Page 84 of The Vineyard Crush

Lily giggled, her eyes sparkling. “We know, Daddy.”

I crouched down to her level, my eyes flicking between my two children. “I like her like I want to marry her,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess myself.

Emma’s sharp “What!” cut through the air, but I couldn’t look at her. Not yet. I needed to see my children’s reactions first.

Lily’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, but it was Cody’s reaction that caught me off guard. “No,” he said firmly, his fingers fidgeting with his shirt. “Moms leave. I don’t want Emma to be mom. I don’t want her to leave.”

My heart broke a little at the fear in my son’s voice. Before I could respond, Emma was there, her voice soft but firm. “Cody, I’m not leaving. Whether I’m your mom or not, I’m not leaving.”

I took Cody’s hands in mine, stilling his nervous movements. “I know you’re scared. I was too. I am too. But I’m also excited to make Emma a permanent part of our lives. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Cody nodded slowly, while Lily’s excited squeal of “I will!” filled the kitchen.

Finally, I turned to Emma, my heart in my throat. “I know it’s early, and I don’t have a ring, but I do want to marry you. I’m just putting it out there, Em. I will ask you to be my wife soon.” The words tumbled out, fueled by hope and fear and love. “And right now, I’m asking you to move in with us. I want to go to sleep with you next to me, wake up next to you. I want to cook dinners with you. Please say yes.”

Emma swallowed hard, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes… I’ll move in with you.”

The kitchen erupted in cheers from Lily, while Cody offered a small, tentative smile. As for me, I felt like I could fly. This wasn’t how I’d planned to do this, standing in my messy kitchen in my work day’s sweaty shirt and my kids as witnesses. But as I pulled Emma into my arms, feeling her warmth against me, I knew it was perfect.

Thirty Four

Emma

The floorboards creaked beneath my feet as I paced the length of my living room, my hands running through my hair for what felt like the hundredth time. Leo lounged on my worn leather sofa, his casual posture a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me.

“What the hell was I thinking?” I muttered, my voice thick with panic. “Mom is going to kill me! No, scratch that – she’s going to kill HIM.” The image of my mother’s disapproving glare flashed through my mind, making my stomach churn. “Ridge isn’t some bougie businessman with a stellar record or a perfect life.”

I could practically hear Leo’s eyes rolling as he let out a long-suffering sigh. “No, she won’t,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring. “She might be hard on you, but she wants you happy. If Ridge makes you happy, then so be it.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Yeah, right. You know a different mom than I do.” The words tasted like ash in my mouth, memories of disappointed looks and thinly veiled criticism flooding my mind. “I know she loves me, but…” I trailed off, unable to voice the weight of expectations that had been crushing me for years.

Leo’s gaze softened, a flicker of understanding passing between us. We both knew the truth, even if he was trying to sugar-coat it. The memory of rushing to the hospital, heart pounding with fear that he’d had a heart attack – only to find out it was a panic attack brought on by the fact that he had quit the job and he didn’t how to tell mom– flashed through my mind. But that was a can of worms I couldn’t bear to open right now.

“Ma lutine,” Leo said, using the childhood nickname that never failed to make me feel safe. “She likes Ridge, and she loves you. Will you relax? If you want, I’ll be there when you talk to her, help you out.”

I gnawed on my bottom lip, a habit I’d never quite managed to break. “Do I have to tell her?” The question came out as a whine, childish and desperate.

Leo’s eyebrow arched, his expression a mix of exasperation and fondness. “That you’re moving? Making a huge life decision? Yes, ma lutine. If you don’t, it’ll only cause more complications than necessary.”

A frustrated groan escaped me as I stomped my foot, feeling every bit the petulant child. “Okay, fine.” With a dramatic flop, I collapsed onto the couch next to Leo, the cushions dipping beneath our combined weight.

His hand came to rest on my head, ruffling my hair in that annoying big-brother way he’d perfected over the years. “Everything will be fine,” he promised, his voice low and sincere. “And I promise to kick the asses of anyone who hurts you – including Mom.”

Despite myself, a laugh bubbled up from my chest, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. “I’d pay to see you do that!”

As Leo’s chuckle joined mine, I felt a glimmer of hope spark in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, everything really would be okay.

The laughter faded, leaving behind a comfortable silence that settled around us like a warm blanket. I leaned my head against Leo’s shoulder, drawing comfort from his solid presence. The scent of his cologne - a mix of sandalwood and citrus - wafted over me, bringing with it memories of childhood adventures and late-night confidences.

“You really think it’ll be okay?” I whispered, my voice small and vulnerable in the quiet room.

Leo’s arm wrapped around my shoulders, giving me a gentle squeeze. “I do,” he said, his voice firm with conviction. “Ridge is a good man, Em. Anyone with eyes can see how much he cares about you.”

I closed my eyes, letting Ridge’s face fill my mind. The crinkles around his eyes when he smiled, the way his hands - rough and calloused from years of hard work - could be so incredibly gentle when he held me. A warmth bloomed in my chest, spreading outward until I felt it in my fingertips.

“He is,” I agreed, a smile tugging at my lips. “He’s… he’s everything, Leo.”

My brother chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. “I know, little sister. I’ve seen the way you look at him. Like he hung the moon and stars just for you.”

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