Page 89 of Ramsey & Emerson

“I’m not sure what to say,” I started. “I…I didn’t know that I’d be receiving anything like this, so…so, you’ll have to excuse me if my speech is less than polished.” The crowd chuckled a bit, but I was being so goddamn serious. “The truth of the matter is that I don’t do nearly enough, and that’s not melooking for validation. The truth of the matter is that neglected children still outnumber the amount of adults that are willing to help, and so I don’t do enough to be the difference that all kids need. However, I like to believe that I do enough to make a difference in at least one child’s life, and I have to find a way to be okay with that, because if I can’t, then the ‘what ifs’ and stress will just drive me crazy.”

The crowd applauded, but my own unhealed childhood trauma was making it hard to appreciate their supposed appreciation for my speech. While all the people in this room were generous enough to write big checks, they still had enough to make those checks bigger. Most every person in this room had wealth in the millions or billions, and anything less than a hundred-thousand-dollar donation was an insult as far as I was concerned.

“Luckily for me, I’ve got a great support system that helps me when it starts to feel like it’s all too much,” I went on as I looked over at Ramsey. “My life is what it is, and I’m able to do what I do because of one person, and that person is my husband, Ramsey Reed. I’m fortunate enough to have a husband that believes in me and what I do, and he’s the only recognition that I need at the end of the day, truth be told. He loves every imperfect part of me, but still treats me like I don’t have any flaws, and that kind of love and encouragement goes a long way to making me believe that I can do anything.”

Another round of applause echoed throughout the room, but it didn’t matter. It also didn’t matter that every word out of my mouth had been the truth. Ramsey still had that dangerous fire in his eyes, and I honestly didn’t know if his anger was valid or not. I didn’t know Adrian Cossacks well enough to know if he’d just been being a good human being by suggesting this recognition or if he really was trying to make a move on me. His motives were fifty/fifty right now, but Ramsey wouldn’t care about any of that.

I held the plaque up with one hand. “So, thank you for the kind words, and I just hope that I can continue to do what I do.”

The crowd clapped, and I gave Cordina a quick hug before automatically heading Ramsey’s way. As soon as I got close enough, ignoring everyone else around us, Ramsey’s hand wrapped around the side of my neck, then he pulled me towards him to give me a kiss that wasn’t appropriate for where we were and for what this function represented. Nevertheless, I kissed him back just as passionately, making it clear to everyone in the room that I’d meant every word of what I’d said earlier.

When we finally pulled away from each other, he looked down at me, saying, “I love you.”

“I love you,” I replied,needingfor him to know that.

“Let me see, let me see,” Sally squealed as she reached for my plaque.

I handed it to her, and Scott automatically hugged me as soon as the plaque was safely in Sally’s hands. “Congratulations, Em.”

“Thank you,” I said as I stepped out of his arms. “I’m glad you guys were here for this.”

Before Scott could say anything to that, Adrian had obviously read between the lines. “I really just wanted to surprise you, Emerson,” he said. “Had I thought it through some more, it probably would have been nice to have your entire family here for this.”

Since I could still feel Ramsey’s ire coating me like an uncomfortable blanket, I said, “Yes, that would have been nice. However, as long as my husband’s here, I’m good.” Adrian gave me a terse nod, and I really wished that I had a better read on him. “Also, though very considerate, the recognition is completely unnecessary, Adrian. I work hard because I believe in what I do, and it really is that simple.”

He looked like he was about to say something, but Cordina beat him to it when she approached our little group, saying, “Emerson, I really hate to interrupt your moment, but would it be possible to get a few pictures of you with the plaque? We’d like to include them with our social media recount of the event tomorrow.”

I smiled at her as graciously as I could as I said, “Of course.”

Sally quickly handed me back the plaque before I turned to look up at Ramsey. “I’ll be right back,” I told him, praying that he didn’t go off the deep end while I was gone. “Unless you want to go with me to take some pictures for social media?”

“You know I hate that crap,” he replied, his voice rough in warning. “However, if you want me to, I’ll be more than happy to smile for the cameras.”

I placed a hand on his chest, a silent warning to behave. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here waiting for you,” he replied seriously.

Chapter 11

Ramsey~

Iwatched Cordina escort Emerson to a group of people, a couple of them holding cameras, and it was taking everything that I had not to cause a scene. No matter Adrian Cossacks intentions, I knew my wife well enough that she would have loved to have everyone here for this, even if Scott and Sally were here. I also knew that Emerson wasn’t thrilled that I wasn’t playing nice.

“You’re a very lucky man, Reed,” Adrian said, and if anyone needed recognition for their efforts tonight, then it was me for not knocking the motherfucker out.

“You think so, huh?” I asked as I turned to look at him.

He arched a brow. “You don’t think so?”

“I don’t think that luck has anything to do with it,” I informed him. “From the moment that I first saw Emerson, I wanted her, so I stopped at nothing until she was mine. There’s also nothing that I won’t do to make sure that shestaysmine. So, no, I don’t think that luck has anything to do with me and my wife.”

“Maybe not,” he conceded. “However, you’re a much stronger man than I am.”

“Meaning?” I asked, slipping my hands in my pockets, so that I didn’t catch a court date.

“It can’t be easy to stay away from someone so beautiful all day long,” he said, and it looked like I was going to catch that court date after all.

“It helps when I know that she’ll be waiting for me at home each night,” I replied as calmly as I could. “It also helps knowing that I get to wake up to her every morning.”

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