Page 26 of The Hardest Part

Emily smoothed the gloss with her thumb and smiled. “Because I wanted to.”

“I can take photos for you if you want,” she said, smiling back. “Sexy ones. Better than what you’ll get here. For you to give to Billy and Jake.”

“Naked.” Embracing her cousin, Emily giggled. “In nothin’, but my cowboy hat and boots?”

“Straddling your horse’s back.” Arien was laughing, too.

Emily took a step back. “You do want them, don’t you?”

She nodded, biting her lip.

“I knew it, Arien. You’re one of us.”

“I just love the smell of Starbucks.”

They stood in line, waiting on Arien’s second quad-shot latte of the day. Transferring her shopping bags from one arm to the other, Emily took in a deep breath. “Smells like coffee to me.”

“Yes, but…” With a shake of her pretty blonde head, Arien let out a giggle. “…it’s more than that. Can’t explain it. You could put me in a dozen different coffee houses blindfolded, and I’d know which one was Starbucks just by the smell.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re so darn cute,” Emily said, handing her the latte. “Let’s go.”

“And just where are you goin’?”

Deep and velvety-smooth, she knew that voice.Jake.Her lips twitched.

Weighted with packages and sneaky smirks on their faces, Emily and Arien turned around to see their boys standing there.

“What’re y’all doin’ here?”

“Was about to ask you the same, Ems,” Kellan said as he sidled up to Arien, eyeing the bags hanging on her arm. “What you got in there, baby cakes?”

“Nothing.”

“Looks like you got somethin’ to me.” He leaned over her, trying to sneak a peek.

“Stop it.” She nudged him away with her elbow. “If my hands were free, I’d smack you.”

“He’d prob’ly like it.” Chuckling, Billy rolled his eyes.

“You know I would,” Kellan agreed with a waggle of his brows. Then his dark smoldering gaze returned to his stepsister. “Here, let me carry ‘em for ya.”

“Thanks, but I got it.”

“Got yourself one of them fancy coffees you love, pretty girl?” Tanner joined in, hugging a blushing Arien to his side.

“So, you didn’t answer my question.” Emily navigated them toward a table by the window. “What are y’all doing in Jackson?”

“Christmas ain’t the time to be asking.” Billy shared a look with his brother. “Right, Jake?”

“We had some things to take care of, is all.” He tugged at the collar of his sweater as if it were choking him and shifted in his chair. “You girls finished with your shopping?”

“Yeah, I think so.” Heaving a sigh of relief, Emily pulled the large envelope from her bag. “We got pictures taken, too. Wanna see?”

“No, no, no, no, no.” Arien tried to stop her. “They’re for—”

---