Chapter Twenty
Emma was falling for Vince.
Correction. She’d already fallen for him.
Hard.
A military guy, albeit former military, but still. Who was she and what had she done with Emma?
After another night of incredible passion turned into a midmorning romp, she wanted to do something special for him, so when the sexy man headed next door to check on Dom—under the guise of needing to shower and change—she dressed quickly and rushed over there, hoping to catch her neighbor while Vince was upstairs.
Knocking on the door, she mentally crossed her fingers for luck.
Dom opened the door and surprise lifted his brow. “Emma? What are you doing here?”
“Hello to you, too.” She chuckled, stepping inside.
Smiling, he shut the door and turned to her. “Haven’t you had enough of my brother? He just got back from your place. He’s upstairs in the shower.”
That brought decadent memories to her mind. With extreme effort, she pushed them aside. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”
He narrowed his gaze. “To apologize for letting Vince send Chelsea here yesterday?”
She laughed. “Sorry, but I don’t control your brother. And that’s not why I’m here.”
“He’s an idiot.” Dom snorted. “So what’s this about then? Is something wrong?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Everything is great. Your brother is always doing stuff for me. So I want to cook him dinner tonight, but it dawned on me that he knows my favorite meal, but I don’t know his. I was hoping you did.”
“Ah.” He headed for a stool. “Besides our mother’s chicken cacciatore, the only thing that comes to mind that he probably doesn’t have often is pierogi.”
A lightbulb went off in her head. “That’s right. He did seem disappointed when Leo mentioned…I think it was Beth? When she made it last week.”
Dom nodded. “Yeah. Go with that.”
Emma happened to have the perfect recipe. A family one. She used to make them with her grandfather, whose mother was from Poland. “Thanks. I will.” Excitement skittered through her. “Think you can keep him occupied for a few hours?”
He laughed. “I’ll try, but it’s hard to keep him away from you these days.”
Heat rose to her face. “Sorry. I don’t mean to take up all his time.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He shook his head. “In fact, I want to thank you.”
“Thank me? For what?”
Dom’s gaze turned serious. “For putting the smile back on his face.”
Why? What had taken away his smile?
The sound of footsteps on the stairs had Emma swallowing her questions. Now, more than ever, she was glad she decided to do something nice for the guy entering the kitchen.
“Emma.” His whole face brightened when he saw her.
Once again, hope stirred in her chest. Maybe he was falling for her, too. “You caught me.” She smiled and walked over to him. “I was asking your brother to keep you occupied while I cooked you dinner.”
Pleasure lit his gaze. “You’re going to cook for me?”
“Yes.” She slid her hands up his chest, while his hands settled on her hips. “Don’t look so surprised. I can cook. You just usually have something done by the time I get home.”
He smiled. “I enjoy it. Please don’t feel like you have to return the favor.”
Shaking her head, she patted his chest. “I’m not doing it because I have to. I’m doing it because I want to.” Then she kissed him. Once…twice…three times, before drawing back. “Come over around four.”
He grinned. “I’ll be there.”
All afternoon, excitement upped Emma’s pulse while anticipation tingled through her veins. It felt good to give back to the man who had given her so much happiness the past dozen days.
Opening the door to him when he knocked, she smiled and her heart warmed. He stood there, eager expression on his face, holding her favorite flowers. It never ceased to surprise her, but once again, the thoughtful man had remembered what she said during their brief conversation between bouts of great sex the other night.
“Vince. Thank you. That’s so sweet.”
“So are you.” Stepping inside, he handed the daisies to her and bent to give her a quick kiss before he straightened. “Pierogi?” He sniffed the air. “You made me pierogi?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “It’s a family recipe.”
He shook his head, disbelief rounding his eyes. “I can’t believe you went through all the trouble for me.”
“I was happy to.” She brushed his cheek with her thumb. “You’re worth it.”
Lifting his hands to hold her face, he gazed down at her with affection lighting his gorgeous amber eyes. “You are something else, Emma. Thank you.”
Warm lips covered hers, and moved unhurriedly in a lazy exploration that had her heart rocking in her chest. At that moment, it felt like their hearts touched.
Weird. Corny. Amazing. It left her feeling appreciated, and needed, and…wanted.
