MICAH (A California Dreamy Novel Book 3) Page 15

  “You must have gotten an early start,” she said to Shae.

  “Yeah. Four am.” She turned and Emme noticed the grimace on her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s face. “I’m afraid this is a hit and run type of visit. We were getting a little antsy—Ethan especially—when we couldn’t get a hold of you. So when we left my parent’s house this morning we decided to travel this way.” Filter and grinds in the basket, Shae began pouring water into the machine. “We need to be in L.A. tonight. Ethan has a shoot.”

  “We e-mailed,” Ethan said, coming into the kitchen.

  Emme turned to face him and made sure her chin was up. “Sorry,” she said. “I haven’t checked those in days.” It was true. She’d been so into her writing, so into Micah and her plans to seduce him, so into building muscle and moxie, that she’d had little time for anything else.

  Her brother’s face was impossible to read. He was a strong man—mental and emotional grit in addition to having inherited all the height and breadth in the family. But he was also caring, protective, and thoughtful.

  She didn’t want to disappoint him. But she wasn’t going back to that sad sap she’d used to be. So the look between them somehow became a staring contest—just a smidge—as Emme refused to look away and Ethan examined her face for signs of what? The old Emme?

  “The Sierras have done you good,” he decided.

  “Yeah?” She asked, surprised by his observation, but then changed it to an absolute confirmation. “Yes, they have.”

  “You look rested. Happy.” He nodded toward her legs, where her calves were visible below the hem of her robe. “Are those muscles, Emme?”

  And she smiled, big and bright and full of pride. “I’ve run almost fifty miles since I got here.”

  And that blew him out of the water. “Seriously?”

  “Yoga, too. Every other day.”

  “Lucky,” Shae said. “I’ve been missing work outs and haven’t hit the waves in a couple of weeks. Between writing and planning the wedding, there just hasn’t been time.”

  Shae was smiling beautifully.

  “Not that you mind,” Emme said and Shae shook her head.

  “Not at all.”

  “But if there’s anything I can do for you, Shae, you know I’m there.” Before coming to the Sierras Emme had accompanied Shae, Shae’s mom and sister, and Emme’s sister Eva to many bridal shops, helping her choose a gorgeous gown. She had helped pick out flower arrangements and entertainment and the place for the reception. She’d even weighed in on the tux Ethan would wear—she hadn’t realized there were so many different cuts, that it wasn’t always cummerbund and bow tie but that ties and ascots and vests were equally as trendy.

  “You’ve done so much already,” Shae said, walking up to Emme and pulling her into a side embrace. “All the big stuff is done and I’m grateful you were with me for that. Really, I’m just struggling with honeymoon destinations and making final choices on bridal party gifts, and know I left both too late so I’m feeling the pinch.”

  Ethan stepped around them and searched the cabinets for coffee cups. “My vote is Bora Bora. We can rent a bungalow over the ocean, surface for food and a little surfing. Paradise.”

  Shae poured the coffee and set the mugs on the able.

  “But we’re having a fall wedding. Island honeymoons are definitely summer destinations. Winter weddings are snow and skiing. Spring weddings are adventure trips. Fall, well, not so exciting.”

  “What’s fall?” Emme asked.

  Shae lifted a hand and waved toward the window. “Color. Tours of deciduous landscapes and apple-picking. Donuts and cider and warm fires.”

  Emme felt herself frown. “That’s ridiculous. Go where you want to go.”

  “That’s what I say,” Ethan agreed.

  Her brother’s tone was easy, even buoyant. So when his next words were explosive, demanding, and slightly feral, Emme spun around on her heels. So did Shae.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  He had positioned himself between the women and what he clearly felt was an intruder. Emme had to duck her head under her brother’s arm to get a look at his target.

  Micah stood just inside the kitchen, his chest bare, his worn jeans zipped but not buttoned, and his dark hair tousled from sleep and, well, Emme’s hands.

