Page 84 of The Emma Special

Emma shrugged, and a grin pulled at the corners of her mouth.

He sipped slowly and groaned after the first swallow. “Wow. Here, take the list. The answer to everything is yes, whatever you want, m’lady. The kingdom is yours.”

Emma chuckled. “I showed you how to make it at the office,” she reminded him.

“Yeah, but I can’t get it right. It’s magical when you make it.”

She rolled her eyes and offered her hand, palm up. “Will you pray for us?”

Hand in hers, he bowed his head. “Thank You for this food and the hands that prepared it. May You bless our day, our bodies, and our spirits. In the name of Jesus, amen.”

A few bites in and his taste buds were in heaven. “How did you work this miracle?” He gestured to his plate. “I wasn’t reading this stuff for an hour, was I?”

“It’s easier than programming Cody the Copier. That was twenty minutes. Anybody who can read a recipe could do it.”

“You’re amazing.”

“Flattery will get you everything. So, let’s talk through it. I know you have to get to work. I could tell you were in deep study mode. What do you take issue with?”

“I like it. It’s a very thorough list.” He washed down his bite with a swig of hot coffee. “It actually brings me a good amount of peace that you’ve thought about so many of these.”

“The girls helped.”

“Yeah, this didn’t look like your handwriting.”

“Allison. So, who will know the truth?”

“Daniel,” he answered immediately. “He already knows everything. The Kiss and Tell Club, of course… Hmm.” James speared a shrimp and dragged it through the perfectly seasoned grits. “Not much to tell yet, is there?”

That’s right. He said the word. Yet. Would she pick up on it? He chewed slowly, filling his fork with another bite.

His alarm went off on his phone sitting on the other side of Emma. “Time to get ready for work,” he said. “Will you shut that off, please?”

She tapped his screen to silence the alarm, then glanced at him. “Do you have any rules for marriage?”

Just one nagging thought that he didn’t really want to bring up. He pasted on a casual smile. “Exclusivity?”

She cocked her head. “Isn’t that sort of the whole point of marriage?”

Relief rushed out of him at her reaction. “No other men for you. Good.”

“Did your mama drop you on your head as a baby? What are you talking about? Have I ever gone on about other men? Do you think I’d be sitting here cooking you breakfast, discussing marriage, if I had other men?”

“You’re saying I’m your last option?”

“What? That’s not what I meant.” Her voice grew louder. “I’m not seeing other men. If we’re getting married, that would be cheating, and adultery, and I will not do that, and if you’re thinking you can marry me and then⁠—”

“Hey, it’s okay.” He placed a hand on her back and ran it up to gently cup the back of her neck. “We’re exclusive. We’re on the same page. No other women for me—real or fake.”

Emma rapidly blinked. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have raised my voice.” She swallowed. “I don’t know how much you know about my mom. She’s been married five times, and I’ve lived with twice as many of her boyfriends growing up. I want nothing to do with that life.” She looked at him, her gaze serious and stern. “If any part of you wants someone else, do me a solid and leave now. At least then I won’t have the rug pulled out from under me.”

The vulnerability in her voice cut his throat. Loyalty and faithfulness meant something to her, and it was a good thing because it meant everything to him. He wiped his hands on a napkin and stood. “I think we need another hug.”

She set her fork on the bar and reached toward him without speaking.

James wrapped his arms around her body and lifted her until her feet hovered above the ground. “This is so much better than the other hug,” he whispered against her ear.

Emma giggled, and the vibrations seeped into his skin until he tingled with the mere sound. “Look at us. We’re making such progress.”