Page 95 of The Emma Special

Chapter 27

James Threw Away The Key

James was a king. He could hardly contain the power simmering beneath his skin as he opened the back door to Anderson and Associates.

Nothing could stop him today. He nodded to Florence rinsing the carafe in the breakroom. “Good morning, Florence.”

“Morning, James. Congratulations!” Her familiar smile fed his happiness. “I have a little something for the new Mrs. Moore. Stop by the lobby before you head out, honey.”

“Will do. Thanks.” He kept striding down the hallway, lifting his thermos of fresh coffee. What a sad, sad state of life for those men left to drink breakroom sludge. Not James. He wanted to stand on a rooftop and crow. He’d never have to settle for anything less than the best ever again because his wife sent him out the door with The Emma Special.

Not to mention a forty or more second hug, a kiss on the cheek, and words of encouragement. He chuckled, realizing that he’d been whistling as he strolled to the boardroom. And why shouldn’t he?

How in the world did married men get anything done knowing they had a wife at home? His pocket buzzed, and his smile grew.

Emma: Katie has the afternoon off. She can take me to the appointment, and then it won’t interrupt your day.

James: I was looking forward to taking you.

Emma: You were not. Pre-op chauffeur driver is not your new calling. The world needs you! How will justice prevail if you’re driving me around all the time?

James: We can bring Katie if you need her, but I want to take you.

Emma: You’re sweet.

James: You’re sweeter.

Joy huffed when James slid into his regular seat around the boardroom table. Her blonde hair was secured in her signature low bun, and her lips pursed in a slight scowl. “Decided to grace us with your presence today?”

“Good morning,” James said, tilting his head to carefully engage the beast. “I’m not late, am I?” He checked his watch on reflex. No, he was actually three minutes early for their ten o’clock meeting.

His dad raised his eyebrows from across the long table. “We didn’t expect you in today.”

Tony Anderson chuckled as he rummaged through the papers in a folder. “Seems the new Mrs. Moore hasn’t figured out how to keep you in bed yet.”

Joy snorted. “Why would it matter? Emma lifted her skirt to him months ago. At least he’s doing right by her.”

James leaned forward, and leveled Joy with a piercing stare so hard she probably felt it in her bones. “That’s the last I want to hear my wife’s name come out of your mouth.”

James’s dad spoke in a voice that could have been heard down the street at the Sunshine Boutique. “I won’t tolerate any slandering of my son or his new bride in this office. Is that understood?”

Pride swelled in James’s chest, even as he blinked in shock. Jim Moore only defended those who paid him, and he wasn’t a man you wanted to go toe-to-toe with. The man knew how to be on the winning team.

Jim scrolled on the tablet in front of him before clicking to open a document. “Let’s get started.”

The meeting was quick and painless thanks to his dad’s aversion to meetings that could have been an email. James was able to off-load a few cases to Tony with the understanding that Emma expected to have surgery soon. He wasn’t sure how much help she’d require during her recovery, but it was better to get ahead of the workload now.

Joy and Tony’s comments about Emma continued to gnaw at him. Was this what it was like to become one with someone else? He felt any slight against Emma as if it were directed at him, and he wouldn’t sit around and let anyone get away with hurting her.

Harrison complained about his “ball and chain” all the time, but Lottie was one of the nicest people James had ever met. Now that James was married, he couldn’t imagine being happier. He was walking on cloud nine. Heck, he wasn’t stuck with a ball and chain. He’d willingly put his foot in the iron, locked it tight, and threw away the key.

He sat down at his desk to respond to a few emails, but focusing on anything other than the woman at his house was impossible.

Not his house. Their house.

Instead of working, he pulled out his phone.

James: I want to take you on a honeymoon.