Page 55 of Emma's Element

There was one account with multiple deposits to Colleen that was giving Emma problems with her trace. It was tied up in an endless web of shell companies, each of which was taking a lot of skill to break through just to find the name of the person running things. She felt confident enough in her skills that she’d find the answer eventually. She just needed time.

When she’d shown him what all she’d found, Marcus had calmly told her to forward everything to his PI. Outwardly, he seemed to be taking the betrayal well, but Emma could see the pain hidden in his eyes, a stalwart mask. Underneath the pain was the worry. She’d heard him say several times he didn’t care about what Colleen had done to him. The driving force he was focused on was protecting Emma. He wanted her caught before she could follow through on her threats to Emma. A warm tingling sensation flowed through her at his need to protect her even though he knew she was perfectly capable of defending herself. A small smile tugged at her lips, amazed that this wonderfully giving man cared for her.

“What’s that smile for?” Marcus asked, plopping down on the couch beside her.

“Nothing. Just thinking.”

“Hope you’re thinking about me.”

“Nah. I was thinking about Tin Man,” she teased. She fought to stifle her laughter as his jaw dropped. He stared at her with wide eyes, his mouth gaping like a fish as if he was searching for words to rebuke her. Unable to hold it in anymore, she broke out into spontaneous giggles. “You should see your face,” she ribbed, wiping the tears her laughter had caused.

“Why, you . . .” He pounced on her, tickling her sides. Struggling to get away from his tickle torture while unable to stop the laughter, they both fell to the floor, Marcus landing on top of her.

“Alright. Alright. I give up,” she cried, needing him to stop before she peed herself.

Propped up on his elbows over her, he paused, saying, “Only if you admit you were thinking about me.”

Emma tapped on her chin a few times, thinking it out. When his eyes narrowed, and he made a move to tickle her again, she gave in. “Okay, stop. I was thinking about you. I’m always thinking about you.”

His eyes softened. She was so close to him; she could see the emotion he struggled to contain. He leaned in, taking her mouth with his. She speared her fingers through his hair and held him close as they kissed.

When he broke the kiss, his expression turned pensive. “I’m so sorry for all of this, Emma. If I could change things?”

Her fingers on his mouth stopped him from finishing his sentence. “I wouldn’t change a thing. Am I upset that my apartment was destroyed? Sure, who wouldn’t be? But they are just things. Things can be replaced. I still have everything I need. I have my health, my friends, and now I have you. What more could I ask for?”

He blinked several times before a slow smile grew. That smile made her heart bloom, pounding so hard she wondered if it could break through her rib cage. If it could, she was sure it would want to merge with his. “You are too good to be true. Too good for me, that’s for sure.”

“Phish, if anyone is too good for someone, it’s you for me. And it’s not because of your superstar status, Titan,” she tacked on before he could protest. She placed her hand over his heart. “It’s because of this. You care so deeply for everyone and everything. I’m just grateful I get a piece of it for however long it lasts.”

He adjusted his weight to one arm so he could place his hand over her heart. “Yours is bigger. And I’m honored you share it with me. But you own more than just a piece of mine.”

Sudden tears burned behind her eyes. Before they could fall, she lifted to kiss him again. He explored her mouth with exquisite tenderness; it was an intimacy she’d never tire of. As their hands covered each other’s hearts, she felt as if every square inch of her body wanted to dissolve into his, and she sought to commit every moment to memory.

All too soon, he broke the kiss. “Come on. Let’s go somewhere.” He pecked her nose before springing to his feet. Reaching down, he pulled her up so hard she slammed into his chest with an oomph.

“Go where?”

“We have somewhere to be.” She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head, and he laughed. “Just get your shoes, and let’s get out of here for a while.”

