Page 39 of Owning Emma

Chapter 18

EMMA

The boys had been actingstrange all evening and I couldn’t put my finger on why. After everyone was fed, Roman seemed to sulk as he went to his office, Shaw trailing behind him a few minutes later. When Shaw emerged, his beautiful eyes held a sadness that wasn’t there before. After asking if something was wrong, I was quickly dismissed as he walked past me, heading to his truck to get his bag with his laptop in it.

He appeared at the kitchen bar a while later, spreading his papers and work over the entire space as he concentrated on entering data. I approached him with caution, never seeing him in a mood like this. “Do you want me to make some cinnamon rolls for the morning? We could eat here before we go.” He grunted his response without even lifting his head. “I’ll take that as a no, then?”

Another grunt.

I stepped away from him as I filled the coffee pot, added the grounds, and set it to go off at two in the morning. It was only eight, but with stifling moods that hung in the air, I decided it was best to retire now and hopefully tomorrow the boys would be feeling better. I said my goodnight, which earned me a halfhearted hand wave over Shaw’s shoulder as he continued looking over his paperwork.

I woke the next morning and lay in bed, trying to force myself to open my eyes even when I knew that sun wouldn’t be out for at least another five hours. It took all my strength to pull myself out of bed and trudge my way to the bathroom shower. I stood under the warm spray until the scowling water ran warm, then I got dressed and dried my hair before pulling it up into a bun.

By the time I left my room, the scent of coffee already permeated the air pulling me in the direction of the kitchen. I turned through the doorway and jumped back, startled to find Shaw asleep, his head over the heap of papers he was working on the night before.

I stepped closer to him, his face relaxed in sleep as his large body hunched over the counter, his sandy hair flopping over his face. My fingers itched to touch him and even though I knew I shouldn’t, I reached out, pushing a strand of hair out of the way. His hair was silk between my fingers, and I couldn’t help but rub the strands together, savoring the softness.

“What are you doing?” I jumped back at the sound of Roman’s scratchy voice as he entered the kitchen, shirtless and rumpled from sleep.

“I, ah . . . he’s asleep.”

He nodded. “I can see that. But you weren’t waking him.”

I wasn’t, but I couldn’t admit that to him. “I just . . . I . . .”

“He sleeps like the dead when he’s tired.” He walked toward him, his bare feet padding against the tile. “He always has.”

Roman crossed his arms and looked at his friend with what appeared to be the most tender expression, then quickly changed and reached toward Shaw, ruffling his hair. “Wake up, princess, it’s time to go.” Shaw’s eyes fluttered, and Roman moved his hand from Shaw’s hair to his shoulder. “Seriously, wake up.”

Shaw grumbled, burying his head deeper into the arm that he was propped against. “Um, do you want me to get you coffee or something?”

Roman looked up at me, his deep brown eyes burning my skin as he looked me over. “I just got up for a glass of water, I’m fine. Maybe make him some, though?”

“Sure.” I grabbed a travel mug and pulled it down, the whole time aware that his eyes were watching my every move. “If you want I can just take his truck and he can meet me later, I do know how to drive.”

“Absolutely not.” His voice was firm as he shook Shaw again.

This time Shaw turned his head, his sleepy eyes blinking a few times as he took Roman into focus. “I’m sorry.”

Shaw’s voice was groggy as he spoke to Roman and as soon as the words left his mouth, Roman fell to his knees beside the chair. “Me too. It’s time to get up. You’re drooling on the paperwork.”

Shaw sat up slowly before rubbing his eyes. “Shit, that wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Want me to take over for you today with Emma?” Roman asked and I swear I saw something pass between them.

“Give me five minutes to get ready.” He stood, swayed for a second before he took the steps to leave the room.

I waited until I heard the heavy footsteps on the stairs before going over to the table and neatly stacking Shaw’s papers. The papers were filled with numbers and names, mathematic equations I couldn’t begin to understand. “So, you guys are adorable.”

Roman leveled me with a hard stare, then walked over to the cabinet and grabbed a glass before filling it with water from the faucet. “You’re not funny. It’s too damn early for bullshit.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling as I slid all Shaw’s papers into a folder. “He’s smart, isn’t he, like really smart?”

“Definitely too smart to be friends with me.” He brought the glass to his lips and took a large gulp.

“I don’t believe that for one second.” I pushed all of Shaw’s folders into his bag and then folded the laptop and added it. “If you were dumb, I doubt you would have worked your way into owning all this.”

He was leaning against the sink, his legs crossed at the ankle and as I walked toward him, he raised an eyebrow. “I never said I was dumb, just not as smart as him.”

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