  Both men had that ruffled feathers look but Ethan was amped a level or two above civility while a certain relief seemed to ease Micah’s features.

  He was taller than her brother, but not by much. He was also broader, more deeply muscled, and all together sexy as he stood barefoot and bare chested in her kitchen. He definitely looked like he’d rolled out of a steamy bed and pulled his pants on in a hurry. From where Emme stood, she could see the tension in his shoulders and the tightness of his jaw. But there was also curiosity and, dammit, a small curve to his lips that told her he was not a little amused. At least she didn’t have to worry about this becoming physical.

  Emme tried to step around her brother, but he caught her at the waist and held her back. She tried to shrug him loose but that didn’t work and Micah was no help at all. If anything, his amusement seemed to deepen along with the curve of his lips.

  So she did the introductions while her brother fumed and her lover bit back laughter. She kept her head up and her voice steady and acknowledged that she was just becoming to know the true meaning of the word brazen. And while it was uncomfortable at first, there was a thrilling undertone that came with the attitude and Emme decided she could come to enjoy it.

  “Ethan, this is Micah. Micah, my brother Ethan and behind him, his fiancée Shae.”

  “O. M. G,” Shae muttered. Emme didn’t turn to look at her but she could hear the surprise and the humor in her voice. Emme knew Shae was delighted, even before she said so.

  Ethan wouldn’t let her move around him. When she tried to, he shifted position and kept Shae a safe distance away from Micah. So Shae stuck her hand out, around Ethan’s angst, and told Micah,

  “I’m Shae Matthews and I’m delighted to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Micah said.

  “The hell you say.” Ethan took Shae’s hand before Micah could and tucked it against his side.

  Micah shrugged.

  “Micah who?”

  He ignored the question and hooked Emme’s gaze. “Sorry,” he said and then explained to all of them, “I heard voices. Emme sounded a little distressed.” He shrugged. “We’ve had a few problems here.”

  “What kind of problems?”

  Micah closed the gap between them and pulled Emme to his side. Ethan was slow to let her go and it almost turned into a tug of war. “Problems I’m handling.”

  Ethan didn’t like that answer or Micah’s easy confidence. “And you’re trained to handle them?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you military?”

  “Former.”

  “Cop?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “So what do you do?” Ethan pressed. He rolled his shoulders back and stuffed his hands into his jean pockets but tension still radiated from him.

  “Take care of problems,” Micah reminded him.

  “You guys aren’t going to—” Shae tried to interrupt.

  “And there’s a living in that?”

  “A big living,” Micah said. “But you know that. You’re former military.”

  Ethan nodded. He considered Micah and his easy but possessive stance and still didn’t seem to care for either.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “In the Sierras?” Micah challenged. “Recuperating. With your sister? None of your business.”

  Ethan didn’t like that answer, either. Emme watched a muscle in his jaw tick.

  “Could you please try to be nice?” She turned to include Micah in her gaze. “Both of you.”

  And then she spied the reason Micah hadn’t pulled on his shirt. It was on the floor behind the table. Exactly where he had tossed it when Emme had tunneled her hands und
er it and curled her fingers into his warm flesh and had felt his body react in a delicious shiver that she’d so badly wanted to follow back to the bedroom. And so they had.

  She left his side, scooped up the shirt, and handed it to him.

  He didn’t immediately take the point.

  “Emme? How long have you known this guy?” Ethan asked.

  “Long enough,” she told him. “And no offense, because I know you’re used to taking care of me and there have been times when I really appreciated that, but those days are over. One of the reasons I came here was to take control of my life.”

  “And you’ve done that?”

  “Yes.”

  “And very nicely,” Shae agreed.

  Emme ducked so she could look around her brother and smiled at Shae. “Thank you for noticing.”

  “Hard to miss,” she said, her amusement was obvious in her huge grin.

  Ethan turned to Shae. “You think this is funny?”

