Page 62 of Hope's Heartlands

"Even though I don't want you to, you can lie to me, Emma, but don't lie to yourself. You've liked that boy forever."

Frustrated, I lift my sunglasses and put them back on the top of my head and turn to my mom. She's searching my face, trying to figure out what I'm thinking. "You're right, mom. I have liked Maddox for a very long time, but he doesn't want me. He told me that himself, three, almost four years ago. So whatever you think might be going on, it's not."

It's her turn to lay on her back and lean her head onto the chair, but of course, she's going to get the last word in. "So basically, four years ago, when you were leaving for college, he didn't want to start anything with you. Now, when he knows you're about to come home, he's shown some interest. I wonder what you can make of that, Emma."

I open my mouth to argue with her, but then close it again. I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my waist. Could my mom be right? Would he have lied to me all those years ago? Does he like me?

Chapter10

Maddox

Emma in a bikini is not something that I was prepared for. As soon as I get back to their house I walk to the backyard and find her sprawled out on a lawn chair, talking to her mother.

It's mid afternoon now. Bull is cleaning up around the grill, Carson, and I'm assuming Emma's roommate, Candace, are lounging at the other end of the pool. I give a nod to Bull when he sees me but I head straight for Emma. I no sooner sit down and Kate smiles at me. "I'm going to run inside and do a few things. Holler if you all need anything."

She walks towards the house and beckons for Bull to follow her. When they disappear into the house, I scoot to the edge of the chair next to Emma. She doesn't even acknowledge me.

I lean over and rub my finger across her wrist. "How long you going to avoid me?" I ask. She puts her glasses on the top of her head and looks at me, rolling her pretty blue eyes as she does. "You've avoided me for three-and-a-half years."

"I didn't want to," I tell her.

She closes her eyes and leans back. "You don't look like someone that doesn’t do something the want to do."

At least she hasn't moved her hand. I trail my finger down her wrist into the palm of her hand before I wrap our fingers together. "You were 18, Emma. You were about to leave for college. I didn't want to fuck that up for you."

She shrugs like she can care less.

I let go of her and sit back in my seat. "What's your plans after graduation?"

She doesn't answer me. "Emma, talk to me."

Finally, she shrugs. "I'll move back here until I get a job."

"Where are you going to apply at?"

She names off a few local schools around here. "What grade do you want to teach?" "Kindergarten," she answers immediately with a smile on her face.

"So then you want to stay around here or you want to move somewhere else?"

She answers me as if she's bored. "I want to be close to Mom and Bull."

"How many..." I start but she interrupts me. "What's up with all of these questions?"

I turn to my side so I'm facing her. "I want to know all I can about you.”

She pulls her hand back and sits up. Her legs hang over the edge of the chair almost hitting mine. I don’t think she realized we would be this close because she scoots back and sits up straight to refrain from sitting as close. “My turn.”

I nod and my palms itch because I want to put them on her legs. She’s breathtakingly beautiful. She’s curvy and her cleavage is on display in the low cut bikini. “Ask me anything.”

“Why did you join the Highlands MC? I’ve heard the stories about Saint, Gage, Pops... all of them. But no one every mentioned or talked about how you come to join.”

I cross my arms over my chest. I definitely wasn’t expecting that question and I don’t think I’ve ever talked about my story before but if she wants to hear it, it’s probably best coming from me. “My dad was in the mc... years ago. He was a real asshole.”

She snorts. “Uh, all of you guys are. No offense.”

I shake my head and rub my hand across the stubbles of my chin. “None taken, but no, not like him. He used to pass the time by getting drunk and beating the shit out of me and my mom.”

She gasps but I continue. “Anyway, when some of the guys found out, they kicked him out. You know the Heartlands are not by the book about everything, but they definitely don’t tolerate hurting women or kids.”

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