Page 57 of Emma's Element

“Such a sweet talker. Are you trying to butter me up for something?”

“Why? Is it working?”

“I’ll never tell.”

He felt better already, more at peace, just talking with her. “What’s happening at home?”

“Mmm, home. I like that.”

“Anywhere you are is home to me.”

“Gah, the things you say. You better be careful, or I may end up falling for you,” she teased.

“Oh no, we can’t have that happen.” She laughed, the sound settling deep in his heart. He closed his eyes to absorb the reverberation her laugh sent through his body. He missed her like crazy. It was like there was a hole that he spent the daylight hours tiptoeing around. But at night, he fell into that hole, aching to hold her. The hole stayed empty, waiting to be filled by her and her alone.

“So, what’s today’s list?” she asked. When he’d left for the press tour two months ago, he’d found himself wishing he could share the things he’d experienced with her. There were countless times when he’d hear or see something that he’d wished he could point out to her like she was right beside him. He kept a list in his phone to share it with her whenever he could squeeze in time to talk with her.

“There was a mime on a street corner, and my initial thought was ‘you call that acting?’ Then, strangely enough, I thought ‘I could do it better.’” She burst out laughing.

“Okay, next time you’re home, we are painting your face white and putting you on a street corner. We’ll see how well you perform,” she teased.

“Yeah, no. Not gonna happen.”

“But you always look so good in black.”

He snorted. “Moving on. I heard someone laugh today, and it sounded so much like yours that I went in search of you.” She made an aww sound, but he moved quickly to the next thing on his list. “It rained today and reminded me of the time we walked on the beach in the rain, not caring how wet we got.”

“We were lucky the temperature wasn’t too cold that day. What else?”

“I saw a woman walking a cat on a leash, and it gave me a ‘kill me now’ look.”

“Cats on leashes, I’m not sure if that woman is brilliant for being able to leash train her cat or if it’s just not right. I’m leaning toward not right.”

He laughed, feeling lighter by the minute. Each time he called her, he hadn’t realized how worn down he’d been feeling until her voice hit his ears. With every word she spoke, the worries and frustrations of the day lifted.

“A bird pooped on my costar’s head.”

“No way,” she snickered. “Which one? And did anyone catch it on camera?”

“It was the guy who plays the villain, and unfortunately, no one caught it on camera.”

“That’s too bad.”

“You’re kind of merciless, you know that?”

“Whatever.” He could virtually hear her eyes rolling. “What else you got?”

“I went to the Tower of London today and saw all the royal jewels. There was an aquamarine gemstone that made me think of you.”

“Aquamarine? Why that one?”

“It looked like the lake with the sun sparkling on it, which made me think of our walks, which made me think of our talks, which made me think of our kisses. Therefore, it made me think of you, and I wished I could have bought it for you. It made me wish I could shower you with all the jewels.”

“Marcus,” she breathed. “You are the only precious stone I want. I don’t need expensive sparklies; I don’t need grand gestures, I don’t need the things you could buy me. I want your kind soul. I want walks by the lake. I want your kisses. I want those panty-melting gazes you give only to me. I only want you, got it?”

Fuck.She always knew just what he needed to hear. His smile grew, even though he knew she couldn’t see it. “Yeah, Sweetheart, I got it.” He paused for a moment and let her words pervade into his battered soul. Then he lowered his voice and tried for a sexy, gravelly tone. “Panty melting, huh?”

She snorted a laugh. Then groaned. “Mother-melter, don’t make your voice do that when you’re thousands of miles away from me. Great, another night I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands,” she grumbled.

---