Page 101 of The Emma Special

“Are you okay?” Allison asked from where she hadn’t moved on the couch. “Should I call James?”

“Don’t call James!” Emma exclaimed. “Why would you tattle on me like that? I’m fine.” She pushed to her elbows. “Who needs a husband when I have friends who dive in front of me when I’m being a total klutz?”

Summer chuckled beneath Emma, and the jostling had Emma’s laughter quickly following. Soon, all three of them were lying in a cackling pile on the floor.

The sound of the front door opening had Emma scrambling away from the dog pile.

“Well, well, well,” James drawled, pausing just outside the living room.

Whatever else he would or might have said was drowned by another fit of unhinged laughter from the girls. Emma couldn’t keep her act together for a second. As soon as one of them sobered, another snort or giggle would slip out, and the whole of them fell into a fit again. They were one big ball of happiness.

James stepped forward, shaking his head. “That’s it. I’m cutting you off.”

“From what?” Emma said with a high-pitched gasp.

“From pizza parties, I guess. I oughta left you with a chaperone.” With James’s help, Emma and the girls made it to their feet. Once standing, he let go of her arm and reached back to the floor to pick up the throw pillows.

Emma leaned to the side when a bout of dizziness overtook her and reached for his shoulder.

“Hey.” James caught her, pulling her against him. He held her close, and Emma had the strongest urge to lift on her toes and give him a kiss that would shake up his world.

Where had her inhibition gone? She drew in a breath.

She couldn’t go kissing him the day after they were married. Then he’d think she was ready for more. And she wasn’t. Women who threw themselves at men lost something in return. She refused to give into those base instincts this quickly.

These days, there were way too many couples who were all over each other for a few years and then whoosh! announcing divorce. Wasn’t Harrison already regretting his vows?

“What’s wrong?” James whispered.

Emma blinked. His warm hands supported her, and the room was quiet. “I’m tired,” she whispered back.

He nodded with a half-smile. “Party’s over, girls,” he spoke in a loud voice, not taking his gaze from Emma. “I believe my wife’s been overserved.” He leaned forward slightly. “Tell your friends good night so I can put you to bed.”

Emma caught the looks from her friends. All three rolled their eyes. Summer gathered up their dishes and left for the kitchen. Allison made a kissy face behind his back, and Katie waggled her eyebrows.

Then James scooped Emma into his arms and carried her to the bathroom. “Brush your teeth or whatever girls do before bed.”

When she opened the bathroom door, dressed in comfy pajamas, she found him exiting his bedroom in shorts, white T-shirt, and Lord help her, his glasses.

“Summer gave me this.” He handed her a cloth satchel filled with hard beans and a strong earthy scent. “She said to sleep next to this to calm your mind tonight. And Allison gave me a list of your favorite foods.”

“And Katie?”

James raised his eyebrows in question. “Hmm?”

“What advice did Katie give you?”

“You ready for bed?” James reached for her.

Typical, James. He never lied but chose to ignore the question. How did people let him get away with this? Experience told her that she could press him, but if he didn’t want to share, he wouldn’t. What did Katie tell him?

Emma settled into the sheets and reached for his hand before he could walk away. “Thank you, James.”

“You’re very welcome.” He squeezed her hand. “How are you feeling about tomorrow?”

Staring at the link between them, she let her walls slide down just an inch. “I’m a little nervous.”

James sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed the pad of his thumb over her hand. “Do you want me to pray with you?”