briefly to admire Axel, Nathan’s one-year-old, and his new toy truck. It had been six months since Emmerson had been out on a real date. Two years since he had a girlfriend who lasted more than a month. He didn’t consider himself a lonely man. He was content in his life. He had friends, and he had his family.
But he had to admit, having a companion to share his life with would be nice. But his track record with women had to be the worst.
Although, if he were being honest, he hadn’t given anyone a real chance since Tessa and that was ten years ago.
“What do you say, little brother? Are you going to ask out Rumor and let me do the digging?”
“Yeah.” He took his beer and stood.
“You’re going to do this now? At Mom’s party?”
He stared at his big brother and lowered his chin. “Mother has already been on me to ask her out.”
“You asshole. You let me give that speech and you were going to do it anyway?”
Emmerson shrugged. “With Mom, it felt more like I was doing it for her.” He squeezed Rhett’s shoulder. “At least your little pep talk had my best interests at heart and wasn’t all about my sperm and the Kirby last name.”
2
“I’m sorry to have kept you so late.”
“It’s no problem,” Rumor said with a big smile. When she accepted this job, she’d been told that the chief of police didn’t just tip well. That if Rumor went above and beyond, she’d get a thick wad of cash and Rumor needed it. She’d spent more on the used vehicle she just bought than she’d wanted to, but she loved the damn car.
