"You guys will have to convince Emma to make some for the next convention." Chase smiled. "So where are we going to meet you next?"
Holly and Krista started talking about their plans to see Chase tomorrow and then someconvention in a few months in Miami maybe? That would've been too far for Nana to travel. She liked to stick to the ones that weren't hard for her to drive to.
But the next convention? This arrangement of theirs was going to last a month, that's it. She had to spend the money, fulfill her obligation under her grandmother's will, and duck out. So why was Chase assuming that she would be taking cookies to another convention? There was no way that would happen. And yet, Emma also kind of liked the idea of seeing him after this was all over.
That also bothered her. This was a temporary thing. So why was she letting thoughts into her head about making this more permanent? Why was she even entertaining the idea of seeing Chase again when this was all over?
She felt Chase's hand on her back, his touch electric through the fabric of her dress, breaking her out of her daydreams about the future.
"I promised Emma another good day tomorrow so we should probably get going."
The women smiled at her, but there was something else in their eyes now as if they were making assumptions that shouldn't be made. It was like they were jealous of Emma for being with Chase, which was definitely not the case. She was just... sharing a hotel room with him. Totally normal thing for acquaintances.
"It was really so nice to meet you," Emma said to them. "And thank you for remembering mygrandmother."
That seemed to smooth things over enough for Krista and Holly to go back to their big smiles.
"Are you going to be at the photo booth tomorrow?" Krista asked.
"Oh, I think that would be a great idea!" Chase answered enthusiastically.
Holly clapped her hands and did a little jump. "Yay! It'll be fun to see you there. Nana always loved coming up with funny poses for Chase."
"Oh, I know. She loved showing those to me when she got home." Emma tried to steady herself without looking like she was getting emotional. "That's really kind of you to remember her."
The women smiled at her while a few other fans said goodbye before Chase and Emma headed for the elevator that was waiting as soon as they got there.
Emma relaxed against the side of it as soon as the doors closed. She loved that Nana had this thing that was just for her, that it was something Emma didn't share. But she also never got to see her grandmother in this space where so many people seemed to like her.
"You OK?"
She turned and saw Chase looking intently at her. "Yeah, I'm good. Tonight has just been a lot."
He stepped closer to her. "You did really good with those fans. You're grandmother would've loved that."
Chase put a reassuring hand on her hip andEmma felt that spark of electricity from his touch again. He didn't pull away though and she wondered if he felt that same thing, if there was something compelling him to keep his hand there.
But then the doors opened, the moment broken, and his hand quickly pulled back.
The walk from the elevator to the room seemed to take forever, the silence between them awkwardly rolling out before them. There were martinis and fans and then suddenly something had shifted in the elevator between them.
Emma has enjoyed drinks with Chase and she totally understood why Nana would have been charmed by him after two martinis. Yes, he was arrogant sometimes and the rich jerk she had to spend money on, which still made no sense to her. But he was also thoughtful and listened to her talk and introduced Emma to all these fans to show her how much people liked her grandmother.
Maybe it was just the emotion of the whole thing and being here without Nana that was just throwing off the vibes. Emma just needed to sleep and it would be all settled and fine tomorrow.
Except for the fact that there was still only one bed in this hotel room, which Emma became keenly aware of again when Chase opened the door. Then it loudly shut behind her and the space went quiet again like the hallway, Chase standing there staring at her with a look that she couldn't quite place. She had to think of something or say something to break whatever was going on here.
"Thank you for the drinks."
Chase gave her a small smile. "I think I should be the one thanking you since you paid for them."
Right. The deal. Emma could only give him a tight smile, wordlessly acknowledging what she didn't want to say. They were only here because of the deal.
"Um, the fans were really great too. I'm glad you stopped so we could talk to them." Chase nodded, his eyes still on her. "I guess I didn't realize how many people cared about my grandmother."
"A lot of people cared about her." Chase took a step closer, invading her personal space. "And there are people who care about you too."
Emma could see every eyelash on Chase's face as he looked at her with something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. It was turning her on a way that was even worse than the elevator.