  “I think it’s about time,” she returned.

  “How the hell—”

  “You don’t see it because you’re her brother and we’ve been worried about her,” she began, but then Emme cut in.

  “You don’t need to be,” she assured them. “Not any more. I’m finally doing what I want to be doing.”

  Ethan’s expression turned thunderous and she felt Micah’s body tighten beside her. It took her a moment, and the help of Shae’s peal of laughter, to realize the suggestive tone of her words.

  “Not everything is sex,” Emme said, boldly and with offense. “I have more on my mind than that.” Barely. “Remember this?” She pushed her sleeve up and flexed her bicep. “And that’s not all. I’m writing a book. I’ve got a great start and I’m loving it. My life is finally coming together.”

  This time when Shae tried to move around Ethan she batted lightly at his restraining arm and informed him, “That’s an announcement worth celebrating.” She broke free and took Emme up in a hug. “I’m proud of you, Emme. Dreams should always be pursued.”

  And Emme remembered Shae’s own story. She hadn’t become a raging success in Hollywood overnight. She had slept in her van and written in the back of a surf shop, where she’d also worked part time, before any of her screenplays were put into production. It had taken tenacity and confidence and the ability to take a hit and rise above it. All qualities Emme admired.

  “That means a lot, Shae, coming from you.”

  Shae stepped back and into the silence she swung her hand back and caught Ethan in the stomach.

  “What the hell?” he protested.

  “Speak up,” Shae said. “Your sister just laid it out for you.” She waited and when Ethan continued to frown, took some mercy on him and reiterated, “She’s got more than hot sex going on here, Ethan. And before you balk at that, we both know how lucky we are to light up the sheets. But Emme is more than that. She’s building muscle and putting words to the page. She’s living the dream.” And Shae’s voice took on a bit of awe and was heavily reminiscent.

  “Words?” Ethan said. “You’re writing, Emme?” And his voice said finally.

  “Yeah.” She resisted the urge to look at her feet. She had something to be proud of and that gave her the confidence to meet and hold her brother’s gaze. “And it’s good.”

  “I don’t doubt it. I always said you were the writer in the family.”

  But she’d plied the skill in the gaming world. And it had been fun, for a while. But not truly what she wanted to do with her life.

  “I’d love to read it,” Ethan said.

  And that startled Emme out of her thoughts. “What? No.” She shook her head. “Not yet.” Not ever. The mystery elements would appeal to her brother. The sex scenes—just eew, for both of them.

  “When you’re done then.” He smiled and it was all about understanding an artist’s reluctance to share something so new.

  Shae took a long sip of her coffee and then placed the cup on the table with finality.

  “Well,” she said. “It’s time for us to get going.”

  “What?” Ethan and Emme both said.

  “You have a shoot tonight,” Shae reminded him then turned to Micah. “We knew the visit would be brief. Really, we just wanted to make sure that Emme was OK.”

  “She is,” Micah said.

  “I know.” She looked at Emme and smiled big, then back to Micah. “Keep her that way.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “About that trouble,” Ethan began.

  But Micah shrugged to make light of it. “Maybe some prowling. But it’s Halloween,” he pointed out. “And that kind of thing seems to hit a high point this time of year.”

  “But you’re worried about it.”

  “I’m careful,” he corrected.

  “If it becomes more than that—” Ethan began.

  “I’ll handle it,” Micah assured him. “But I’ll give you a call if the situation warrants it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “She’s your sister.”

  “And she means a lot to me.”

  “Me, too.”

  And that seemed to be what Ethan needed to hear. Emme liked the words too and she thought a lot about them as she followed Shae and her brother to the front door.

  “You put this new lock on?” Ethan asked, tapping the shiny metal dead bolt.

  Micah nodded. “Safety wise, Emme could have rented a grass hut in the middle of Armageddon and been better secured.”

  Ethan scowled. “Yeah, I noticed that.”

