Page 39 of Call it Fate

I still questioned if he didn’t want Emalee and she was just too blind to see it, but for now, I’d take her word for it. I raked a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry, Emalee. Obviously, we’ve both had lives since we last saw each other. This entire situation has kind of thrown me. I didn’t mean to make assumptions.”

Her stance relaxed. “You’re right. This is hard on all of us. We’ll find our footing, I s’pose. In the meantime, how about breakfast? I haven’t eaten. I can whip us up something. Lexi is hanging out in the kitchen, and Iain is probably with her. He’s always up to eating.”

I didn’t care that I nodded my head like a kid at Christmas. That’s what it felt like—the best gift ever. “Thanks. That sounds great.”

While Emalee cooked, Iain and Lexi bantered exactly as I suspected sibling pairs would do. Lexi was adorable in her own way, but it was Iain that kept almost my entire attention. Learning what made him laugh—almost anything—what he hated about school—math—what he wished they could do today—build a snow fort.

“Hey, Mom!”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Emalee reprimanded.

Iain chewed faster and made a show of swallowing. “Can we go play now?”

“I’m sorry, honey. I have to get the rooms cleaned first and make some cookies to set out this evening. Shannon isn’t here, so it’s going to take me longer.”

Iain’s face drooped. “But Lexi’s here.”

“Exactly. You can get your chores done now while Lexi keeps me company. Then you can help me make some cookies.” Even I recognized thedon’t-cross-memom tone.

From Iain’s frown and Lexi’s excited grin, they weren’t in agreement about the plan, but Iain wisely said nothing else.

I didn’t want to push my luck, but the opportunity seemed too good to pass up. “Maybe if I help, it will go faster.” I glanced quickly at Emalee. “If it’s okay with your mom, that is.”

Em looked at me like I was crazy. “You want to help clean? You’re aguest.”

I brought my dishes to the sink. “I’m more than that, and you know it. I don’t mind helping. It can’t be that bad, right?” I’d never cleaned rooms before, but how hard could it be? Together, we could knock it out, and then we could all spend time together.

A wicked gleam grew in her eyes, but it was too late to back out now. “Okay. Deal.”

Iain cheered right up. “Yay! I’ll get started on my chores right now,” he said, almost knocking his chair over in his eagerness.

“Whoa, wait right there,” his mom called out. “First, you go right back and put your dishes in the dishwasher, and clean up your mess. Then you thank Zach for his offer.” She looked at me. “You better change into something more casual. I don’t think you know what you just offered.”

A couple hours and one aching back later, I had an entirely new respect for anyone in housekeeping. I considered myself in good shape, but all the bending to clean under beds, moving small items to dust or mop, not to mention the washing and folding of sheets and towels, had me massaging the middle of my back more than once.

While most of the guests were relatively tidy, one was just sloppy and left toothpaste drips all over the counter, food crumbs on the carpet, and clothes all over the bed, making more work to remake it. Em assured me she’d seen much worse. I didn’t dwell on that image.

We tackled each room together. All along, she kept an eye on Iain and found simple chores for him and Lexi to do that made them feel included and important. Then she and I vacuumed and mopped the main area floors and dining room.

I learned she was meticulous in her cleaning, as well as efficient. She worked nonstop, and any time she caught me staring at her, she lifted her eyebrow and pointed out something else to do.

And stare at her I did, several times. Emalee didn’t need to go to a gym to work out. The way she stretched and moved reminded me of a yoga class I’d once let myself be talked into. She moved with grace and deliberation, and each time she stretched, her jeans molded even tighter around her shapely ass.

When she bent over, her shirt dipped just enough I could see the perfect swells of her breasts. More than once, I had to adjust my dick and remind myself to get the job done so we could spend the afternoon together.

When we were done, I saw her give each child a few bills and told them to put it away in a safe place.

“I don’t know how you have the energy,” I told her as we put the last of the cleaning supplies away. “You cook, clean, raise an active boy, run a business…who are you? Wonder Woman?”

She laughed. “My whole life I’ve known hard work. I guess I’m used to it. Besides, there’s a genuine sense of fulfillment and appreciation as I look around and know that the women who came before me did the same thing. It’s a connection to them, I s’pose.” She wrinkled her brow. “Weird, I know.”

“No, not weird,” I corrected. “Commendable.” I loved her pride in her work, the way she took care of people, the way she persevered through hard times and let it strengthen her rather than make her bitter.

Seven years ago, I knew I was falling in love with the girl she’d been—kind, compassionate, and sweet. Today, I knew I was starting that same fall all over again with the woman she’d become. She was still all those things, but there was a quiet strength I hadn’t seen then. Or maybe I was paying more attention now. Either way, Iain wasn’t the only Dawson on my radar.

CHAPTER19

Emalee

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