Page 138 of Sin With Me

Chapter7

Emma

I barely slept that night.And when I did, the things I dreamed the Cowboy did to me left me sweaty and needy and worn out. I might as well have been up, running on my treadmill (which I hated), feeling my muscles tense and burn and ache. I found my hand lingering between my legs at night, but I didn’t go through with the building orgasm, promising myself that the next one I got would be with the Cowboy.

And why hadn’t he kissed me? The warmth of his lips still lingered on my cheek. It had been a long time since I’d gone out on a date and the guy didn’t make a move or try to get into my panties afterward. The fact that he hadn’t made me wonder if there was something wrong withme.

Nah!That was impossible. Confidence wasn’t a quality I lacked.

Not having a depressing case of cheaters greet me first thing in the morning felt liberating. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I’d texted Grace with the details of last night’s events and now, sitting behind my desk researching Eric’s home town and John Huntz, I wondered whether Eric had been hesitating to make a move because I was working for him. It would be smart of him to do so, but I had a feeling we’d work quite well together if he could only let go of that protective shield he held around him. What was he so afraid of? I knew there was more to his story than he was willing to share, but didn’t we all have hidden secrets? As I watched my printer spew out geological surveys and pages of information I’d need to read through, I booked the company jet for Friday morning. And, of course, it wasn’t long before Julian knocked on mydoor.

“How’s the case going?”

“Good.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“No.”

“Why aren’t you taking a security guy with you Friday?”

“Why are you questioning my work, Julian? I said I could handle it, and Iwill.”

“I’d prefer James or Laura went along.”

“And I’d prefer you buttout.”

“Fine, listen. Mom called. She wants us all over for dinner tonight.”

“It’s mid-week.” I frowned. I still had to pack and read through my prints and make an itinerary for our trip. There wasn’t enough time for me to close off all the old files so that I could start this one. I’d already briefed Tristan’s new hire on my other work, but had barely enough time to organize myself.

“It’s her invitation, Emma. You’ll be there, right?”

“Of course I’ll be there.”

Julian’s look of satisfaction took me aback. He was planning something, but I didn’t have time to interrogate him. Not when the Cowboy needed all my attention.

After a day of fast-forward work, I pulled up to my parents’ house just before six, completely exhausted. Dino barked as soon as he saw the house and I let him out to roam the property. I’d gotten him as a gift from my brothers, right after Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm passed, just before I moved out. I remembered the sadness in my parents’ faces as I left our family home. It was still difficult to forget my brothers’ melancholy mood, as they insisted on installing new security features in my new condo. I loved how much they’d always cared for me, but it was time to let the fledgling leave hernest.

It was as if my old dogs had known that I was leaving and couldn’t live without me. The smaller breed of a Miniature Pinscher was a perfect fit for my condo.

When I pulled up the driveway, no cars were parked outside. My brothers must have walked over from their houses, which were both adjacent to my parents’.

“Auntie Emma!” The scream of the youngest of the Cross clan greeted me. Julian and Kendra’s son, Jack, ran toward me, his four-year-old feet barely keeping up with the pace he wanted to give them. He slammed into me, nearly tipping meover.

“You want a ride, Jack?”

“Yes!”

And the same way he did each time, Jack stepped onto my feet and clasped my legs. I wobbled like a duck toward the house, picking him up at the entrance.

“Ok, double-oh-seven. Do you know what this dinner’s all about?”

He shook his head up and down feverishly.

“Aren’t you gonna tell me?” I crouched down to meet his gaze withmine.

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