Page 23 of The Hardest Part

And he wanted her to.

Looking isn’t breaking any rules.

A painful relief, his dick slapped his belly. Hot and hard, his desire for her wept from the tip. He swirled it around the head with his thumb.

“I can’t wait to taste you.”

I can’t wait either, my love, but I will.

“Let me watch you come.” That he could have, at least. “I want to be lookin’ in those pretty green eyes when you do.”

“Do I get to watch you, then?” There was that gleam again, and her hands fell from her breasts.

“You want to see that?”

“I do.”

My wild, wicked girl.

He stroked himself, tugging hard from base to tip, listening to the sounds. The rustling of her dress. Fingers rubbing wet flesh. Soft moans. Her cry as she came.

Jake’s eyes never strayed from hers.

And through it all, he watched her.

Aspring in her step, she scrambled to the bedroom window, searching for signs of snow. Seeing none, Emily smiled. Nothing but soaring pines and endless blue skies for miles and miles. With the weather on her side, today would be a productive day.

She skipped back to the bed, and plopping down upon it, shot off a text to her new best friend. The Eve of the Eve, there wasn’t a moment to waste. Gifts were waiting to be wrapped. Cookies needed to be baked. Preparations had yet to be made.

Within seconds, Arien replied.

And her plan was a go.

Everything in her mother’s house was done in warm shades of ivory, cream, and white, from the rugs on the dark hardwood floors to the paint on the textured walls. Not a pop of color to be had anywhere. At least not until spring. Then Emily would color the outdoor spaces in brilliant blooms of orange and purple, pink and yellow, blue and red.

She looked forward to it every year. On Mother’s Day, when the air was warmer and the danger of frost had passed, Emily served her mom a sumptuous breakfast she made, along with coffee, orange juice, and a bottle of champagne. Kimberly wouldsit on the porch drinking mimosas while she pushed plants into the dirt.

“That turned out so pretty, honey.”

“Happiness comes in colors, Mama,” Emily said. Pleased with herself, she smiled at the two large pots of flowers she’d planted flanking their front door.

Her mother shrugged, and raising the champagne to her lips, released a sigh.

This morning, she sat on the cream linen sofa, hunched over her laptop on the coffee table. Ledgers strewn about. Same as always. Kimberly had an office with a perfectly good desk at her disposal, yet she did her work at the kitchen table or here in the living room.

“Where you off to?” she asked, glancing up at her from the screen.

Emily bent down to kiss her mother’s cheek. “Runnin’ up to get Arien. We’re goin’ shopping.”

“For what?”

“Christmas ain’t the time to be askin’.” She winked and walked over to the door. “Anything I can get for you while I’m out?”

“Don’t think so.” Her gaze traveled to the black-and-white photo on the wall. “Maybe dinner. I don’t feel much like cookin’.”

“I love you, Mama.”

Sea glass eyes returned to her. “Love you more.”

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