She texted a simpleSounds goodback to Marcus, and slid her phone back into the top drawer of her desk. She would make sure to pick the most expensive items on the menu tonight, but until then, she had work to finish up at her job at the public library.
Chapter Nine
Chase pulled his BMW into a parking spot at the library in Torrance near the spot that Emma got out of his car this morning before he headed to set for a bit of filming.
The idea of seeing her again filled him with a giddiness that he couldn't really explain. There was something just so domestic about it all. Their conversation on the way here was light and fun as they talked about things they were planning for their weekend away together. It was just the little things that he enjoyed doing when he was in a relationship. Of course, he couldn't remember when was the last time he was in a relationship, but that was besides the point. He also wasn't in a relationship with Emma.
But there was still this weekend trip they were taking together. Chase came up with this brilliant idea over expensive sushi one night to take Emma with him to a sci-fi convention in Palm Springs this weekend. It was close to L.A. so an easy trip, and it was one of the nearby conventions that he could always count on seeing Nana at. He was going to miss her this time around.
Plus, the convention was going to cost him nothing to go anyway. All expenses were paid bythe convention and he even made money with his autograph booth and photo appearances. The studio even gave them extra time off since it was to promote the Project Lyonheart series.
On the other hand, it would cost Emma money if she joined him, and he had quickly learned that Emma loved a good money-spending scheme with all this cash that needed to go. So why not spend it with him in Palm Springs?
Chase closed his car door behind him and took a deep breath, pulling his baseball cap a little lower on his forehead. It rarely stopped him from being recognized, but it would at least slow fans down a little before asking for a selfie or something.
This morning, Emma told him that he would be getting there right at the end of story time, whatever that was. Chase was intrigued though because Emma had specifically packed up that gorgeous blue dress from their dinner to take with her to work. When he asked why, she just smiled and said her readers would like it. Chase envisioned her readers as a bunch of old guys staring at Emma's boobs as she read from some James Patterson novel or something. He didn't like that thought.
He also seemed to be very wrong.
Chase had followed the instructions Emma had given him this morning, walking down the library's hallway to a room with the cat on the door. What she failed to mention was the cat in question was from The Cat in the Hat.
What she also failed to mention was that story time was specifically for small children apparently. He tried to quietly duck in the back, but yeah, he saw several moms turn in his direction, their eyes going wide as they recognized him. Then they all turned back as if they were trying to pretend it was no big deal.
Then his eyes landed on Emma wearing her super expensive blue dress reading a book about a princess. Unlike the first time he saw her in the dress, she was smiling now and acting super excited as she read to the kids from her spot on the floor next to them sitting in a cloud of blue tulle.
The kids were enraptured by her voice, and Chase felt the same way. Gone were the moms in their Lululemon leggings staring at him. Instead, it was like he was watching a one-woman show, hanging onto every word from Emma. What was going to happen to the princess? Where was she going to find a prince to save her from the dragon?
And then the plot twist. The princess didn't need a prince! She was going to save herself from the dragon! The kids cheered just at the right place, and Chase almost got swept up in their exuberance.
Then he remembered the book was being read by Emma. He wondered if she had chosen that book for a specific reason, and if that reason was him. Was it a reminder that she didn't need him? That she could handle this whole inheritance nonsense without him? That she definitely didn'tneed his help?
Surely, he was overthinking the whole moral of this children's book. But as he looked at Emma in that dress, he couldn't help but think there was some truth to the story. Yeah, Emma didn't need him, he knew that. He was still going to work as hard as he could to help her though.
Emma shut the book with a flourish and the kids clapped before running back to their moms. It was a good distraction that Chase used to slip a bit further into the corner of the room. The moms didn't notice, but Emma did, if only for a little bit before talking to all the kids saying goodbye to their favorite princess.
But as the last of them left, Emma finally turned back to him and walked over, her smile warm and her dress flowing. He couldn't help but stand a little taller as she approached him.
"Finally done with your adoring fans?"
"Adoring?" she replied. "They compliment anything more exciting than fruit snacks and sweatpants."
"You mean like the prettiest princess dress ever?"
Emma rolled her eyes. "It's not the prettiest princess dress ever."
"I think it is."
He didn't mean for that to come out so sincerely. He was supposed to be joking. It was supposed to be one of those flippant teasing lines of his. But somehow, his tone was real and warminstead, and Emma noticed. He saw the awkward smile on her face and the way she looked away from him as if he had embarrassed her with the compliment. This was dangerous territory for him, and he needed to pull out of it.
"So." He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Do you need to change out of this or something?"
"Oh, uh, yeah. Can you give me ten minutes and I can meet you by the check out desk?"
"Yeah, sure.”
"Cool. Good," she said nervously. "Let me show you where it is, and then I'll do a quick change and we can get out of here."
She gently reached for him, and even her fingers through his long-sleeved shirt sent some weird energy up his arm. But then she pulled her hand away, and the moment was gone. It was probably for the best. If they were going to spend the next few days together, it would be better not to encourage that kind of thing.