  “Back door and windows have been upgraded as well.”

  “Thanks for that,” Ethan said. He continued through the doorway and waited for Shae on the porch.

  Emme stood on the threshold and gazed at him.

  “You’re happy, sis?” he asked.

  “Very.”

  He nodded, concern and acceptance trying to get comfortable with each other on his face.

  Shae stepped onto the porch but turned to look at them. Emme felt Micah at her back, his heat and his greater physical presence. Then he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. She loved that, the belonging with another person.

  “By the way, Micah, you’re invited to the wedding,” Shae said. “Thanksgiving Day.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Emme watched as Ethan and Shae backed out of her drive way and then turned toward town, and beyond it to State Route Fourteen, which would take them south. Los Angeles was a five hour drive from where Emme stood. When she looked over her shoulder she found Micah slouching in the doorway. He was frowning.

  “What?” she demanded.

  He hooked her gaze. “Your brother loves you, Emme. He asked all the right questions, made a few reasonable demands and, well, acted as I would if I stumbled upon Crista with a nearly-naked guy in her home.”

  “Really?” She quirked an eyebrow.

  “It’s not going to happen,” he said, assuring Emme or himself, she wasn’t sure. “I mean, she’s got the boys and her career—”

  Emme shook her head. “You’re kidding, right? You don’t think your sister needs more than that?”

  “She loves being a mother, enjoys her job. . .” She let his words trail off as he began to grapple with the reality of a woman and her diverse and maybe even intense needs.

  Then she served him Shae’s words, “Don’t you want her to have what we have?”

  Micah’s frown grew dark and brought his eyebrows together over the bridge of his nose.

  “Don’t go there,” he said.

  “Just saying, she might have to introduce you one day to a real super stud with a red towel tied superman-like around his neck. What will you do then?”

  His face softened with real sympathy for Emme’s brother. “God, I was an ass.”

  “A little bit.” She walked past him into the house. “But a sexy one.”

  “I don’t think your brother holds the same opinion.” He followed her into the kitchen and watched h
er collect cups and put them in the sink.

  “No, but Shae does and she’ll talk him around to reason.”

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  “That Shae thinks you’re sexy? I’m not blind, Micah. And Shae has no interest in you. She’s marrying my brother in four weeks.” She reached across the counter and pulled the plug on the coffee maker. “Besides, it’s not like we have a relationship.” She turned toward him and sought his gaze. “We have what we have until we don’t, right?” And then, after serving him his own words, she pulled the sash on her robe, shrugged it off her shoulders, and let it drop to her feet. “Let’s not waste any of the time we have.”

  Micah did not like having his words served to him. They sounded cold and hard. And Emme was soft and warm and definitely a woman who deserved better than that. But did she want it? She acted like she didn’t. She said all the right words. And maybe, after the experience of being left at the altar, she really meant them. But Micah saw a side of her that was all about snuggling in and happily ever after.

  She took a step toward him, until mere inches separated their bodies. He knew the moment his heat wrapped around her, because she shivered delicately and her lips parted on a sigh. He let his gaze dip further and felt his gut clench as he focused on her breasts, how he’d love to suckle her nipples again. His eyes slid over the small swell of her stomach and he raised a hand and allowed his fingertips to trace the indention and skim into her pubic hair. She trimmed and he liked that. She kept herself neat and allowed just a glimpse of her hooded clitoris to peak through the golden curls. He remembered her taste on his lips and the hot scent of her excitement and he wanted her. Here. Now.

  She read it in his eyes and her hand cupped his sex. She squeezed lightly, traced his shaft until she hit the tab on his zipper, which she began to pull down. He was fully erect and sprang into her hand, but he didn’t want to get lost in that. As much as he’d appreciated her attentions the night before, as erotic as the image of her accommodating his size in her mouth, he really wanted to turn her over the table and take her. He closed the space between them and curved his hands around her bare butt cheeks.