Chapter Thirteen
Austin
I don’t like the worried look on Emi’s face before she disappears into Martin’s operations room, but she obviously wants some privacy, so I force myself to stay put. As I drop her fish in the live well, Martin comes over to reset the pole.
“How long have you been seeing Emmélie?”
His tone is casual, and his focus is on his task, but I recognize a fatherly interrogation when I hear one. I suppose it’s only fair, since I’ve never actually seen her real father for him to question my intentions toward his daughter. I’m not sure if that means he doesn’t care or he just doesn’t think I’m worth acknowledging. Or maybe he doesn’t even know I exist. I’ve only picked her up a few times, and she always met me out on the driveway. Maybe for all Vincenzo DeLuca knows, Emi has just been hanging out with friends.
“Couple months now,” I say, drying my hands with a towel. “It’s nothing serious, though. We’re just enjoying each other’s company.” I should leave it at that. But I don’t. “For now.”
Dark eyebrows shoot up, wrinkling his brow, but he still doesn’t look away from what he’s doing with the pole. “You want more?”
I glance over at my dad, who’s pretending not to listen from a few feet away, but he might as well be holding a microphone boom over my head trying to listen in. I doubt he’ll have much luck with the breeze and sound of the waves, though, which is fine with me.
“Yeah, I do. I’m just not sure I’m what she wants or needs. Plus, I get the impression her dad wouldn’t be thrilled about us.” I rub the back of my neck and sigh. “It’s complicated.”
Martin finishes and turns to me. His expression is kind but serious, like he wants to help me but he won’t tolerate any bullshit. It’s not unlike some of the looks I’ve gotten from my dad over the years. “The French have a saying: Á coeur valliant rien d’impossible. Nothing is impossible for a willing heart.”
“You’re saying I need to face her dad if I want to keep Emi.”
“No, not her father,” he says, then pokes me in the chest. “Your fears. You think you are not good enough for her, I can see it in your eyes. But you cannot decide what your worth is to her, so stop trying.”
Blowing out a deep breath, I gaze out at the horizon. Martin’s right. I’ve been letting my concerns about coming from different worlds stop me from pursuing her the way that I want. I’ve never been a man who does anything half-assed, but I’ve been dragging my feet with pushing Emi for more for fear of rejection; fear that maybe I’m just a way to pass the time for her and when she’s tired of me, she’ll leave me behind for a man from her world.
No more of that. It’s time for me to sack up and put everything out on the table. “Thanks, Martin, I appreciate the advice. Think I’ll go check on her.”
I take the few steps to the door, but before I can knock, Martin calls my name. I turn back.
“That thing about facing her father if you want to keep Emmélie…” he says.
“Yeah?”
“That is also a good idea.”
“Yeah, I figured as much,” I say with a wry smile. He nods and walks back to my dad, apparently done doling out his wisdom for the time being. I knock on the door. It’s been quiet in there for the last minute, so she’s either being read the riot act or she’s off the phone. She opens up wearing a half grin that doesn’t reach her gorgeous eyes, and when she tries to come out, I crowd her back inside and close the door behind us.
“Austin, I’m fine, let’s go and—”
“Hey,” I say, cupping her face, “talk to me. What was all that about?”
Her hands encircle my wrists as she worries her bottom lip, and I can see those wheels spinning, carefully thinking of what she wants to say before responding. “My father called about the annual charity event his company is holding next week for Live.Love.Dance., an organization that brings art and dance to underprivileged children across the world. I took over planning it after my mom died, and an entire table of guests has canceled due to some crazy illness. He needs me to fill the seats. It won’t be easy, since it’s so last minute, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
She doesn’t look like she thinks it’ll be fine. The lines around her mouth are tight, and her shoulders are visibly tense. I lead her to the small loveseat opposite the captain’s chair. She sinks into the cushions, and I turn to face her with my arm resting across the back. “How many seats do you need to fill?”
“Eight,” she says dejectedly. “I’ll think of something, and if not, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just that things are kind of strained with my dad right now and I was counting on the event’s success to put him in a good mood so—”
“I can fill eight seats.”
Her head snaps up, and she narrows her eyes slightly like she’s waiting for the punchline. “It’s two thousand dollars a plate.”
“That’s not an issue. Besides, it’s for a good cause, right?”
“Are you one of the eight seats?” she asks hopefully.
“Unless you have an objection to me being there.”
“You might be the one with the objection. It’s black tie.”
I shrug. “Monkey suits aren’t my favorite thing to wear, but I have a feeling seeing you in an evening gown will make any discomfort well worth it.”
At last, her real smile spreads across her face, and it lights up my fucking world. Cupping the back of her neck, I touch my forehead to hers and sigh with contentment, whispering her name. “Emmélie…”
I told her before that I wouldn’t push or ask her for more than she was willing to give, but every day it’s gotten harder to pretend this hasn’t turned into something very real for me. What’s worse is that I think it has for her, too, but whatever’s holding her back has a damn tight grip on her, and I don’t know how to break it. I’m not even sure I can, but fuck if I don’t want to rip apart whatever’s got her.
Besides that, what Martin said hit home. I need to swallow my petty insecurities and make my feelings for her known. I won’t make the same mistakes my friends did by not communicating what I want. That’s not my way, and I’m not going to lose this girl over a simple misunderstanding.
“Emi, I want to be with you. Really with you. No more of this casual, friends-with-benefits thing we’ve been doing.”
“I know,” she says softly, and I can see in her eyes that she does. “I want to be with you, too.”
My heart feels like it’s going to fly right out of my chest, but I tamp down the celebrating. I haven’t won yet. “What’s holding you back?”
She pulls back and stares at her hands in her lap. “My father. He has very specific expectations for how I live my life and who I live it with.”
In for a penny… “Then why don’t I come over and introduce myself?” I tip her chin up to meet my gaze. “Every father wants to know the person his daughter’s spending so much time with is a decent guy, and I’ve never met a parent I couldn’t charm. I’m sure after he gets to know me it won’t be so bad.”
“Really? You would do that?” she asks, the hint of hope curving the corners of her mouth.
“Absolutely. I can’t wait to finally meet him.” And by “can’t wait,” I mean “wouldn’t mind putting off indefinitely.”
“God, Austin, that would be great. He’s extremely old-fashioned. I think he’d really appreciate you taking that approach with him. I’ll talk to him tonight and then, after he’s had a few days to get used to the idea, you can come over for dinner. Fair warning, he’ll probably be gruff, bordering on rude, when you first meet him.”
“I get it, Emi. If I was in his shoes, I’d be the same way.”
“I’m sure once he sees what a great man you are and how happy you make me, he’ll be fine.”
I can tell she doesn’t completely believe her own sentiments, but I’m choosing to ignore that for now. Smiling from ear to ear, I lean in slowly. “I make you happy, princess?”
“Yes, you make me very happy.” She wraps her arms around my neck. “Among other things.”
“Mmm, let’s explore some of those other things.” I nuzzle and nip at her neck as I haul her legs over mine and slide my hand down to palm her ass.
She giggles, angling her head in invitation. “You’re going to lose that bet if we don’t get back out there.”
I pull back and smile down at her, soaking up the joy I see on her beautiful face. “Best two hundred bucks I ever spent.” Then I go in for a kiss.