Page 36 of The Emma Special

“I see. And this one?” James pointed to a photo of little Emma hugging a squirrel with a megawatt smile on her face.

“Okay, okay, and we’re done here. Out!” She stepped behind James and started shooing him toward the door. “You need your beauty sleep.”

“Wait! I want to see more of cute little Emma.” He leaned into her hands pressed against his back.

“Show’s over. You ain’t gotta go home, but you can’t stay here.” She gave a hard shove with a grunt, and he let her push him away from the shelf. When he stopped again she poked a finger between his ribs.

He hit the lights as she pushed him out the door. Good grief, his laughter was turning into a delusional giggle.

By the time Emma locked the door, she’d joined his hysterics.

James opened the passenger door for her and made a huge sweeping gesture. “M’lady.”

“That’s princess to you, peasant.”

When he settled into the driver’s seat, Emma was still laughing.

“Why is it so funny?” James asked.

“It’s you.” She covered her nose and made a snorting sound. “You smell awful.”

James started the car. “Laugh it up, princess. When a dog marks its territory on you, it’ll be my turn to laugh.”

Her chortling had morphed into more of a giggle by the time they pulled into the drive of the house she shared with Katie. The porch light was on in front of the modest house, and an older Bronco was parked on the right side under a shelter of trees.

“Thanks for the ride, Jamesy Boy. Good luck fishing tomorrow. And…” Emma playfully punched his arm. “Play good at your court thingy.”

James’s eyes widened. “Play good?”

“Yeah.” She gave him an excited show of her jazz hands. “Go team, go!”

A smile pulled his lips. Emma was the ultimate cheerleader. “It means a lot that you believe in me.”

“Of course I believe in you! You’re the best lawyer I’ve ever met.”

“Because you haven’t met many lawyers.”

“No, it’s because I helped you get ready for the trial. You are so ready.”

“I do feel extra prepared now.”

Emma fidgeted her fingers in her lap. “Thanks for giving me a chance and believing I could do this. I’ve never had a desk job before, and I’ve been nervous.”

“You’ve done a great job,” James assured.

The glow from the porch light allowed him a sweet glimpse of her smile. “Thanks for that. And the ride. And lunch. And dinner. Thanks for all the things.”

“You’re welcome for all the things.”

She pulled on the door handle. “Good night.”

“Good night, Emma.”

James watched her leap up the stairs and disappear inside before shifting into reverse. Emma wasn’t like any woman he’d ever met, and it was getting tougher and tougher to be around her without wanting more.

But Emma was so full of life and wouldn’t be interested in the boring attorney who sat alone with paperwork on Friday nights. Except… they’d prepped paperwork for almost two trials and it had been the complete opposite of boring.

He’d tried to push his attraction to her to the back burner, but it wouldn’t stay there. He wanted Emma in his life. Not as a childhood crush, not as a co-worker. What would it take for her to see him this time?