Emma's Home (The Fairfield Series) Read online

  Emma turned to Laurie. “You can stop matchmaking, Laurie.”

  “Emma, I know he comes off all macho and gruff, but he is really a good man. He is strong and loyal. Rob and Tom think the world of him.”

  “Oh Laurie, I don’t have anything against him. Well, except the whole alpha male thing he has going on. But he told me he only thinks of me as his sister.”

  “He said that?” Laurie was incredulous. “Wow. I know Rob said that he hasn’t been a relationship in a long time. Something about when he was younger and got really hurt. He has dated occasionally, but it seems that most women don’t want to be involved with a man who has to look after his mother.”

  “But Laurie, that’s ridiculous! He’s just doing what he has to do to take care of family.”

  Laurie looked at her beloved aunt. “That’s what you did, isn’t it? With me, I mean. Emma, did you give up on relationships because of taking care of me?” Laurie’s eyes shone with unshed tears.

  “Oh Laurie, I never gave up anything to take care of you. We’re family and that’s what family does.” She gazed at her niece. “And now you are taking care of me as much as I take care of you!”

  “Well, I don’t know Jake’s whole story, but I can’t believe I read him wrong. I could swear there is something there when he looks at you that is not sisterly.”

  “He’s a gorgeous man. But hey, at least I can have a great looking hunk, who just happens to be a protective friend, right?”

  Laurie and Emma hugged goodbye and Emma climbed into her little car. Laurie looked over and saw Jake sitting in his truck watching; he didn’t pull out of her driveway until Emma had left. Laurie walked up to Rob who was waiting for her on the porch. He wrapped his arms around her, totally enclosing her in his hug.

  “Do you think Jake just likes Emma like a sister?” she murmured into his chest.

  “Hell no, girl. He may not realize what has hit him yet, but he definitely doesn’t think of her as a sister!”

  Laurie laughed and shook her head. “I didn’t think so, but Emma does.”

  Rob held her back from him to he could look down into her face. He threw back his head and laughed. “Well, I guess they’re both in for a surprise!”

  He scooped Laurie up in his huge embrace and carried her inside. “We can finish cleaning up tomorrow woman. Let’s go get naked now!”

  Chapter 5

  Sunday dawned a clear, sunny day and Emma found herself, anxious for Jake to arrive. It was not a date, but she had to be honest with herself – it had been a long time since she had a man take her anywhere. The six years between eighteen and twenty-four, Emma was consumed with raising Laurie, working, and taking classes – she had no time to date. If it wasn’t for her boyfriend in high school, she realized that she might have been twenty-four years old and never kissed. After Laurie graduated from high school and started college classes too, there was still little time to go out. One year ago when Laurie graduated from college and moved to Fairfield to teach, was the first time Emma had been alone. She had dinner with friends, but so far no one made her heart flutter. At least not until she laid eyes on Jake.

  Emma paced the small hotel room after having her morning breakfast with Helen and Roger. She tidied the small room to give her something to occupy her time. Making sure all of her clothes were put away in drawers or hanging on the rod in the back of the room, she looked around to see what else she could do. She straightened the dresser off, placing her toiletries in the top drawer. She refused to have Helen come clean for the room, wanting to take care of everything herself each day. Pulling the bed covers tighter over the comfortable bed, she began to think about what it would be like to have Jake in the bed with her. She had felt his breath caress her, wishing for his kiss. Imagining him in her bed, making love, feeling him as he pushed into her, she…

  Lost in her daydreaming, Emma jumped when there was a loud knock. She opened the door, and her breath caught in her throat. Jake looked scrumptious. His hair was still wet from his shower, but mussed as though he had run his hands through it several times. What would it be like to run her own hands through his sandy blond hair? He was wearing a long sleeve, dark green t-shirt that hugged his chest like a molded skin. His jeans were slightly faded and tight enough that she could see his muscled thighs. As her eyes swept downwards, she noticed he was wearing cowboy boots. Damn, he looks good enough to eat, and he’s not interested in me – just my luck.

  Jake’s eyes were doing their own feasting. The petite beauty in front of him took his breath away. Her jeans were hugging her curves, her light blue top showed off her shape without revealing too much skin. Her shiny brunette hair was pulled back away from her face, allowing him focus on those deep, dark eyes that lit up when she smiled, as she was now smiling up at him.

  “Ready to go, darlin’?” he drawled.

  Oh hell yeah, she was ready to go.

  Lifting her up into his truck, he leaned over her chest to see that she was buckled, then walked around, and got in himself. They headed out of town, toward the property they were going to look at. Jake glanced over at the beautiful woman sitting next to him.

  Wanting to understand her more, he asked, “So tell me about this place. Why are you interested in it?” She was silent for a moment. Jake thought that he may have offended her.

