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Shep sighed, wishing his family would give him a moment to think. Not bothering to turn around, he said, “Even if that might be true, she also cares for someone else. I knew that from the beginning, and nothing angers me more than knowing that she’s likely upset about all this and not being able to do a damn thing about it.”
Chase settled next to him, crossing his arms over his chest. “Nash said the guy was fancy. Drove a Bentley.”
Shep nodded. “All business.”
“It’s weird, isn’t it?”
Shep looked at his brother. “What’s weird?”
“It’s hard for me to imagine Emma fitting in with the whole New York City vibe.”
Even Shep had a hard time picturing it. Waking up every day, wearing fancy dresses and high heels, rushing through the streets of New York City to get to work on time, attending extravagant parties. “It’s not the Emma we know, that’s for sure.”
“I wonder if that means something,” Chase commented, rubbing his jaw.
Shep arched an eyebrow. “Your point?”
“All I’m saying is, she doesn’t seem so big city to me anymore.”
“Regardless of what we think or don’t think, this is Emma’s decision,” was all Shep was prepared to say on the subject. To get the focus off himself, he asked, “And speaking of decisions, did you make yours?” Chase had spent the entire time while Shep was at Emma’s reading over the business reports.
Chase frowned. “I agree with what you found in the financial records. We’re better off selling.”
Shep nodded, unsurprised that his mother had come around to the idea and so had Chase. Nash would be the only one who would fight the truth a little longer.
“Maybe you should go back over there,” Chase suddenly said.
Shep’s jaw clenched twice, and he kept on staring out at the mountains, taking the time to examine the land that would soon no longer belong to his family. “Chase, she needs time, and I’m going to give it to her, no matter how much I hate it.”
Chase began to argue. “Shep, I think if you—”
Shep glanced sideways, narrowed his eyes. “Brother, I’ve reached my limit of unwanted advice today.”
Chase sighed at whatever crossed Shep’s expression. He cupped Shep’s shoulder, squeezing tight, then moved back into the kitchen, blessedly leaving Shep alone.
Shep gazed upon the mountains. What his mother and brothers didn’t know was how hard he fought against not going back over there. Sure, he could hope that Emma picked her life in River Rock, and him, but he’d been there with Sara. He had lived a life he didn’t want all to make someone happy. That made him miserable. He wouldn’t do that to Emma. He swore he’d never do that to anyone. Of course, he wished that promise didn’t stop him from going over there to claim her.
He wanted to shake Emma, make her pick him, and he wanted to kick Jake’s ass again until the bastard ran home to New York City with his tail tucked between his legs. But that wasn’t love. That was desperation.
Emma deserved to be loved.
Chapter 17
The clock on the stove read 8:30 p.m. when Shep entered Chase’s house after dropping his mom off at home. He was in no mood to be around people, but they needed to talk about the final details of the offer. He’d lost it all. His father’s land. And Emma. Once inside the kitchen, he closed the door behind him then turned back to the living room and froze, staring at the last person he expected to find there tonight.
Dressed in a cute—and yet somehow sexy—white sundress, Emma stood in front of Chase’s fireplace, holding papers in her hands.
“Emma?” he asked with an arched brow.
She smiled. “Good, you’re finally here. We’ve been waiting for you. Please take a seat.”
Shep frowned, sliding his gaze over to Chase, who shrugged, then looked at Nash sitting next to Chase.
“Don’t ask me,” Nash quipped. “She’s been bossy like that since she got here.”
Shep moved closer, trying to piece her appearance together. Sure, it was easy to imagine that she’d sent Jake away and decided to stay with him, but what in the hell were the papers in her hands? “What’s going on?”
She rolled her eyes and pointed to the couch. “You’ll find out if you go and sit down.”
