Page 58 of Call it Fate

As Em checked on the guests in the dining room, Raelyn apparently decided to use the time to her advantage.

She took a sip of coffee, then crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair. “That was a bold statement. What’s your plan now that you’ve found them? Does she need to get a lawyer?”

I guessed we weren’t holding back anymore. “Emalee and I are working it out day by day. I think we can handle it without any outsiders.”

I knew by her flinch she heard the double entendre I intended.

“She’s been very gracious to you,” she said, her look sharp enough to pierce glass. “She’s let you into Iain’s life rather quickly.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but she held up her hand. “You deserve to know your son. Em told me what happened. You’ve both been dealt a tough hand, but it’s how you finish playing out those cards that matter.” She tipped her head toward the dining room, where I could hear Em’s laugh as she charmed her patrons. “Emalee spends too much time taking care of and thinking about others. She needs someone who thinks about her and puts her first. If you can’t do that, you need to be up front about it. She’s had to pick up the pieces more times than anyone her age should have to. Don’t break her again.”

I leaned forward on the table, locking my hands together as I held her mama bear gaze. “It was never my intention for Em to get hurt in the first place, nor to lose her. What happens between me and her right now is our business to work through. I can’t predict the future. But I can promise you, I’ll move heaven and hell to make sure they’re both happy and cared for from now on.”

Like a lightning strike, I knew those words were truer now than they were seven years ago. The flames I’d felt for her back then had never stopped burning. They’d been kept dark and smoldering, unknown even to me, just waiting for the right moment and breath of air to bring it back to life. That moment happened the minute I stepped into The Dogtrot for the first time and saw Emalee again. But I also needed to add fuel to that fire, and that meant finding a way for Emalee to see how good we were together, and that would never happen if she always played it safe.

“Part of that means they need to meet me on my turf as well.”

Raelyn held my gaze for several seconds as if she could read my soul. If she could, she’d know that I still loved Em. I’d never truly stopped, even though I thought I’d contained her in a box markedregret. It was why in all the years since there’d been no moving on with another woman.

Time stood still until Raelyn rose and went to the coffeepot. “More coffee?” she asked as if we hadn’t just had an intense moment. But I recognized the gesture for what it was—hospitality. A welcome. Whatever she had seen as she looked into my eyes, I had her on my side.

The door to the kitchen pushed open. Emalee’s face still held a smile from whatever conversation she’d been having, but it didn’t make her eyes sparkle like it usually did. I took the trays she carried and deposited them on the counter next to the big farm sink, then moved to stand in front of her. She stood still, staring at my chest.

“I’ll go check on Iain,” her mom said quietly. She gave me an encouraging smile and slipped out of the room, and I knew half my battle was over. Now for the other half.

Gently, I lifted her chin with a finger. “I promise I’m not taking him from you. It isn’t just him I want to spend time there. I want you there as well. I want to make this work with you. I know we don’t have all the answers, but we can’t figure them out if we don’t put in the effort and give each other a chance. I’m all in. Will you meet me halfway?”

Her eyes glossed over with tears, and her chin trembled beneath my finger. She drew in a shuddering breath while I held mine, waiting for her answer. “I’m not sure I know how,” she finally said. “I know how everything feels when it’s great, but I also know how it feels when it doesn’t work out. I don’t want to go through that again.”

“I don’t, either. And we don’t have to, Em. Let’s take this next step.” I winked at her. “It doesn’t have to be just Iain who spends time with me or sleeps over.”

That drew a slight laugh from her before she grew serious. “I can’t just jump into anything. I need to go slow. There’s so much on the line, and it’s not just about me and you.”

“I know; you’re right. But I want this. Trust me. Trust me with yourself and with Iain.”

“Okay.” She held up a finger at my jubilant smile. “To spending time with you at your place, not me having a sleepover with you.”

Give me time, sweetheart. I’ll get you to change your mind.

I picked her up and spun her around the room, only stopping when she batted at my shoulders to put her down, but when I did, her smile reached all the way. I kept my arms wrapped around her while her fingers splayed across my chest. I didn’t bother shifting, so she could feel how hard I was for her, and I knew it had the effect I wanted when her mouth parted slightly and her eyes fell to my lips, then back to my eyes.

I tilted my head over hers, reveling in the flush that crept up her neck to her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. My heart pumped harder as I placed my hand on the side of her face, my thumb brushing across her lips. Her tongue darted out, and she leaned even closer into me.

I’d been denied from them for too long. I slowly let my head descend until I could press my lips to hers, holding them to her sweet softness for just a few seconds, then I allowed the energy of the moment to carry us away. I smiled and tugged on her bottom lip with my teeth, eliciting a small whimper as she gave in and pressed upward on her toes, sliding her arms around my neck and letting her fingers slide into the hair at the nape of my neck. Our tongues met and found an easy rhythm as if they’d never been separated by our shared pain. I poured every feeling into the kiss, trying to communicate the words she wasn’t ready to hear but that I needed her to feel.

We carried on for a few more minutes before a burst of laughter from the other side of the door jarred us back to reality. She jerked back just in time before the other door opened and Iain trudged in with his backpack and a frown. She pulled away, scooping up his lunchbox and handed it to him. While he was distracted trying to fit it into his pack, I discreetly adjusted my pants to fit a little better.

“Ready to go?”

“I guess,” he mumbled, making me laugh.

As the three of us headed to the foyer, I noticed Emalee made sure to keep Iain between us. I hit the buttons on my key fob that would remotely turn on my car to warm up and sent Iain ahead of me, who fortunately didn’t argue.

I turned back to his mom, who looked at me with some trepidation. “Don’t say that was a mistake,” I said.

“I wasn’t going to. But I need to find my footing here, Zach. I feel like the world has spun out from under me, and every time I find a new balance, it shifts again. And that kiss just rocked it even further.”

I didn’t bother hiding my little smile of male satisfaction at her comment. “You better believe I’m going to do that again because, sweetheart? Kissing you has caused my world to finally spin right.”

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