"You amaze me with the work you do here in your shop. I…I can confess I've seen you from afar and I've liked what I've seen. You're so dedicated to your business, and from what you tell me, you have strong family values. That's attractive to a man like me."
"I think there's a compliment for me in there somewhere. So you're blown away by my business acumen and caring personality?"
"I didn't mean for it to sound so matter of fact. I also think you're hot. Is that what you were fishing for?"
My blush deepens at his words. God, I was definitely fishing for a compliment. I hide my face with the cup of hot cocoa, taking slow sips and looking at the fire instead of him.
"I've made a mess of things, haven't I, Emma?"
"I think you're hot too." I blurt out.
I continue to hide behind the cup of cocoa and avoid his eyes. The only sound we can hear is the crackling of the fire, and I'm suddenly very glad I was working late tonight. I would never have had such an intimate conversation with this man if that wasn't the case.
When I feel his warm hand brushing my hair off my face, my eyes go right to his. There's an intensity in them that makes me shiver.
"I'm so glad you said that, baby."
Chapter 4
Tristan
Emma's eyes grow larger, and I think maybe I'm coming on too strong. We've just met and I'm saying endearments to her. I lower my gaze and start looking around the one-bedroom apartment where she lives. There are a lot of knick-knacks on the shelves, but everything seems to have its own place.
The space suits her even though it's tiny. Makes me think that she spends most of her time downstairs in the shop helping her sisters. As I search for something to comment on – without adding an endearment – I notice Buddy is shaking.
"Hey, he's trembling. Do you think there's something wrong?"
"He's right in front of the fireplace, so he shouldn't be cold. Maybe he's having a bad dream. You can bring him over here and put him between us."
I get up and approach the puppy. I stroke his head, and he opens his eyes with a bit of fear and trepidation in them. This is a foreign place, and he doesn't really know me. I wait for a few seconds and then pick him up carefully. He's skin and bones, and a flash of rage goes through me.
Placing him between Emma and I, we both start fussing over him. His tail starts wagging softly as if he's beginning to trust us. Emma pulls a huge crochet blanket and throws it over her legs, over Buddy and over my own legs. Sitting here like this, seems like the perfect cozy picture of a family, and it stirs longings inside me.
"You want him, don't you?"
"I…I'm not sure. I spend a lot of time away from home. What kind of life would that be for a pet?"
"He's small enough that you can take him with you on errands. Be honest."
"If I picked up every stray I found, I would have my own shelter in my backyard."
"If you did, we would help. Furrylicious, I mean."
"Your sisters might not agree."
"I've got dirt on them. I can blackmail with the best of them."
"I didn't know having sisters was such a cutthroat business."
"We fight. A lot. It keeps things interesting."
I want to know more about this woman, but I'm not certain how to go about it. An idea jumps into my mind, but I don't know if the question I want to ask is too personal.
"Did you girls fight over boyfriends?"
"Oh God. Our poor parents. I was the first one to start dating, and all of them would mock me and sing the kissing song behindour backs whenever any boy was over doing homework with me."
"Homework, is it?"