  Emma turned towards him in the cab of his truck and took a deep breath. “I grew up in a small row house in the city. It was wonderful because it was home, but it was small with no view outside the windows. There were only three bedrooms, and when Laurie was about two years old, she moved into my bedroom so that when Sarah got in later from work she wouldn’t wake her up. I loved my niece, but sometimes I wished for a little more room. My favorite memories are when mom and I took Laurie and would go to the park to climb trees and run in the grass. After everyone was gone, it was too expensive for just Laurie and me, so I sold it. From the time I was eighteen until she turned eighteen, six years later, we lived in a small apartment over the restaurant where I worked part time. We shared a bedroom again. I love her and would not trade those memories for anything, but now that I can finally settle down, I want to be able to see trees from every window.” She looked down at her hands in her lap. “I suppose that sounds silly, doesn’t it?”

  Jake glanced over at her. So much of her life had been changed when her mother and sister were killed. His own life had been unremarkable in comparison. He grew up in a nice house with a big yard with both parents. When he had been in college, getting drunk at frat parties and picking up girls, Emma had been raising a pre-teen, working thirty hours a week, and going to college part time.

  “No, I don’t think it sounds silly at all,” he answered. Emma, grateful for his understanding, smiled. He found himself thinking that he would give anything to see that smile all the time.

  With that encouragement, Emma continued. “I have been looking online at properties. The houses in town with big yards are too expensive. A couple of houses I looked at have big yards, but a lot of maintenance is required. It looks like the Potter’s place is mostly wooded, private, with a small house. There weren’t good pictures of the house, though. Laurie may be right – it may be disappointing.”

  Their destination wasn’t far out of town, so in about fifteen minutes, they were turning onto a gravel driveway. Fifty yards down, the woods cleared and they could see a small house. The one story house had been painted white at one time, but the years had faded it to a greyish color. The porch ran the length of the front of the house, and an old porch swing still hung on one side. The weed covered yard had not been tended in years. What looked like an old flower pot lay on its side close to the front door. Jake looked around at the desolate surroundings. A small garage sat to the right, half hidden from the house.

  He turned to Emma to express his sorrow at what he was sure was going to be her disappointment, but instead she stared at the place, beaming. The smile on her face took his breath away.

  “Isn’t it
darling?” she exclaimed. Jake wondered if they were looking at the same house. “Come on.” She threw open the door and was out of truck before Jake could unbuckle. “Let’s check it out.”

  Jake jumped out and his long strides overtook hers. His natural protectiveness and policeman’s cautiousness kicked in. “Wait. Slow down. We don’t even know if it is safe.”

  “The realtor said that a county inspector had been out here a few months ago and said it was habitable. I’m sure it just needs a little work.” Emma grabbed his hand and pulled Jake along towards the front porch.

  Jake looked down at their clasped hands. Strange, he thought, how right that feels. They approached the front door, and Jake took the key from her.

  “Let me go in first to check it out,” he said. Jake swung the door open wide, wishing he had his revolver with him, not knowing what critters or vagrants might have taken up residence. He stepped inside, pleased to see it empty, not trashed. Emma skirted around him walking through the door. The living room encompassed most of the front of the house, with a stone fireplace at one end and built in bookshelves on either side of it. A large picture window looking out onto the front porch and yard beyond flooded the room with natural light. The hardwood floors were dusty, but in good condition.

  Jake was surprised to see the solid construction of the house. He had assumed it was barely livable since Mr. Potter became a hermit in the last years of his life. Looking around, he could see the workmanship that went into the dwelling.

  Emma walked over to the fireplace, smoothing her hands along the stones, already imagining her family pictures on the mantle. Turning to look out of the window, the woods surrounding the house were in plain view.

  There was room on the other end for a dining table near the entrance to the kitchen, with another window facing east. Jake walked towards the kitchen, determined to scope out the rooms before Emma entered, but she followed quickly on his heels. The kitchen was simple, but roomy enough for her.

  The appliances were long gone, but she could visualize where they would go. The cabinets were handmade and well crafted. Upon closer inspection, Emma was delighted to see that they did not need refinishing, just a thorough cleaning.

  There was small mud room beyond the kitchen with a window and back door, leading out onto a stone patio. The mud room looked as though as a washing machine and dryer would fit in the space. Wooden pegs for hanging coats lined the opposite wall. Going back through the kitchen, they turned to head down the hall off of the living room.

  There were two bedrooms, one slightly larger than the other, and one bathroom at the end of the hall. Emma peered into the bathroom. It was not large, but it held a full-sized tub. She walked into the larger bedroom that was in the back corner of the house. Looking out of the window, she could not only see the woods of the property, but the mountains in the background. Having looked at a map, she knew that the state park’s land was directly behind this property.

  Jake watched Emma’s face as she peered out of the window. Now that he knew her history, he wondered what she thought of the view. Going back through the kitchen and out through the mud room, they walked into the back yard. Mature trees were all around and as well as the remnants of flower beds that had seen better days.

