Page 6 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends
Emma lets out a little scoff. “Try and tell my parents that. Art can’t pay the bills.”
I do faintly remember some arguments between teenage Emma and her parents about her plans for the future. They could be a little old school, so anything in the art or design realm didn’t seem lucrative to them, but she didn’t care.
She did what she wanted, and I never got to tell her how badass I thought she was for that.
“Well, you’ve proven them wrong,” I point out as my shoulder bumps against hers. “You’re a damn rockstar.”
Emma bumps me back, energy charging the small amount of space between us. Ryan is missing out. It’s nice being around her again, even if everything is different.
Actually, I think that makes things better. We’re all adults now. We’ve grown into our own people, and I like getting to know her outside of her being Andrew’s and Ethan’s little sister.
But I do have to remember that she’s stillthat.
If that slips my mind, my thoughts go in a direction that they shouldn’t. Not unless I want my ass kicked.
“I love winter in New York City,” Emma sighs as she gazes out of the window. “I did miss this when I traveled.”
“Why go the freelance route?” I ask her. “You could’ve come back home after graduating and worked for a business in the city.”
Emma doesn’t answer for a few moments, her eyes remaining on the window like she’s entranced by something. Perhaps her own thoughts. “I wasn’t ready to come back home. I just started looking for something. Anything. After I did that first freelance gig, I became hooked and started going wherever I wanted.”
Now, I’m really surprised that she came back to work with us. It can’t just be becauseweasked.
“Did you want to come back here?” I reply.
Emma shrugs. “Maybe it’s time. We’ll see how things go.”
It’s harder to read her than I thought, and that makes me want to ask her questions until the sun sets. I’m not going to bore her, though. At least not in the office without a drink in her hand.
“Come out and get drinks with us tonight. We should celebrate our partnership,” I invite her as I caress the back of her arm. I can’t stop myself from touching her, at least in some way, and just the small contact is enough to charge the energy between us.
Emma turns toward me with an unsure look on her face. “Drinks? I don’t know…”
I click my tongue at her as my hand drifts to the back of her shoulder, drawing her under my arm. “Come on, Em. You can’ttell me that this isn’t worth celebrating. This is going to be historic for the company, and every business in the city will want to work with you after they see the magic that you work.”
Emma groans and wraps her arm around my back. “Fine. I’ll get a drink with you guys. One drink. I need to be on my A-game tomorrow.”
“Let’s get the others then,” I tell her, leading her away from the window.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Emma admits as we walk side by side. “I didn’t think that I would see you guys for a while, and I especially didn’t think that I’d work for you.”
“I’m glad you did,” I reply, our eyes briefly meeting. It’s enough to make my adrenaline start pumping.
Emma smiles in response, and I can’t help but wish that I could read her thoughts. Is she excited? Nervous? Both?
Does she feel the way that I do?
Frustratingly attracted. Completely torn. Deeply guilty.
What a jarring early Christmas present.
Chapter four
Chapter Four: Ryan
“Cheers!”
I clink my glass of whiskey against the other glasses and take a sip, letting the liquor sear down my throat and chest. It’s got a bite, but nothing beats that warm aftertaste.
