Page 62 of Free to Believe
“Jesus, where the hell is the rest of your dress?”
Nothing like big brother to wipe away the emotional sentiment of the moment. “Well, if you saw my original design, this would seem almost chaste,” I drawl.
I’m now obviously on speaker because the choking noises Phil’s emitting are echoed by the raucous laughter of my entire family. Cassidy shouts from across the room, “You tell him, Em!”
“What I really want to know is who’s taking up my job of spitting things in Phil’s face while I’m away,” I demand.
That sets off another round of laughter.
Suddenly I’m taken off speaker. Phil’s voice is the only one I hear when he says, “Welcome back, baby. We’ve missed you,” right before he hangs up on me.
Grinning, I pull onto Straight Wharf. Eyeing a spot and realizing it’s about a block and a half from the restaurant, I decide to not push my luck. Turning on my signal, I slide the Rover in smoothly. I disconnect my phone and toss it in my purse, then swing my legs out of the car before striding down the street. Not oblivious to the admiration in the stares I’m getting, I smile when a gentleman holds the door to Cru open for me. “Thank you,” I murmur, stepping into the elegant restaurant.
An attractive host makes his way over. “Can I help you?”
Keeping my voice low, I murmur, “I’m with the Madison party.”
“Certainly. This way please.” Guiding me away from the bar closer to the spectacular view, he moves swiftly to set of double doors. “Your party’s inside already, Ms. Freeman.” Moving one door open slightly, he allows me to pass without exposing a view of our entire party to the dining room. I make a mental note of the excellent customer service, knowing Dani was so worried about it.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for choosing Cru for your celebration. We hope you enjoy your evening.” Closing the doors swiftly behind me, I realize the noise behind me has been cut off.
Then again, so has the noise in front of me until Jenna breaks it.
“Hey, Em! There’s a seat open next to Daddy.”
Of course there is. “Thank you, sweetheart. I apologize for being late.”
When I work up enough nerve to see where Jake’s sitting, he’s not there. That’s because his fingers are slipping beneath my elbow. “Let me escort you to your seat, Emily.”
“Thank you,” I murmur quietly.Remember, Em, you’re here for Jenna. Once you’re done, you’re free of any obligation that includes Jake Madison.
But when I get a good look at Jake, the room starts to spin. Making my feet move in any capacity seems an impossible feat. His already gorgeous face is covered in a five-o’clock shadow. His jaw tightens as he takes me in from the top of my head to the strappy sandals that put me close to eye level with him. His eyes drift over to the calla lilies tucked under one ear down to the slit between my breasts. My nipples harden under his perusal.
Damn me for reacting this way.
It doesn’t help when he leans in and his breath mingles with mine when he says, “I was a fucking idiot.”
Somehow, those words unlock me from the spell I was temporarily under. I feel my lips tip up even as I whisper back, “You’re still an idiot. And I still make my own decisions.”
I pull my arm away and glide gracefully to my seat. But I swear I could feel half the air being sucked out of the room once Jake got a good look at the back of my dress.
33
Jake
Emily’s dress is pure wickedness, carefully crafted to tease a man senseless without quite displaying anything but the long length of her legs and the skin of her back. Following her to the table, I have an overwhelming desire to run my hands over every inch of her smooth skin.
I’d be touching a hell of a lot and still not everything I want to be.
The silk slides against her body like the ocean waves against the sand with each step she takes. And just like the ocean, it beckons the nearest fool to become her victim. I feel like a shipwrecked sailor of old, under siege. She’s a siren, a witch, a goddess, and I know I’m drowning.
Holding out her chair with the hope she’ll sit down quickly, I push her up to the table and take my own seat. But as I’m quickly coming to learn, nothing is easy with Emily Freeman. Instead, she torments my senses further by crossing one magnificent leg over the other. Slowly. Tanned from the summer sun, they’re showcased in heels so high, I know they’d leave marks down my back if I ever I managed to get them wrapped around me.
And I managed to offend her by making her feel stupid? I was more than an idiot. I was what idiots trampled on in order to kneel at her feet.
Tuning into the conversation around me, I hear Emily laugh at something Brendan’s saying. My fist clenches as she reaches past me for the bread basket. “Here,” I snap, snagging the basket to slap it into her hand. I don’t think my overloaded senses can take too much more.
