Emily glanced at Michael, whose face was set in stone. He eyed Trent, one eyebrow raised, and then looked away in clear disgust. His expression confirmed her suspicions the two of them had been shooting dirty looks at each other all afternoon.
Trent put his arm around Emily’s shoulders and spoke for her. “Em’s tired. I told her she should go home and rest.”
Michael leaned against the wall, regarding them through hooded eyes. “Maybe Em should speak for herself.”
“Michael’s right. I have a mouth.” Emily frowned at Trent. “So let me get this straight. You want to go out tonight…for networking purposes, but you want me to stay home on my own?”
“Well, when you put it that way.” A show of color danced across Trent’s cheeks, a veritable Aurora Borealis of embarrassment. “I just don’t want you to strain yourself. Don’t forget you have a touch of tendinitis in your left arm.”
“My right arm, actually. It’s only ever been my right arm.”
“Either way, I’d like to know you’re all rested up for tomorrow.” He smiled, the first one she’d seen in a long time, but it didn’t come anywhere close to reaching his eyes. His baby blues barely twinkled.
Trent did have a point. Michael and his crew were accustomed to heavy lifting and days full of physical exertion. Emily was not. She probably shouldn’t overdo it, but she didn’t appreciate the way Trent made his worries known. She’d been begging him to go out for weeks and he’d refused. Now she had an opportunity to grab a refreshing beer with some nice people and he wanted her to stay home and nurse her wrist on the off chance it might just start to hurt?
“I’m sure Trent only has your best interests at heart,” called Michael from the porch. “Don’t you,bro?”
Trent steered her toward the car door. “Exactly. See you guys tomorrow.”
Emily halted in her tracks, her hand on her car door handle. “Actually, I’d like to go out for a drink. Don’t worry. I’ll make it a quick one, so I’ll still have lots of time to rest my aging bones.”
“Emily…”
“Enjoy your networking, Trent. I hope it goes well. Call me, okay? I’ll be crossing my fingers for you.”
“Yeah, whatever you say.” Trent threw a look at Michael and walked away to his car. He didn’t kiss her good-bye. Hell, at this point, she would have settled for a shake of her hand or even a friendly noogie. It was as if he’d stopped touching her in any way.
As his car pulled away, Michael and his brothers approached. Michael touched Emily’s shoulder, and there was more warmth in his small gesture than in any of Trent’s expressions of concern for her wellbeing.
“I’m glad you’re coming. We won’t keep you out partying all night long. I promise.”
“Hmm.” Emily stopped glaring at Trent’s imaginary exhaust fumes and looked at Michael. “Who says I won’t keep you out partying all night long?”
Three matching grins met her gaze.
“This one’s trouble,” said Eli.
“Knew it when I met her,” replied Nick.
“Come on, Trouble.” Michael took her hand and curled it around his elbow. “One of our haunts is just around the corner, within stumbling distance. So if we have too much fun, we can all crash at Nonna’s place and still be fresh for tomorrow.”
Emily tried to come back with a witty comment but they’d all dried up in her throat when she considered having a sleepover with Michael and his brothers.
She had the sneaking suspicion she’d arrived at a new milestone with Trent, one she wouldn’t celebrate in her later years. She’d disagreed with him in public. Of course, he had made a silly suggestion in telling her to go home and rest. Last she checked, she was still thirty-two, not seventy-five.
One thing was clear. It wasn’t so much that he wanted her to take a breather. He just didn’t want her associating with Michael.
Did he suspect she had a fascination for the contractor?
It didn’t matter. She hadn’t done anything wrong and wasn’t planning on ruining her relationship with Trent.
Only, more and more, she was beginning to wonder if she even had one.
