Page 33 of Home Game

But right now I sort of knew what she meant.

When I got bored, something started to stir inside me, and I went looking for… whatever I could find. Fun, trouble, attention, or some combination of all three.

I got up and started heading for the back patio before I could stop myself.

So what if Emmett and Jamie were out there, hitting it off and becoming star-crossed lovers?

I wasn’t jealous.

I was just curious.

I pushed open the door to the outside deck, a cooler air hitting my skin. The patio was serene right now compared to the inside of the bar. The music from the jukebox was gentler out here, filtering out through an open window into the air.

It was a perfect fall evening. The kind I knew Emmett must love. The sun had just set, and it smelled like beer and a far-off campfire. The occasional sound of chatting and laughter floated over from Spruce Street.

When I looked toward the far end of the patio, I saw Emmett by himself, leaning on the railing near the covered edge of the deck. He was sipping on a beer, looking out over the grassy, tree-lined outdoor area, seemingly deep in thought.

He was alone.

And for some reason, something in me lit up like a little neon exclamation point.

Tension bloomed inside me as I walked over toward him.

“So where’s your young, blushing date?” I asked as I walked over and leaned on the wood railing next to him.

“Storm,” Emmett said, glancing up at me with surprise. “Since when are you here?”

Christ, he looked good. He was in one of his usual nice suits, but he’d taken off the jacket and carefully draped it on the back of a nearby chair. The button-up shirt underneath showcased his body a little more, the perfect tailoring fitting him like a glove.

“Been here for at least an hour,” I told him, “Jade Brewery is a very inclusive place, even tomarketing liabilitieslike me, Fancy Pants.”

I’d been expecting a sneer, but Emmett puffed out a quick laugh.

His face also looked more classically handsome than ever as he stood under the dim glow of the string lights. They were the same kind I had in my backyard. The ones we’d been standing under when I’d lost my mind and kissed him.

A little disbelieving thrill looped itself through my body.

God, I still couldn’t believe I’d done that. It had been fun. Really fun, actually.

“To answer your question,” Emmett finally said. “Jamie headed off about ten minutes ago. I let him down easy. It was nice to talk to him, though. He’s here on vacation from California, and he’s very sweet.”

Some strange relief washed over me hearing that Jamie was only here for a trip. He wasn’t going to end up with Emmett, because he didn’t even live here.

Not that it mattered who Emmett might end up with.

“Maybe you’ll meet up with him again some other time,” I offered.

“Maybe,” Emmett said simply, looking off toward the trees as he cradled his beer.

The dragon inside me poked around, unsatisfied. Where was the usual reaction Emmett gave me?

Why was he acting so calm? Not poking at me like a fire, not pushing my buttons?

I cleared my throat. “Can I ask you something?”

“Ask away,” he replied, just as calmly.

“Why were you so nervous to see me when I showed up at the door to the Racks meeting?”

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