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She snorted. “Who are you and what have you done with Weston Wolfe?”
This was who I’d been when I was in my late teens, charming the ladies, and doing my best to be less of a grumpy asshole. It’d been so long since I’d been anything but the latter that it was weird to show it to someone again.
Except, remembering Emmy’s smiles and laughter, I thought maybe it was okay for her to know. Just her.
I put on a scowl and grunted louder than was necessary. “Is that better?”
She shook her head. “Silly man.”
No one had ever called me silly before. But I wasn’t insulted. No, I was rather…charmed.
Fucking hell.I needed to be careful.
I stood quickly and retreated a few steps as I cleared my throat. “If Emmy’s fine to use, then I should probably get on with inspecting the place. Well, if that’s okay? I wanted to fix up this building too.”
She stood and crossed her arms over her chest. Not in anger, but more like she was hugging herself.
The urge to pull her close and wrap my arms around her was strong. But there was no way that would ever fucking happen again.
She replied, “Emmy from you is better, I think. Just not Emilia.”
“Emmy it is. And the repairs?”
After glancing around the room, she replied, “As long as you don’t touch my father’s office, go for it.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
She bobbed her head. “Although make sure to charge me for the supplies. I use this building for storage, so I can write it off as a business expense.”
The thought of charging her didn’t sit right with me. But if I did, then it would be a job and make it all the more formal. And formal was good. “Okay. I do plan to teach Wyatt and Avery some basics in the process, though. Hopefully that’s okay?”
“Of course.” She eyed the door behind me. “I really need to clean up and get ready for a meeting.”
I opened the door for her and stepped back. “Then I won’t keep you.”
We stood and stared at each other, neither of us moving, and time stilled.
Her eyes were sad, filled with a mixture of loneliness and longing, and all I wanted to do was to make her laugh and smile again. To brush away her tears, hold her close, and be the rock I thought she needed.
Because I could still hear her soul-wrenching sobs, and everything in me screamed to make things better. To finally be the partner and protector I’d so desperately tried to be with my late wife.
Not that any of that could happen. Hell, Emilia wasn’t my anything, and I had no claim on her.
But right here, right now, it was nice to pretend otherwise.
Before I could do something stupid, like pull her close again, Emilia looked away and walked out the door.
Free of her presence, I realized how dangerous it was to be alone with Emilia Mendoza. Which meant I couldn’t let it happen again.
ChapterNine
Emilia
Katie:Who’s ready to kick some ass today?
Amber:Me!
Me:I’m bringing my A game, for sure.