Something, Emma realized, she’d never felt in any of her past relationships. Sure, he was a military man, but he was different, and she was discarding her rule for him. Vince had a way of making her feel special. He was special, and she decided, then and there, to do whatever it took to keep the incredible man in her life. He was worth it.
In five days, he flew back to Texas for that wedding. Given the sweet way he looked at her and the emotion she felt in his kiss, he must feel the same way. Even though he’d made it clear it was only temporary when they began, she could only hope he’d want to continue to see her long distance, and wouldn’t break things off.
Emma didn’t think she could bear it if Vince walked away from her, too.
…
Monday afternoon, Vince had an unexpected opportunity to visit Emma at work, thanks to his impatient brother. Dom had called his doctor, requesting his checkup be moved up a few days. He’d tried to tell the idiot it was a waste of time. It was too soon to be cleared to do anything, but his brother had insisted on trying, and got lucky with a cancellation.
So he sent Emma a text and asked her to meet him on her break.
Since he was a few minutes early, he set the smoothie he brought her on a windowsill and watched people outside. Several were in uniform. The soldiers brought back memories of his time on the base for both basic training and when he’d returned for Ranger training a few years later. That was when he’d met Stone and Leo.
A smile twitched his lips. Man, the shit they used to get into.
“Vince?”
He turned toward the familiar voice.
“I thought that was you.” Stephan walked to him with his hand out. “How’s it going?”
He shook the doctor’s hand. “Good. My brother’s here for a checkup, so I thought I’d meet Emma on her break.”
Stephan cocked his head. “Still seeing each other?”
Something in the man’s tone sent his hackles up. “Yes.” He may or may not have puffed out his chest.
“I see.” The man nodded, gaze serious. “You’re sticking around then?”
Vince frowned. “Just until the doctor okays my brother to drive.”
Concern darkened Stephan’s eyes. “So you intend to leave.”
“Yes.”
“Does Emma know?”
“Of course.” He didn’t like what the man insinuated.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Look, Stephan, what’s this about?”
The guy blew out a breath. “I know I’m overstepping my bounds, and I apologize, but I’ve known Emma since high school. She’s sweet, and good-natured, and I care about her. I don’t want to see her get hurt, and that’s what will happen when you leave.”
“If you care about her so much, why haven’t you asked her out yet?” The question was out before he could stop it.
The doc stiffened. “It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it.”
“The timing has never been right.” Stephan shrugged. “Either I was seeing someone, or she was seeing someone.” He looked pointedly at Vince. “Among other things.”
Vince shook his head. “I’ve only been in the picture for two weeks. You’re trying to tell me you haven’t been single long enough since you started working here?”
“No, that’s not it.” Stephan seemed to study the floor. “I work with her, and I have this rule not to get involved with a coworker. I broke it once, and it came back to bite me. But, I’ll be honest, I am having a hard time keeping that rule with Emma.”
Too damn bad. He wanted to tell the guy he’d had his chance, but that wasn’t Vince’s style. Instead, he blurted out, “And if I ask her to come with me?”
Damn. Where the hell had that come from?
The other man reeled back. “Emma’s going with you?”
Vince dragged his hand through his hair. Seriously. What was he thinking? He’d already thought this through and the cons were too overwhelming to consider. “I don’t know. I haven’t asked her.”
“Oh.” The doc frowned, and silence stretched between them. Finally, Stephan shook his head. “Let me ask you this. Do you think it’s wise? Emma’s lived in Columbus all her life. Her home is here. Her father’s buried here. Grandfather’s buried here. Her memories are here. Job is here. Friends are here. That’s a lot to ask her to ditch to follow you to Texas to live in an unfamiliar place with a bunch of strangers, after having only known you a few weeks.”
Yeah, that would be crazy. And they were all things he’d already thought about.
“All I ask is that you consider her feelings, too,” Stephan said. “I can tell you care about her. I trust you’ll do the right thing.”
“Hi, Vince.” Emma came out, smile on her face as she walked over to slip her arm around his waist. “Hey, Dr. Greenwald,” she said to Stephan. “I think Dr. Harper was looking for you.”
The guy nodded. “Okay. If I don’t see you before you go home to Texas, Vince, have a safe trip back.”
