She blew out a sigh."Okay, I'll just say it then.Although no, I'll say it on one condition."
"What's that?"
"My condition is that if I screw this up, if I embarrass you or embarrass myself, you'll still let me hang out with the girls."
His shoulders sagged."Do you really think I'm that bad?That I'd keep you away from them?"He shot her a quick look."They think the world of you, Harper.They're so much better off having you in their lives."He cleared his throat again before adding, "And I know they've come to mean a lot to you as well."
"They have.I adore them.And no, I don't think you're bad at all.I shouldn't have said that.I wasn't judging you; I was protecting what's important to me."
"Fair enough.So, now that you have my word that whatever you tell me won't come between you and the girls – now or ever – what were you going to say?"
She fiddled with her purse for a few moments."Okay.At the risk of embarrassing myself or both of us, I think Cash engineered this because he knows that I...that I like you."She let out a short laugh."Sounds like we're in high school, doesn't it?You're an attractive man, Emmett."
A rush of warmth filled his chest, hearing that.
"And I feel like there's, at least there might be, something there between us if we were to...but I know your situation and it's not...so I would never have..."
"But Cash..."he interrupted, needing to say something rather than leave her floundering for words, not knowing what he was thinking."Cash is perceptive like that," he said after a few moments.
"He is.I don't know how he knew but he saw through me somehow."
Emmett inhaled deeply and blew it out slowly before saying, "He saw through me, too, or he wouldn’t have meddled.I know that for a fact."He felt her turn to look at him but kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead."It's mutual," he said eventually, then waited, feeling as though those two words might crack his world in half.
He hadn't thought he'd ever feel like this, let alone admit it.He gripped the steering wheel tightly, waiting for her reaction.When she reached across and touched his arm gently, he felt himself relax under her touch.
"Thank you," she said."I can see how much it cost you to say that.Do you think that's enough for one night?"
"No, I don't.I'd be a coward if I backed away from it now."He could feel his heart thumping in his chest.But it was true, he knew himself too well.If they left it at that, he'd retreat for a while.That wouldn't be right.And surprising as he found it, it wasn't what he wanted.
"Okay," Harper said slowly."So...?"
"So, I have no idea what I mean.I'm just trying to be honest."
"I am, too.So how about this?How about we stick a pin in it for now.We've both admitted it.Doesn't mean there's any rush to figure out what, if anything, comes next.Does it?"
"No."
"And before you back off on me, Mr.—this doesn't mean I'm backpedaling.It means I'm trying to be respectful of you and your situation.And..."
"I know.Thanks, Harper."
He turned off the highway, following the road across the river before turning onto East River Road.They were almost back to Jim's place now."I'm not going to invite you in when we get there," said Harper."I'd love to talk about it.But I know you'll want to get home.The girls need their Papa Bear."
He smiled through pursed lips.
"Oh crap, I wasn't being sarcastic with thePapa Bear."
That made him chuckle."It's okay, I know.And you're right.I need to get home.But...maybe we should find a time when we can talk."
"Okay, I'd like that.But when...?"
He frowned."Not tomorrow.I have a long day at work.Saturday morning too.Then Saturday afternoon, Alana's invited Tanya and me to go and watch one of their rehearsals.It's some special one that parents and friends are invited to."
"Oh well, if nothing else, I'll see you there, then.Alana invited me, too."
Emmett slowed the truck as they approached the entrance to Jim Sheridan's ranch."Wanna ride up there together then?"
"Oh, I, uh, yes, if that's okay with you, I'd love to."
