Page 115 of The Emma Special

Every day he tried to show her how much he loved her. He kept waiting for her cue that she was ready for more. Oh, she seemed happy enough and there was plenty of physical touch, but nothing that should be reserved for husband and wife. If he said the words would it make a difference? Would tonight be the night?

James parked in front of the house, not bothering to worry with the garage, and reached for the tux in the back seat. Time to put on the monkey suit and rub shoulders with the largest bank accounts in the county.

He slipped in the front door and scanned for Emma. If she was getting ready, he’d have to wait his turn. They rarely had problems sharing a bathroom, but today might prove to be their first scheduling conflict.

James spotted Emma exiting her bedroom. She was already dressed in a light-pink, flowy dress, and she tossed her blonde waves over her shoulder, revealing the buds in her ears. She pushed a cordless vacuum with one hand and whipped a dish towel above her head with the other, shaking her hips in time with music he couldn’t hear.

“Annie, are you okay? Are you okay?”

James froze by the door until her back was turned then snuck behind her to the bathroom. Minutes later, he was stepping into a hot shower. Maybe he could get ready quickly and still surprise her like he’d planned.

He’d just rinsed the shampoo from his hair when Emma’s singing grew louder.

“Take me home tonight!”

James pulled back the shower curtain, careful to cover his wet body, and tensed. Emma shook her hips as she wiped a rag over the sink.

“Emma!” James shouted to be heard over her music.

She turned slowly, and her eyes widened when she spotted him. There was a slight pause before she let out a bone-chilling scream.

“Emma!” He squinted against the shrill sound and covered one ear with a soapy hand. The other hand had the very important job of covering his nakedness with the curtain.

Her screaming continued as she picked up a bottle of hair gel and threw it at him. He shielded himself with the shower curtain just as a hair brush came hurling toward him.

“Emma!”

She bounced on the balls of her feet and waved the cleaning rag in the air. When her scream stopped, she inhaled a deep breath. “What are you doing here?”

“Showering. What are you doing here?”

She covered her face with the rag before tossing it into the sink and scrunching her nose. “I—I was—I didn’t⁠—”

“Emma, I’m in the shower. Unless you want to join me, would you mind stepping out?”

Emma stammered as she turned to the right, then the left, then right again before exiting quickly and slamming the door. “I didn’t know you were home!”

James dropped the curtain and stepped back into the warm shower spray laughing. He didn’t get the chance to surprise Emma that often. Was she surprised to see him or flustered by his state of undress?

He finished rinsing off and dressed in the twelve-piece tuxedo before peeking out into the hallway. No sign of Emma or her beautiful singing voice.

The house was too quiet as James tiptoed through the living room, out the front door, and to his car. The flowers were bright and blooming, just as he’d left them. The Southern heat hadn’t zapped them during his speedy shower.

He straightened his vest and turned the bouquet in his hands until the fullest flowers were facing out. Whistling an upbeat tune, he stepped onto the porch and rang the doorbell.

“Coming!” he heard Emma call from inside.

Don’t sweat. Don’t sweat. Why is it so hot? James was freshly showered and a damp ring was already forming under his collar.

Emma opened the door, and her eyes lit up. “James!”

“Emma.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss on her cheek.

“You’re so much more…” She looked him up and down. “Clothed than you were the last time I saw you.”

“You’re even more beautiful than when you’re attacking me with hair products,” James said as he handed the bouquet to her. “These are for you.”

“For me! James, this is so sweet.”