“A smokin’ hot brother I’d love to bone.”She cringed.“Oh, god, that came out wrong.”
I winced in sympathy.“That has to be hard on you.I mean, I remember how he was at lunch on your birthday.”
She let out a long suffering-sigh.“Honestly?It’s awful.The man flirts with anything in a skirt.And I know he has his reasons for…being the way he is.But my heart breaks a little bit more each time I have to witness it.I’m trying to move on.But I’ve known him since I was nine-years-old.And I’ve loved him nearly as long.He’s my person, maybe even more-so than Emmett.”
“Wow,” I said.“I’m so sorry.But thank you for telling me, Meghan.It means a lot.”
“Now you have a secret of mine and I have a secret of yours.So, tell me about this super romantic kiss you shared with my brother.”
I groaned.“There’s not much to tell.He’s…perfect.But he’s also my boss.He kissed me.And I bolted.”
“Ouch.”
“Yep.”
“Kind of undermines the romance when you go and ruin it by running.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Anytime.Always here to lend an ear.”
I shook my head, fighting a smile.Meghan wasnothinglike the bitchy rich girl from freshman year.I hadn’t lied when I told Emmett I could see us being friends.
Perhaps we already were.
“So, now what?Are you going to talk to him?”
I chewed my lower lip.That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it?“I don’t know.I obviously have to talk to him, but I just…we can’t go there.So, let’s just forget about it, okay?”
“Sure, Callie.”She sipped her coffee.Her smirk told me she wasn’t convinced.But, for now, she seemed willing to drop the subject.
“Good.”I breathed a sigh of relief, taking another cautious sip.
The coffee really was impeccable.The complex flavors danced on my tongue, reminding me of Emmett’s attention to detail.But I pushed the thought aside.
I had to.
* * *
Even though Iwalked into the office an hour and a half later than usual, I was still only the third person to arrive.The other two?
Glenn and…Emmett.
They were leaning over a table looking at drawings, probably of the community development.We had some tweaks to make based on last week’s meetings.
“Oh, Callie, perfect timing,” Emmett said, looking up.I froze and broke into a cold sweat.
“Can you come take a look at this for a sec?”
“Yep.Sure.Happy to,” I said in a pitch far too high to be considerednormal.Emmett grinned at me, and I felt sweat trickle down the back of my neck as I approached the table.
He was talking, but I was just staring at his mouth, not processing a word.I dragged my gaze from his full, soft lips and forced myself to meet his eyes.They contained more than a hint of amusement.Busted.
“Glenn, could you give us a minute?”
“Sure.Time for my morning appointment with the loo, anyways.”
“Is he British?”I asked when Glenn was out of earshot.Emmett stood looking at me, delighted by my awkwardness.
