“No, Rosy. Emma is not some meaningless hook-on to me. She’s one of the finest women I’ve known and I want her to have every happiness.” I look up at Emma.
Our eyes meet and, for a second, there’s a deeper connection than I’ve felt with anyone in my life. Deeper even than my fondness for my favourite nanny, Tatiana, who had long blonde hair and enormous boobs. I swallow hard, staring into Emma’s hazel eyes and feeling a strange sense of longing, even though she’s just across the table from me. But there’s an honesty in our exchange as well that says we both know where this is heading. Nowhere, and far too fast for my liking. I might as well help her out a bit while I’m here.
“Emma is just getting her life started here and has some very big plans. Unfortunately, my life is in Avonia and I’m in the middle of something I cannot abandon.”
“So, you’re going to abandon her instead?” Darnell says gruffly.
I sigh, not knowing how to answer that. “We both have obligations and people who are relying on us. Does that mean we shouldn’t enjoy the time we have together?”
A resounding ‘yes’ comes from around the table.
“See, Emma? I’m not the only one who’s concerned,” Harrison says.
“Oh for…” Emma says, rolling her eyes. “Can you all just leave this alone, please? You know, Harrison, it’s not like you and Libby were thinking of eternity when you first started ‘seeing each other,’” I say, doing air quotes. “So why is it okay for you but not me?”
Libby nods and points a chicken leg at her fiancé. “She’s got you there, Harrison. I tried to warn you to stay out of it.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Why, because I’m a woman?” Emma asks.
“Because you’re my little sister and I’m supposed to protect you from sharks like this guy.”
“He’s not a shark,” Emma says, glaring at Harrison. “And you know, I’d think you’d be a bit nicer to the man who is going to save our arses.”
“I don’t want his help. Not like this,” Harrison says, folding his arms and turning to me. “Thank you for the offer, but no thank you. Pleasedo notuse your fame to help us book up our resort.”
“That seems rather short-sighted,” I say without thinking. “I can make your lives very comfortable.”
“Donotdo that,” Harrison says. “Because if you do, you’ll basically be turning my sister into a prostitute, and I won’t allow that.”
“A prostitute?! Are you crazy?” Emma asks. “I’m not sleeping with him for the recommendation on TripAdvisor! I’m sleeping with him because I want to.”
“That’s it. You’ve insulted Emma enough.” I stand and wedge myself out of my spot at the table. “The only business transaction Emma and I have is that she’s typing for me and in exchange, I’m going to help promote your resort. And believe me,I’mgetting the better end of that deal because Emma has spentweekshelping me, day and night, until her hands are sore, and what I’m going to do for you will take three phone calls and a couple of posts on Instagram. The other…aspectof our relationship has grown out of very real feelings for each other.” I look up at Emma and say, “Right?”
“Yes,” she says firmly. “That’s right. Very real.”
Our eyes meet again and we stare at each other, shell-shocked. What the hell just happened here? Emma swallows hard and gives me a small grin. And I go from being shocked to being foolishly happy in a millisecond.
And that’s when Starsky decides it’s time to hump my leg again.
“Starsky! Stop that!” Rosy says, tossing some chicken at the ground beside him.
“Thought so,” Will says smugly.
“You thought what?” Emma asks, scowling at him.
“That you want a real relationship with Pierce, but you were too stubborn to admit it.”
“So, that’s why you invited him here?” Emma asks, raising her voice. “To back us both into a corner so we’ll admit we like each othermore than friends?!”
“Pretty much,” Will says. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“For what?” Emma stands. “Saying we have feelings for each other doesn’t change the reality of the situation. He’s still leaving tomorrow and I’m still staying here,” she says, throwing her arms up in the air.
“But at least you both know the truth, which means you candosomething about it,” Harrison says, cutting into the conversation. “Do you think it was easy for Libby and me to admit we were in love?”
“It wasn’t,” Libby says, shaking her head. “I had just been jilted at the altar when we met and I was innocondition to start a new relationship.”
