Page 117 of The Emma Special

“I just remembered. Summer gave me a natural anti-inflammatory. I should go take that now.”

She started toward the hallway, and James reached for her hand. She paused as he caught her and turned to face him.

“Don’t run. I didn’t mean to pressure you. I just thought it was… time. It felt right.”

The tightness in her shoulders unfolded, and the worried look faded from her eyes. “It did feel right, but I panicked. And then I made it weird. I’m sorry.” She was backing away quickly. “I’m… See you tomorrow.”

James loosened his grip until her hand drifted from his. “Good night. Sweet dreams.”

“Good night. And sweet dreams to you too.”

She disappeared into her bedroom, and James settled into the recliner in the living room. He was fully and irrevocably in love with his wife, and he needed to hope and pray he hadn’t just scared her off.

Chapter 33

James Has A Visitor

James turned to check the clock on his bedside table. Well past midnight. He’d been thinking for hours. No, he’d been worrying for hours. There was a difference.

What if he’d screwed everything up by kissing Emma before she was ready? He’d promised her he would be patient. What if she never wanted to kiss him again? What if the kiss was so awful that she pushed him away and decided she wanted a divorce. She wouldn’t do that. She was flustered and pushed him away, but… surely she felt something.

He flipped over to lie on his left side. Nothing he could do about it now. He’d sealed his fate when he sealed their lips.

There was no way he could wake up before dawn and go fishing. He flopped onto his back and reached for his phone.

James: Sorry to bail on you, but I’m sleeping in.

Daniel’s reply was almost instant. What was he doing up?

Daniel: You’re such an old fogey. Toughen up!

James: I don’t want to. I may have ruined things with Emma, and I need to wallow in my misery.

Daniel: Better not. We’re strong men. We don’t wallow.

Daniel: Wait. What did you do? I knew you were going to screw this up.

James: Thanks for the vote of confidence. It’s nice to know I was always doomed to fail.

Daniel: What did you do?

James: I kissed her.

The phone rang, and James answered Daniel’s call.

“Atta boy! You hooked yourself a keeper!”

“Does your elevator not go all the way to the top? I said I ruined things.”

Daniel sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Your Honor, my client would like to plead ‘oopsie-daisy.’ You didn’t tell me you were that bad of a kisser, dude.”

“It wasn’t the kiss! Well, it was, but not in that way.”

“Did you use too much tongue?” Daniel asked in the same tone he’d use if James had added too much lemon pepper to a chicken dinner.

“It’s not about the tongue either.” James pushed his hair back and stared up at the ceiling. “I don’t think she wanted to kiss me.”

“Ha! That woman definitely wanted to kiss you.”