Normally, he would’ve been pissed at that parting shot, but he realized the guy really did care about Emma. If only the guy had figured it out before Emma decided she needed to fake a relationship to get his attention.
The rest of the afternoon, Vince thought about nothing but Emma and pierogi, and by the time he finished the remainder of the incredible meal at her house later that night, he was ready for dessert. After they cleared the table and washed the dishes together, she sprayed him with water.
Her laughter snapped him into action. “Oh, you’re going to pay.” He grinned, reaching for her.
She squeaked and sidestepped his grasp, then rushed to put the island between them. “Have to catch me first.” Excitement sparkled in her eyes and they gleamed a beautiful blue.
She liked to be chased, did she? Vince grinned. Game on.
With adrenaline pumping through his veins, he chased her through the house and caught her in the hall. Using his body to hold her against the wall, he stared into her happy face. “Now what are you going to do?”
Laughing and panting, she held his gaze, and in that instant the playful mood turned heated.
Desire replaced his adrenaline—apparently hers, too—because they lunged for each other, kissing fast and hungry, their hands roving up and down and around, unbuttoning and unzipping, so when they finally drew back for air, their clothes fell to their feet.
As if on the same wavelength, they bent to remove their shoes, stepped out of their clothes, then lunged for each other again. This time when they kissed, he slowed it down, making long, lazy, deep passes, savoring her taste and the feel of her curves melting against him.
Her hands were in his hair, and she made a sexy, needy sound in her throat that sent awareness trickling down his spine. He loved how she pressed into him, like she needed to get close, needed to feel all of him.
He needed to feel all of her, too.
Without breaking the kiss, Vince picked Emma up and carried her to her bed. He wanted to take his time tonight, to kiss and taste every inch of her, imprint it to memory, in case this was their last few days together.
Releasing her mouth, he set her on the bed. “Lie on your stomach,” he said, then sucked in a breath at the sight of her mouthwatering ass. His groin fisted tight and his dick ached just looking at her. But he was going to do much more than look. Taking his time, he kissed and licked his way up to her shoulders, paying special attention to the back of her neck.
“Mmm…that feels good,” she whispered, thrusting her sweet ass off the bed against his throbbing erection.
Vince saw stars and forgot how to breathe. God, he loved how she responded to him. Needing more, wanting to give her more, he rolled onto his side, bringing her with him. As he continued to brush his lips over her neck, he reached around to cup a gorgeous breast, flicking her peaked nipple with his thumb.
She inhaled sharply and ground her ass against him.
Holy hell, he loved that. So he did it again, and again, pinching her nipple between his finger and thumb the third time.
Her low moan vibrated into him, and when he left her breast to skim his hand over her quivering belly toward the promised land, she tossed her knee over his and opened up for him. Happy to oblige, he reached farther down and slipped his finger into her sweet heat.
“So wet,” he muttered against her neck, his body already throbbing to be inside.
Not yet.
In and out, he slowly slid his finger, ripping sexy, erotic sounds from her lips while her hips continued to rock.
The back and forth motion sent her mouthwatering curves thrashing against his erection. He matched her thrusts with his hips and hand, and soon she was panting and gripping his hip.
Vince glanced over her shoulder to watch their connection, mesmerized by her bouncing breasts, loving how her hand trailed from his hip to his hand, as if she were afraid he’d remove his touch before she was done.
No chance in hell.
Changing the angle slightly, he slipped his finger out, and when he slid it back in, he brushed his thumb over her center.
“Vince…yeah…” She gripped his hand tight and bucked as she flew apart.
So damn beautiful.
He watched her for a few seconds, then brought her down slowly, her soft sighs driving him mad. It amazed him how in sync they were with each other.
Releasing her, he kissed her shoulder. He wanted to hold on to her forever.
“Mmm…” She twisted her face toward him and brushed her lips to his. “You always amaze me.”
He smiled. “Keep that train of thought. I’ll be right back.” He kissed her quickly, then slipped off the bed to grab a condom from his jeans in the hall.
It was time to take it to the next level. The thought of losing her, of not having her in his life, cut the breath right out of him. He wanted to share every part of himself with her, show her what he couldn’t say. To feel her need for him, let it surround him as he loved her with his body and silently opened his heart.