Page 85 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“Mom, can you please just tell me one thing? Are youhappy? Is what you have right nowenough?”
“It has to be. I love him.”
Emery peeked outside with a hesitant smile, and he waved her over. She took his hand and he pulled her down to his lap. The knots in his chest began to unravel. He felt like he could finally breathe again. He tried to imagine what it would be like if Emery’s life suddenly took a stressful or tragic turn and she changed in ways that weren’t pleasant. As he gazed into her eyes, he knew he’d still love her just the same.
He looked at his mother, who was watching them adoringly, and said, “I think I understand where you’re coming from. Thanks, Mom.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
EMERY HAD WOKEN up in Dean’s arms Monday morning and they’d made slow, sweet love. Afterward, Dean had dipped his toes into learning yoga. They’d ended up kissing more than exercising, and when Dean turned onto his stomach and began doing push-ups, all his glorious muscles flexing temptingly, Emery had lain on his back.Can you handle a few more pounds?Dean had pumped out thirty more push-ups with ease before sweeping her beneath him and taking her in more delicious kisses. Drake and Rick had interrupted them and dragged Dean off for a run, which she knew he needed—the run,andthe guy time. She’d taught her morning class and then found Dean putting the final touches on the flagstone patio, which was beyond gorgeous. He’d called Rose that morning, as unbeknownst to Emery, he did most mornings, and he’d told hereverything.
Now, as Emery waited in Rose’s living room while Rose got ready for their session, her nerves got the better of her.
It felt weirdly confining to meet in her room again instead of the larger one downstairs, but Magdeline and Arlin were down in the theater watching a special showing ofGone with the Wind, and they didn’t need the extra space for their session. Emery had offered to reschedule so Rose could watch the movie, but Rose claimed she’dhad enough Clark Gable for one lifetime. She said she’d be happy toplunk herself down and watch Dirty Dancingif they ever gave her the chance.
“I’ll just get the mats ready,” Emery called into the bedroom, and began moving the coffee table and chairs.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were dating my grandson?” Rose called out to her.
“I knew you and the other ladies knew Dean because of his work in the gardens, and I didn’t want to make things weird for him. But I honestly didn’t realize you were his grandmother until I met his father.”
“Okay, I’ll buy that,” Rose said, as if she had a choice. “But what’s your plan now?”
Emery huffed out a breath, thinking about the weekend. After his mother’s visit, Dean had received a call from Jett, who was out of town again. They’d spoken for more than an hour, and Dean had seemed relieved when he’d finally ended the call. The rest of the weekend had passed in a strange bubble of contentment for Emery and Dean. They both thought it was odd that they could be so happy having breakfast with their friends, going swimming in the ocean, and out to dinner while the relationship between Dean and his father was in complete turmoil. But while stargazing on the patio last night, they’d realized the love they shared was exclusivelytheirs. Family would always have a hold on them on some level, and they were both determined to try to make things better with his father. But no matter what happened with his father, or in the future with any other family members, they knew it wouldn’t lessen what they felt for each other.
“Emmie?” Rose called from the bedroom, pulling Emery from her thoughts. “Silence is not always golden.”
After everything Dean had told her that his mother had said to him, she wondered if maybe his father just needed extra love and understanding. “I’m going to kill him with kindness,” Emery answered.
She heard Rose laughing at the same moment a knock sounded at the door.
“Want me to answer that?”
“Please. It’s probably Mag and Arlin realizing that even Clark Gable gets boring after a while. We might need to head down to the larger room after all. I’m just going to use the bathroom. I’ll be right out.”
Emery pulled the door open, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. “Mr. Masters.”
Surprise registered in the clenching of his jaw, and she saw a flash of Dean in that mannerism.
“Emery,” he said tightly, and walked past her.
Emery closed her eyes for a second, inhaling a calming breath. It didn’t help. She turned and found him standing in the center of the room, looking like a bomb ready to explode.
“Where is my mother?”
She bit back the urge to say,She’s busy being ashamed of you for your lack of manners, straightened her spine, and reminded herself of her resolution to be extra understanding. Forcing a smile, she said, “She’s in the bathroom. How are you today?”
He visibly bristled, clearly surprised by her kindness. “Late for a meeting.”
“I’m sorry. I meant, how areyou. I wasn’t asking about your schedule. You had a trying time Friday night, and I apologize for my part in that.” She felt herself shaking and clasped her hands in front of her, hoping he wouldn’t notice.
A deep V appeared between his brows, as if he didn’t understand what she’d said. “Yes, well. No apology necessary.”
She had no idea if it was courage or stupidity, or why she was doing it, but her shaky legs carried her toward him. “I believe an apology is necessary. I was raised to be polite, and though I have no idea why you don’t approve of my career, or my being with your son, I am sorry for whatever I’ve done to cause strife between the two of you.”
His eyes narrowed. “It’s not my job to approve or disapprove of your career.”
“Darn right it’s not,” she said before she could check herself, but he was looking at her with a piercing stare. She’d be darned if she’d allow him of all people to spend one more second making her feel small.
