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“Umm, this might take a while. If you want to take a seat,” she said, nodding at a pale leather couch in the middle of the lobby. “I’ll take care of what I need to.”
“Are you telling me to go away?”
“No, I’m asking you to,” she said, dragging her teeth across her bottom lip. “I need some privacy, please.”
“Say no more, darlin’.”
Prying my stare off her wicked mouth, I ambled across the room and sat on the couch before locking my gaze on her pert little ass. I’d never be able to wear those shorts again without getting a massive hard on. As if confirming my suspicion, my cock stirred. Peeling my stare from her ass, I looked around the bank. I’d never been inside this one before. The branch my family and I had used for decades was a couple of miles down the road. I’d thought about taking Emma there, but I knew the second she flashed her fake driver’s license, the teller—all of whom had known Aubrey well—would likely call the cops.
No one but me was going to question Emma.
After watching her come in the shower, I wanted to do a whole lot more than interrogate her. But that was just a pipe dream. Based on how angry and defensive she got when I pointed out her lies, I knew peeling back her layers of deception was going to be a slow, arduous process.
I could have been a bit more subtle when I’d confronted her about her lies, but I’d purposely been a prick to find out how thick her walls were, and how deeply she was entrenched behind them.
I definitely got an answer.
Her walls were paper thin and her lies opaque.
Using a few ruthless tactics, I could split her wide open and force her to spill all her secrets. But in doing so, I’d destroy any chance of getting her naked and beneath me because Emma would hate me by the time I was through.
Sliding my gaze back to the sexy little spitfire, two other employees were now flanking the teller. While I couldn’t see Emma’s face, her rigid posture sent alarms blaring in my brain. Launching to my feet, I ate up the distance between us and eased in alongside her.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, peering over her shoulder.
Jolting, she snatched up the check and slapped it face down on the marble counter. “Nothing that isn’t being fixed.”
“Fixed? How?”
“Our apologies, sir,” a middle-aged woman with bright red lipstick and black-framed glasses began. “It’s a policy issue. When we’re presented with a check as large as this one, we’re required to confirm funds.”
“It shouldn’t take much longer,” Emma assured with a tight smile.
The tension rolling off her was so thick a jackhammer couldn’t cut it. Based on the edgy glances the employees shared, I knew they felt it, too. I had to do something to quell the stress bouncing off all four women before someone called the cops.
Reaching over Emma’s shoulder, I plucked the check off the counter. It was one of the big ones from the envelope in her purse.
“Damn you, Uncle George,” I growled with a feigned scowl. “Baby, when we get back home, remind me to call him and tell him to stop sending such big checks.”
Emma blinked up at me as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had, but at the moment, all I could think about was protecting her and keeping her out of jail.
Slinging my other arm around her waist, I pulled her in tight against my side before sending her a clandestine wink.
“That’s a good idea, honey.” She smiled, covertly returning my wink.
Relieved she’d caught on to my ploy, I forced a placid smile and addressed the women behind the counter.
“My Uncle George is the Fourteenth Earl of Carlisle. He’s been hopelessly in love with my beautiful fiancé since the first day he met her. He insists on spoiling my Aubrey with gifts, like this,” I lied, handing the check to the teller. “I know he’s trying to steal her from me, but he won’t succeed, will he, precious?”
“Never,” Emma said, peering up at me with an adoring smile. “I’m yours forever.”
Don’t I wish.
Blindsided by the insane thought, panic crawled up my spine. My heart clutched, and my stomach pitched. Sure, I wanted to fuck her, but…notforever. Struggling to shove the absurd notion away, Emma thwarted my attempt by reaching up and cupping my cheek.
“Uncle George is sweet,” she said in a sultry purr. “But he’ll never be able to compete with you, my sizzling, sexy cowboy.”
Blown away by her Oscar winning performance, Emma completely blindsided me when she lifted to her toes and boldly pressed her lips to mine.
