AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Emmett nodded his appreciation at Chase’s acceptance and then deposited the other envelopes for Zach and Pen, Rider and Elle, and Stefanie under the tree. He knew none of them needed anything Emmett could provide, but he would never crash their Christmas empty-handed.
He kissed Elle’s cheek when she walked in, a glass of champagne in hand. “Sorry we’re late.”
“I like eating late,” Miriam, Chase’s fiancée, said. She had no problem taking Emmett’s side, especially if it meant disagreeing with Elle. Those two had a past patchier than the quilt on the B and B bed that Emmett and Stefanie had shared.
“I alerted the kitchen staff to keep everything warm since my daughter was going to show up whenever she pleased.”
Stefanie’s eyelids narrowed with determination. When her mouth opened, Emmett interjected.
“It’s my fault. I slept in. Late Christmas Eve celebration.”
“How was San Antonio?” Elle asked.
“About that... I have an announcement to make before dinner,” Stef said, clearly uninterested in exchanging niceties. “Can you grab Daddy?”
“I’m here. I’m here.” Rider stepped into the room with a martini in hand. “Emmett, drink?”
“I’d better.”
He took one more glance around the room at Rider in a jacket and tie, Elle in a glittery black dress, Stefanie in a pink dress with lace sleeves. Zach and Pen walked in next, a sleeping Olivia on Zach’s hip—all of them dressed to the nines, as well. Chase wore his usual suit and tie, and Miriam was in a green velvet dress. Emmett was in his standard security garb: black slacks, white shirt.
One of these doesn’t belong.
As soon as Stefanie broke their news, that fact would become more apparent.
Emmett helped himself to scotch from the bar cart and Stefanie crossed the room to stand next to him. He meant to sip, but when she wove her fingers with his, he downed his scotch in one long, burning swallow before setting the glass on the cart.
“Emmett and I didn’t go to San Antonio. We were in Harlington, a small town outside San Antonio where I hosted a dinner for families who can’t afford their own Christmas celebrations.”
Like mine, he thought numbly.
“Harlington?” Elle said, barely above a whisper, her eyes homed in on Stef and Emmett’s linked hands.
“Also, while we were there, Emmett and I were married.”
“Oh my God.” That was Penelope. She’d been the one to suggest Stefanie get married to extract herself from the Blake situation. Emmett could tell by her reaction that she hadn’t meant for Stef to take her suggestion to heart...and she sure as hell hadn’t expected Emmett to take Stef up on it.
“Married.” Chase spoke next, his tone lethal with disapproval. Miriam stood at his side, her lips pursed as if she was deciding how to process the news herself.
Other than those two comments, no one said a word. Though Zach’s hardened jaw suggested he might have reacted if his two-year-old daughter weren’t sleeping in his arms.
“We’ve been in denial about our attraction for quite some time,” Stef started.
“This is about Blake,” Chase said, not buying it for a second. “You did this to distract from the rumors about you and Blake. And Emmett agreed because you railroaded him into it.”
“I did not!” But to Emmett, his wife’s tone sounded like an admission of guilt.
“Stefanie.” Pen stepped closer, shaking her head. “I didn’t mean for—”
“It’s not true,” Stefanie continued lying. “That may seem like a convenient explanation, but Emmett and I are in love. It’s Christmas and we were swept away and—”
“You were married without your family.” Elle’s voice was both hurt and hard at the same time. “You married Emmett without the approval of your father? Without any of us in attendance?” Her burning gaze hit Emmett next. “We invited you into this family years ago, believing we could trust you, and this is how you repay us?”
“That’s on me,” Chase said. “I was the one who trusted him to watch over my sister. Which is it, Emmett? Are you in love with her or are you helping her through this Blake debacle to repair the damage done to her reputation and my campaign?”
Stefanie opened her mouth to speak, but Chase held up a hand to stave her off.
“Emmett?” Chase pressed, daring him to lie. Which he wouldn’t do.
