Emily frowned at the baby, but kept it to herself that Cora May was too young to know a bug from a bunny or a bad word from a battle cry.
“And a word of advice,” Penni added, pushing away from the wall. As she passed Emily to head back inside the shop, sheleaned close and whispered, “Not for nothing”—her Brooklyn accent made it sound more likenot for nuttin’—“but it’s easier to give in. They always win in the end anyway. Fighting only prolongs the inevitable and makes you miserable in the interim.”
Emily scowled at her retreating back before turning to tell Becky that Penni didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. Unfortunately, Beckybeat her to the punch by saying, “She’s right, you know.” Then Becky also breezed past Emily and ducked into the shop.
Okay, it was official. This was the day from hell and—
Emily nearly swallowed her tongue when Christian suddenly appeared in front of her. Had he gotten taller? Broader? He blocked out the sun, and the heat of him reached for her like sensual, invisible hands.
Pluckingone of the cherries from her glass, he popped it into his mouth. Watching him eat it would have been a huge turn-on if she was allowing herself to think of him in sexual terms. Which she wasn’t. Shewasn’t! Case closed.
“What were those two going on about?” he asked, tilting his head toward the open garage door.
The wonder that is your glorious self, she thought sourly. Aloud she said,“Nothing important.”
He did that humming thing, and it hit her directly in the uterus.Damnit!
“Well, I’m off to make myself another drink.” She pushed away from the brick wall.
He glanced down at her glass. “Isn’t it quite early to be getting pissed?”
“Two things.” She held up one finger. “One, don’t judge me.” Up went a second finger. “And two, it’s medicinal. I have a headache.”
“You know…” He leaned in close, putting a hand against the wall beside her head. “I’ve heard hot, sweaty sex is a miracle cure for headaches. Something about the endorphins it releases.”
An image of him tying her to his bed, then looming above her all huge and dominant, had her breath sawing from her lungs. Despite her silent admonishments to them, her nipples tightened.
Christian seemedto know the effect his words had on her because… Yep. There it was. That self-satisfied grin.
He was too close. He smelled too good. She had to get away from him, like,now. Five minutes ago.
“For crying out loud.” She ducked under his arm. “Get over yourself. And while you’re at it, put on a damn shirt!”
His deep chuckle followed Emily into the shop, where she pressed herself againstthe wall and realized she was shaking with need, with hunger, with the urge to give in to him and all those bright, sparkly feelings.
“Still trying to convince yourself you’re not in love with Christian?” Boss asked, coming down the metal stairs from the second floor. He had a face only a mother—and Becky—could love. It was big and square and puckered with scars. Even so, his thick, dark hairand piercing gray eyes somehow combined to make him oddly handsome.
“I’mnotin love with him.” Emily wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince. Herself or Boss.
Boss didn’t argue, simply shook his head and turned down the hallway that led to the kitchen.
“I’mnot!” she yelled at his broad back.
All she received in reply was the wave of his hand.
Letting her head fall backagainst the wall, Emily battled her headache and all the mixed-up, jumbled-up, crazy-making feelings banging around inside her. “I’m not,” she whispered to herself, wincing because, even to her own ears, it sounded like a lie.
