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“I’m sorry, Em. I don’t know how she found out where you live. I was mortified when I was coming to your house and saw her there. I haven’t talked to her since we broke up. I was probably more surprised to see her than you were.” I see her take a deep breath but she keeps staring ahead without looking over at me.
“I was actually on my way to talk to you that night.” That gets her attention and she turns, looking up at me with a question in her eyes.
“You were?”
I nod. “So apparently I’ve been a bit oblivious to something that was seemingly obvious to everyone else.” She’s staring at me so intently I have to swallow past the lump lodged in my throat making it hard to speak.
I take a step closer and grab her hands and hold them in my own. “You see, I’m in love with you.” I hear her gasp but I continue. “I’ve been lying to myself about how I feel for years. You’re Jack’s younger sister and he always made sure that all of his friends knew if they hit on you he would kill us, so I stuffed down any feelings I had for you.”
“I’m still Jack’s younger sister,” she laughs as she squeezes my hands.
“Yes, you are.” I smile at her. “But he gave me his blessing to pursue you so I don’t need to worry about him kicking my butt.”
“Oh he did, did he?” She has this teasing glint in her eyes that holds me captive and then I realize she never acknowledged what I just said to her.
“Um, did you hear me say that I love you?” Her half-lidded gaze moves something in me. My heart pounds. My stomach flips.
“Yes, Mason,” she chuckles. “But what about Julia?”
“It’s over with Julia. I only went out to dinner with her to tell her that, but then I saw you and Adam together—” she raises an eyebrow at me, “I got jealous,” I say sheepishly.
She throws her head back and laughs. “You got jealous?!” If I can make her laugh like that for the rest of my life I will die a happy man.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sorry. You’ll forgive me if I am having a bit of fun at your expense.” I try to scowl at her but can’t stop the smile that's trying to escape.
She smiles at me so brightly that I swear I feel my heart expand and beat a million miles a minute. This feeling is better than any adrenaline rush I’ve ever had when playing football. Winning the Super Bowl? Nothing on Emily’s smile.
“I love you too, Mason. I always have,” she pauses and a frown mars her forehead. My heart stutters until she speaks.“Well, except maybe in third grade when Stevie Davis and I got married. I did swear to love him forever. I guess it’s safe to say his love was fickle since he divorced me right after.” She gives me a side glance that makes me howl with laughter.
“I remember Stevie. I also remember thinking he was a bit foolish. If he let you go then my assumptions were correct.” This woman. I will never get tired of her. The smile she beams my way makes my breath catch.
“What do we do now?” She murmurs. I stare into her blue eyes and I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face.
“What I want to do now is kiss you.” I watch a blush creep up her face and lean in closer to her. “Can I kiss you, Miss Emily Stewart?”
“In public, Mr. Sanderson?” She bats her eyelashes as she lets go of my hands and her fingers grip my biceps. “What will my parents think?” I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into me.
“They’ll think I’m in love with you,” I whisper. I watch her eyes sparkle just before my lips touch hers.
My entire body comes alive and the world seems to stand still as I kiss Emily,myEmily. I feel her slip her arms around my neck as my arms tighten around her, leaving no space between us, completely losing myself in the moment. In Emily. A bark of laughter snaps me back to the present.
“Wow,” I say as I rest my forehead against hers. “You’ve been holding out on me.”
“Mason!” She slaps my arm playfully.
I feel her shiver. “Are you cold? Duh, of course you are. It’s freezing out here. Let’s head back in.” I smile and nod my head toward the main room. “I have to talk to Julia and I believe you need to talk to Adam. Plus I’m freezing too.”
I reluctantly let her go and move to her side. As we leisurely stroll back to the doors I put my hand on her lower back. It feelsgood to know that Emily is mine and I want the whole world to know it.
Chapter Fifteen
Emily
Am I dreaming? Ouch.Nope. Not dreaming.
“Did you just pinch yourself?” Mason whispers in my ear. His chuckle sends little shivers down my spine and my stomach flutters.