If she had known where he had intended to take her, she would have pinned him to the floor back at the cabin. Reluctantly, she trudged up the stairs to her apartment, coming to a complete stop just inside the door. A few of her friends were there, sorting through the disaster. The sudden burn of tears stung her eyes. She reached for her father’s watch to spin it around her wrist, only to touch bare skin. She’d momentarily forgotten how damaged it’d been, and she wasn’t wearing it anymore. The day of the destruction to her apartment, she’d left it at home, knowing they were doing water rescue training that afternoon. The one day she hadn’t worn it, it hadn’t escaped the destruction that now lay scattered at her feet.

She fought back the tears as she stepped farther into the room. Jolene spotted her and sprang to her feet, enveloping her in a hug. “Don’t be mad,” Jolene whispered in her ear.

“I’m not mad. I’m overwhelmed. And grateful.” Her friend stood back and studied her. Emma gave her a heartfelt smile before Jolene jumped into an explanation of their organizational chaos. Marcus had requested help, and every Nighthawk that wasn’t teaching a class showed up to assist. They’d rented a dumpster to pitch everything that couldn’t be salvaged, which ended up being most everything.

Later, while taking a break to drink a bottle of water, Emma looked around the room at her friends. Natalie had purchased new pots and was currently trying to save some of her plants, including her lemon tree. Annika was in front of her bookshelves attempting to salvage her books, and she was relieved that some of her favorites could be repaired. Having cleaned out the rotting food in her refrigerator, Jolene and Maddie remained in the kitchen to see if any broken dishware could be saved. Unfortunately, not a lot of it could be restored. Maddie asked if she could keep some of the broken pieces and placed several of the more colorful fragments in a separate box.

The men were handling the bigger items. As Emma watched her couch being shoved out the window to waiting hands below, she had the inane thought that it was lucky the windows had been broken. Otherwise, they’d have to try to carry everything down the stairs. A bright side to the disaster that made her laugh.

After the biggest pieces of damaged furniture had been removed, Emma’s eyes searched out Marcus. He was in the kitchen talking with Maddie, the sun’s setting rays bathing the apartment in a golden glow. She drank him in, her gaze raking over him as a low hum began to warm her blood. His tight heather gray t-shirt hugged his broad chest. A shiver raced through her body as she remembered trailing her hands and mouth over the expanse of his torso. His blond hair was tousled from the wind that blew in through the missing window, and her fingers itched to tame it. Her pulse beat wildly in her throat, and she lifted a hand to her neck, unable to peel her gaze off him.

She was suddenly glad for the cool breeze passing through her broken windows as her thoughts turned to the things that happened between them the night before, her body becoming flushed. Her hand slipped down her throat, but it was his fingers she felt there, his lips. Her brain turned to mush as scenes from their time together flickered in her mind’s eye like movie flashbacks projected on the big screen. One such image came to mind when his tongue . . . She shook herself out of her lustful trance, becoming aware she was surrounded by friends. But she couldn’t help the little smile that graced her lips when her gaze focused back on Marcus.

He’d been so good to her, and not just in bed. She had spent days hiding out, unable to face the destruction in her apartment. The thought of returning to start the clean-up had panic skittering under her skin, and the knot in her stomach tightened, paralyzing her. But one night in Marcus’s arms had loosened the ropes and sent the panic racing away. Being with him lent her strength but permittingherselfto be with him granted her courage she’d never imagined she’d feel outside of climbing.

So lost in her thoughts, she nearly missed the signs that his conversation with Maddie had turned serious. Their heads were close together, and as Marcus talked, she was nodding. He placed something in her palm, and she curled her fingers around it before slipping it into her pocket. Their conversation complete, Maddie went back to her work.

Emma tilted her head, and her brow furrowed in worry. A severe frown crossed his face, deep worry lines bracketed his mouth, and his shoulders were slightly slumped as if he carried a great burden. He turned and caught her staring, and a shutter slammed down across his features. He pushed his shoulders back and sent her his wide Hollywood smile, teeth gleaming, but she wasn’t falling for it. Something was bothering him.

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