Page 67 of Owning Emma

Chapter 31

EMMA

The moment Biancacame into the bakery crying, I saw Shaw’s posture stiffen and it had nothing to do with Bianca or Royal’s situation. I saw fear reflecting in his hazel eyes, and I knew he was wondering what type of influence this would have on me.

The truth was, it didn’t. It would have no impact on our situation, and I was itching to let Shaw know that. I knew Shaw had his own set of . . . issues, some deep-rooted fears from his life that crept up and followed him around like a shadow. Physically, he was the stronger of my two men, but emotionally the weakest.

It took a bit of time to calm Bianca down after she showed up and burst into uncontrollable sobs in front of the cupcake display. I consoled her and when the tears finally slowed, I offered a big warm mug of coffee and a plate of cookies to eat her feelings with. I didn’t know the whole story, only the bits and pieces I could make out through her sobs, but I knew there had to be more to the situation. I didn’t know Royal well, but I knew he loved her enough to not be guilty of what he was accused of. I could see it in the way he looked at her, he wouldn’t hurt her.

When I was sure she was okay with being alone and I had a lull in customers, I casually walked by Shaw’s table, where he was working with the sexy as hell glasses perched on his nose and a worried look on his face. I glanced around, making sure my father was in the back room before bending down and brushing my lips to his cheek and whispering, “Your eyes say you’re scared Shaw, but I’m not planning to budge.”

I straightened my body and stepped away, heading back to work when his hand snagged mine, squeezing it in his large palm. I paused, expecting him to say something, but his eyes only locked on mine. The hazel orbs so intense I felt frozen in place. He lifted my palm to his mouth and pressed a kiss in the center of it before releasing his grip.

I felt my heart skip, the vulnerability around him never wavering as he slowly tore his eyes away from mine and turned back to his work. I stood there another few heartbeats, watching as he focused on the screen in front of him, his brow creasing as he noted something, right before he picked up his pen and jotted something down.

My father called from the back room. Shattering the spell I was under, and I scurried to find him. He was composing the dough for tomorrow’s bread, a scowl on his face when I found him. I bit my lip in worry. “What’s wrong?”

He glanced out the door. “What’s wrong?” His repeat of my question was almost a yell and I heard Shaw’s chair creak as he tilted this way to listen. “What’s wrong is ever since you made that agreement to work for. . . work for. . . them . . .” he seethed, “My shop has been filled with questionable characters, and now you’re attracting emotional riffraff.”

“Did you have a better idea?” I shot back, for once not holding back.

“You should have let me handle it. This wasn’t a situation for you to get involved with.” He picked up the dough he was kneading and slammed it back down again, shaking the table under the weight.

This time, I heard Shaw’s chair scrape against the tile and his heavy boots stepping this way, but my father was unaware of the giant he stirred. I knew Shaw wouldn’t get involved unless he had to, but I liked having him on my side. I liked knowing he would watch over me and take my side, even in times when I was wrong. This time, however, wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t in the wrong for wanting to protect him and save our family business when he so clearly failed to do so.

I leaned against the table, not caring that flour would be spreading all over me. “You would handle it, like you handled borrowing money back with loan terms you couldn’t repay.”

“The financial terms are none of your business.”

“You’re right. They are not.” I shrugged and my father looked appeased. “But, you cannot cast judgement on that man over there when you paid your payment to Krank without even asking for anything back. They are good men.”

My father huffed at my declaration. “Good? Look at them.” He didn’t care that Shaw was glaring at him from the doorway, “He couldn’t even bother to shave this morning before coming into my establishment. His hair is months past due on a cut. He doesn’t care to be presentable and it’s hurting our business.”

I reeled back at his words, “You think his hair is the main problem here?” The hair I loved running my fingers through? The jaw scruff I loved feeling scrape against my skin? I laughed. “The way he looks is the least of our worries. We were faltering way before he came along. If anything, the increase of people from their business associates has increased our sales.”

“Is it the right type of people we want here, though, Emma? Look at them.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Shaw, his imposing body taking up the whole door frame, his eyebrows drawn together in an anger he wasn’t going to let loose. “The type that pay? Yes.”

“I think you’re missing the point.” My father picked up the dough again, tossing it back onto the table.

“No, I think you are.” I untied my apron and dipped my head out of it. “I didn’t get much sleep last night, I’m taking the questionable character and emotional riffraff home for the afternoon. I think you can handle it from here. I’m a little on the tired side.”

“Emma,” My father’s voice boomed, “That isn’t your home and we both know it. Go back to their establishment, but they are only going to work you harder than you’re worked here. Look how exhausted you are.”

I turned my back on my father, and mumbled, God, I hope they work me harder, under my breath, earning a smirk from Shaw, before tossing a goodbye to my father over my shoulder. He tilted his head letting me know he would meet me around back at his truck and allowed me the time I needed to talk to Bianca.

By the time I was able to meet Shaw at his truck and slunk in, I was beginning to feel tired. “She’s going to follow us home.” His smile lit up the cab. “What?”

“You called the compound home,” he pointed out before looking behind and reversing. “I like the sound of that.”

I did too. And I spent the rest of the drive home thinking about just how much at home I felt there.

---