“Then they blackmailed me into going out on a date with each of them before they agreed,” Amy said.
So Amy only went out with Jake so he would agree to the auction. And she’d gone out with Robert too. The knowledge pleased Emily. She like Amy and didn’t want to be jealous of her.
“I see,” said Emily, “and Debbie won the auction, of course.”
“It was bad,” Robert said. “She was all over Jake during that date.”
Jake groaned. “She’s been pretty relentless since.”
“I don’t know,” Emily said with a teasing grin. “She didn’t stick around long today. Nor did she bother you the other day.”
Jake smiled back at her, his eyes twinkling. “No offense, Amy, but Emily is better Widow Repellent than you were.”
“I’ll bet she is. I saw her put Debbie in her place with a single comment.”
“You should see what she does to Jake with a single kiss,” Robert said with a laugh.
Jake’s fist shot out lightning fast, striking Robert’s shoulder.
“Ouch!” Robert rubbed his arm. “I did not hit you that hard.”
Emily couldn’t help herself. She laughed until she had tears in her eyes.
Chapter 27
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to locate the bank the key belongs to, Emily.” Ben sat perched on the back-porch swing while Emily relaxed on her usual lounge chair.
Relaxed didn’t really fit how she felt, though. Especially not on the inside. Grief and anger ate at her. Each day that passed that she couldn’t lay her brother to rest tied her stomach in knots, and knowing her life was in danger, kept her throat tight with fear.
“I’m sure you’re doing everything you can.”
“I should look outside of Spokane. I mean, if he didn’t want anyone to find it, maybe he put it in a bank in another city.”
“You might be right. I keep replaying my last conversation with him, trying to remember exactly what he said but...” Choking back the tears that clogged her throat every time she replayed how that last conversation ended, she sucked in a steadying breath.
Ben studied his clasped hands, letting her compose herself. Why had he come to the ranch today? He could have told her he hadn’t had any success last night when they were here for pizza, or he could have called. Did he have some other reason for coming? Out of everyone Emily had met since the accident, Ben was the only one who truly understood what she was going through.
“How did you cope, Ben?” The words were out before she could stop herself.
He looked up at her, eyes narrowed, jaw clenched. Emily considered clarifying, but she was sure Ben knew what she meant.
He raked both hands through his hair and let out a sigh. “I didn’t cope. Not well, anyway. And not for a long time. Not until Amy forced me to confront my grief.” He studied the wooden planks of the patio floor for a moment. “It took a whole year. A year full of darkness.” He lifted his eyes and met Emily’s. There was an intensity to their sapphire depths. “Don’t fight your grief. Share it with those around you. I hope you know you’re surrounded by people who care about you. Faith and Jake. Amy and I are here for you, and I’m sure you have friends and coworkers in Spokane you can talk to. Let them help.”
Is that why he’d come? Had he somehow recognized she was trying not to over-burden anyone with her grief? Especially Jake.
“Thank you, Ben. I appreciate that.”
The corners of Ben’s mouth turned up. “I think Robert established last night that Jake is strong enough to handle it.”
Emily’s face warmed as her own lips turned up. “You’re as bad as Faith and Lottie.”
Jake again. She always turned to Jake. Was she taking advantage of his compassion? Was she becoming too emotionally attached?
“Perhaps, but keep in mind we hurt the ones who care about us when we don’t let them help carry our burdens. And I think you know Jake cares about you.”
Emily looked away from Ben’s intense gaze. She knew. She saw it in the way Jake looked at her, in his gentle touch, in the intensity of their kisses.
She cared about him too. But would allowing Jake to continue comforting her forge a bond that wasn’t genuine? A bond she couldn’t handle when she’d healed a little, like she’d done with Trent after her father’s death?
