Page 49 of Here With You

She grabbed the door handle, and before she opened the door, she looked over her shoulder. “But I got you instead.”

“I hope that’s better than ice cream.”

“Best dessert ever.”

She opened the door, and from his spot at the table, he saw Cormac. He’d forgotten about the candy.

“Hey, Cormac,” Emmaline said. “What brings you here?”

He lifted two large bags. “Special delivery for Uncle Miles.”

“Come in. we were just sitting down to eat your uncle’s meatloaf. There’s plenty for everyone.”

Cormac touched his belly. “I’m as full as a tick.” He walked inside and looked around. Miles followed his line of sight to the garden-like atmosphere of Emmaline’s house. He hadn’t noticed anything but her when he entered earlier, but now that he was more focused, he saw that she’d decorated it like a secret garden. He’d only been in the house a few times before, and it never looked bright and happy. It had been dark wood and pipe tobacco. A heaviness hovered like smoke in the residence, so they never hung out at Emmaline’s home.

“Wow, this place is—”

“I know, it’s over the top, but when everyone died, I needed something light and airy.” She returned to the table, and Cormac followed with the bags. “The house was depressing with its darkness.”

“It’s amazing,” Miles said. “I love how you brought the outdoors inside. Even on a rainy day, it’s sunny in here.” That was the exact color of the walls, sunshine yellow.

Cormac took a seat. “Did you ask Tiffany on a date?”

Emmaline snapped her attention to him. “Not for me.”

Cormac’s cheeks turned cherry pie red. “I meant, did you tell her I wanted to date her?”

All eyes were on him. Emmaline dug into the mashed potatoes and gravy and watched him like he was a new episode of her favorite soap opera.

“No, I just told her you were a nice person, and I thought you’d enjoy each other’s company.”

“She asked me to lunch.” A big grin nearly split his nephew’s face.

“Did you say yes?”

He nodded. “That’s why I’m so full.”

“Did you pick up the bill?”

Emmaline sat up. “That’s tricky these days.”

Cormac whistled. “I’m telling you. You think you’re doing the right thing by offering to pay, and some girls get all mad because they think you’re insinuating that they can’t pay for themselves, or they’ll owe you something. I want to pay for my date because I asked her to come and eat with me.”

“But she asked you,” Emmaline said. “So, how did you handle it?”

He smiled. “I told her it would be an honor to buy her lunch, and she let me.” Miles lifted his hand for a high five, and Cormac smacked it mid-air. “Then she told me I was sweet and gave me a box of chocolates.” He pointed to the bags. “Not the chocolates you ordered for the guests but a box she put together for me, and it had a heart candy right in the middle of the box. Do you think that means something?”

They both looked at Emmaline because they were dudes and had no idea how women thought.

“I wouldn’t propose tomorrow, but I think it means she might be sweet on you.”

Cormac blushed. “I hope you’re right. I’ve been admiring that woman from afar for at least a year.”

“A year?” Emmaline asked. “Why haven’t you made a move?”

Cormac seemed to fold in on himself. “I don’t have much to offer a person. Who wants to date a poor man when they could have a rich man? Don’t forget, she was married to the guy who owns that building.”

Emmaline seemed to bristle before them. “Travis Townsend had nothing but money to offer and look what it got him—a divorce.” She passed the plate to Miles, who hadn’t eaten much of it. “Besides, money isn’t everything.” She pointed to Miles. “I love your uncle, and he probably doesn’t have two nickels to rub together.”

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