CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

Emma

Love. It used to be the thing I’d never dared to dream of. But now that I was standing at the precipice of a cliff, I could dive in or I could stand there not taking the chance. Not having a clue what awaited me at the bottom. Being scared of the what-if’s and never knowing. Or I could live my life without regret. Knowing no matter what the result, at least I’d taken the chance.

It was nearly three o’clock in the afternoon when I woke up in bed with Trevor. He slept like the dead after traveling, so I didn’t wake him. Instead, I dressed quietly, turned on my phone, and texted Simon. And because I didn’t want Trevor to worry, I penned him a short note telling him I was meeting Simon for a drink and would be back.

My boss and long-time friend knew the place without me having to tell him. How poetic to come full circle to the Manhattan pub where I’d first spilled all of my past to him in a drunken upchuck of information five long years ago. He’d shared his as well. We’d bonded. Then fought hangovers the next morning while trying to carry on a meeting. Now, there was true friendship for you.

I slid into the booth and met his concerned eyes. “Hi.”

“Hi. How are things?”

I took a deep breath. “Better now. He loves me.” I wasn’t sure why I just blurted it out, but Simon didn’t look shocked by it. Instead, he smiled.

“Of course he does.”

He signaled the waitress, and we both ordered pints along with a basket of pretzels. I didn’t hesitate inhaling the carbs.

“I don’t want to screw this up.” I meant it. If I was attempting this relationship thing, I needed to be all in.

“Then don’t.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

He laughed. “It is. Will you ever cheat on him?”

I was offended. “Of course not.”

“Lie to him?”

“Never again.”

“Those are the only deal-breakers I can think of. So, if you don’t do those things, and you trust him to do the same, what’s the problem?”

I blew my hair out of my face in exasperation. “I’m moody and sometimes need space to myself.”

“Then tell him that. Take a day. A night. Hell, a weekend. Recharge. I’m no different.”

“But you love spending time with Peyton.”

“I do, but similar to you, I’m used to my space, having had it to myself for many years. But sometimes now when I do get that, it makes me all the more anxious to get home. Having separation sometimes brings you together. Life-work balance.”

“For the first time, that phrase doesn’t freak me out.” To have a life outside of work sounded good instead of scary. Changing subjects, I had to ask, “Are you sure you want to resign from Phillip? I don’t want you doing it for me.”

He took my hand across the table, a rare show of affection between us. “Absolutely. In a way, the whole thing just made it easier to do now what I eventually wanted to do anyway. I love you like a sister, Emma. Always have. And when someone hurts my family, I no longer want an association with them. I wish you would’ve told me about Tom earlier.”

I swallowed hard, fighting the emotion over hearing a second person today tell me they loved me. “I was too ashamed. And by the time he joined the team, I didn’t want it to ruin the best job I’d ever had working for you.”

“I assumed as much. But understand nothing you could ever tell me would make me feel different about you. Unless, of course, you stop drinking Guinness with me. In that case, I will definitely have to reevaluate our friendship.”

I let out a laugh, squeezing his hand. “Thank you.”

He squeezed back before returning to his pint. “Don’t thank me yet. I have a whole slew of tasks waiting for you with our new venture. Assuming you will come work for me again?”

As if I’d say no. “Of course I will. What did Phillip say, by the way, when you resigned?” I was curious if Simon had told him everything.

“He said he’d fire Tom if I stayed. I told him I’d continue to consult for the next six months, but only if I never had to see Tom again. I added that he still should fire his nephew as he’s a liability. Last I heard, he’s out of a job.”

“Really?” I thought perhaps karma had been taking a snooze on giving Tom what he deserved, but now it finally seemed to be coming around to bite him.

“About time, if you ask me. He’s a liability to Phillip and his company.”

I let out a breath, feeling a deep sense of justice. “Guess it would be good to leave New York quickly.” The last thing I wanted was to run into Tom after he’d been fired.

“You think you’ll be okay with making Dallas home?”

“Believe it or not, I miss it already.”

His eyebrows shot high, and then he leveled me with a knowing look. “New York isn’t quite the escape it used to be, is it?”

“No, it sure isn’t.” Because home had taken on a new meaning.

***

Once I returned to the room, Trevor was up and seemed to have been waiting on me. I didn’t miss the relief in his expression. I guessed trust would take some time for both of us.

“Hi.” His dimpled smile made my heart beat faster. He pulled me into his arms, giving me a kiss before I could return the sentiment.

Pulling back, I murmured my hello.

“Why do you taste like Guinness?”

“I met Simon for a pint.”

“You drink Guinness?”

I laughed. “Yes. Although it doesn’t taste as good in the States as it does in Ireland.”

His grin was contagious. “Huh. Guess I still have a lot to learn about you. And evidently, we need a trip to Dublin to have a pint or two.”

“Guess so. By the way, who is watching Rufus?”

“Peyton is. We’ll return the favor next weekend when Simon takes her out of town to propose.”

I smiled, thinking it was about time. Of course, it had taken this long because he’d needed to travel to London to get his mum’s vintage ring. “Good. Um, now that we’re staying in Dallas, where are we going to live?”

“I thought perhaps renting a house with a big backyard might be in order.”

“So live together?”

He dipped his head to kiss my neck. “Does that freak you out?”

I took stock of my feelings. It had been quite the morning. They’d been bouncing all over the place, but now—Now, I felt peace about making future plans. “Not at all. Trev?”

His lips had been traveling behind my ear while his hands ran over my ass. “Yes.”

I leaned back, framing his handsome face with my hands and meeting his eyes. “I’m glad you didn’t listen to me when I told you to go.”

“Me, too.”

I took a deep breath. “Tell me you love me again.” Suddenly, I needed to hear it more than ever.

His smile came easily. “I love you, Emma. Without hesitation. Without reservation. And always without regret.”

Now it was my turn to smile. Because I couldn’t not say the words bubbling up from my heart any longer. He was amazing. “I love you, too, Trevor.”

His thumbs wiped under my eyes which, unbeknownst to me, were brimming with tears. I could see emotion in the depths of his as well. “Best thing I’ve ever heard in my life were those words, sugar.”

I kissed him deeply and then said words I never thought would pass my lips, yet felt perfect in this moment. “Let’s go home, cowboy.”