Page 53 of Emi's Hero

His lips twisted. Now she had him calling the color “auburn.”

“What’s so funny?” Emi looked down at the dress. “Is it the dress?”

“Not at all,” he said. “You look amazing in it.”

Color filled her cheeks. “Thank you.” Her green-eyed gaze swept over him. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

He nodded his acknowledgment of the compliment, glad that she seemed to find him attractive. “Ready for dinner?”

She nodded.

He offered her his arm.

She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and left the suite with him.

“I’m not sure I can eat a bite,” she said, pressing her other hand to her flat belly.

He frowned. “Not eat an Ule creation? That’s blasphemous.”

She sighed. “My stomach is knotted at the thought of tomorrow night. I wish it was already tomorrow, and we were in Honolulu at the luau.”

“It will be here soon enough,” George said. “I’m glad Hawk is bringing in more of the team to manage the mission.”

“I know it’s only a day.” Her hand tightened around his arm. “But it’s one more night without my sweet Sara. I hope she’s not scared and lonely.”

“I know it’s useless to say don’t think about it,” George said. “You wouldn’t be much of a mother if you didn’t worry about your child’s wellbeing and happiness. My mother still worries about her children even though we’re all grown up and some of us have kids of their own.”

“You’re an uncle?” she asked.

“I am,” he said. “My youngest brother has two little boys. Luke and Mark.” He smiled. “They keep him on his toes.”

“What about you? Have you ever been married?” She blinked. “Or are you married?” She blinked. “Wow. I guess I should’ve asked that question before I practically forced you to kiss me.” She rested her other hand on his arm. “Please tell me you aren’t married.”

He chuckled. “I’m not.”

“Divorced?”

He shook his head.

“You’re a good-looking guy,” she said. “How have you lasted so long without getting married?”

“Never met someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

“Oh,” she said. “Do you think you ever will?”

They arrived at the door to the kitchen before he could answer, saving him from saying exactly what was on his mind.

He’d never met a woman he’d even slightly considered spending the rest of his life with.

Until now.

He let Emi enter the kitchen ahead of him, his gaze following her all the way.

For a woman who’d been through as much as she had, she wasn’t letting it bring her down. She was a fighter, a mama bear ready to go for the throat of the man who’d held her and her daughter hostage.

Spending the day with her had shown George the lighthearted side of Emi. When she got her daughter back, she’d be even more joyful and happy, something he was sure she hadn’t been while living in the bunker, and she’d do everything in her power to make Sara happy.

George found himself wanting to be included in that happy life. He could see spending his life with her. Sara would be a bonus. She’d be the daughter his mother had never had. Based on his brother’s two little boys, Sara would be the only granddaughter his mother would ever get, and the only daughter George would have. In a family that historically produced all boys, what were the chances of getting a girl?

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