  Jake was quiet, wanting to see what Emma’s thoughts were. He was surprised that the house was in as good a condition as it was. It definitely needed updating and some TLC, but it was well made. He stood for a minute in the back yard, imagining Emma there. He could see her coming out of the kitchen, chasing after their children, laughing in the sunshine.

  Whoa…. Their children? Where did that thought come from?

  He turned around and did not see her. Walking around the corner of the house, he still did not see her. Where did she go?

  “Emma!” he shouted, looking back and forth.

  “I’m here,” a distant voice cried.

  “Where?”

  “Up here.” she called out. Jake jerked his head up, toward a rickety old ladder that stood next to the chimney. The next thing he saw was Emma’s pixie face peering over the edge of the roof.

  “This is great.” she exclaimed. “The roof and chimney look in good condition.”

  Jake, trying to calm the racing of his heart, thundered, “What the hell are you doing up there? Woman, if you are not down here in two seconds, I’m coming up to get you and you’re not going to like it if I have to do that.” Even as he threatened, Jake eyed the dilapidated ladder, knowing it would never hold his weight. Well, she will never know that.

  “Oh yeah? I’d like to see you get your big self up that ladder,” she laughed.

  “Emma, you get down here right now.”

  “Fine,” she huffed.

  Emma swung her leg over the edge of the roof, carefully stepping on the first rung of the ladder. Swinging the rest of her body around, she began to descend. Jake stood at the bottom, holding the rickety ladder steady. The third rung snapped, and Emma legs shot out from under her. Holding on with just her hands, Emma screamed out. Jake’s heart pounded as he watched her flail.

  “Baby, put your foot on the next one down – feel for it,” he yelled. Emma got her footing and scrambled down several more rungs. By then, Jake was able to reach up and grab her by her hips, swinging her off the ladder. He whirled her around, lifted her up in his huge arms, and pressed her back against the chimney.

  Leaning in, his breath right against her mouth, he choked out, “Baby, you pull a stunt like that again, and I’ll take you over my knee before you can blink.”

  Emma stared into his blue eyes, speechless. He looks like he wants to ….

  Before she could finish the thought, Jake leaned in the rest of the way and took her mouth. His kiss was forceful, and she could feel his pounding heartbeat against her chest. He slanted his mouth, gaining better access, and she opened to him. Taking the invitation, he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Her tongue tangled with his in an erotic dance that left her breathless.

  Emma’s breasts pressed up against his chest and he could feel their fullness, just longing for his hands. His dick stretched in his jeans and he wanted nothing more than to take her right where they were, but held himself back. He was experienced enough to know that she was lost in the kiss and he did not want her to have any regrets. Slowly, the kiss became less forceful and more of a slow exploration. Jake leaned back, looking at Emma’s kiss swollen lips.

  “You got me, baby?” Jake asked, his breath mingling with hers.

  Emma just stared at him wordlessly.

  “Baby?” Jake said again.

  Emma loved how he called her baby. “That better not be how you kiss your sister.”

  Jake’s head snapped back, eyes wide open in surprise. “How I kiss my sister? What the hell does that mean?” he asked.

  Emma realized that she spoke out loud and blushed. She tried to look down, but Jake wasn’t having it. He lifted her chin with his finger so that he was able to look deep into her eyes.

  “Now what do you mean about kissing my sister?”

  “You said you think of me as a sister. So I thought you weren’t interested.”

  Now it was Jake’s turn to look confused. “Sister? Why the hell would you think that?”

  Emma huffed, “That’s what you said last night when you were chasing the other men away. You said you wouldn’t trust them with your sister.”

  Jake hung his head for a moment and chuckled, while Emma started squirming.

  “Put me down if you’re going to laugh at me,” she exclaimed.

  Jake’s eyes went back to her face that was blushing a deep red. He didn’t know how, but she looked more beautiful than ever, with her hair askew, her face flushed, her breasts heaving from indignity, and a dirt smudge on her cheek.

  “Darlin’, there is nothing sisterly about how I feel for you, so you can get that idea right out of your head.”

  Emma looked up, still blushing furiously. “Oh,” was the only thing she could think of t
o say. “Well, at least put me down.” she squirmed some more.

  “Hell no, darlin’, you are right where I want you,” he replied. Jake looked into her beautiful face and continued. “Emma girl, I noticed you at the bar before we were introduced. Now I know Brandi made that night all kinds of awkward, and as a man I hated being put in the position of trying to be a gentleman and not cause a scene when what I really wanted to do was kiss you like I just did now. Looking back, I should’ve shoved her away and stepped right up to you. I also know that relationships and caring for my mom haven’t exactly been successful in the past, so I figured it didn’t matter. But I hated like hell that you thought I was a jerk.”

  Emma had never heard him say so much at one time, and since she liked what he was saying, she just kept her mouth shut and her gaze on him.

  “But as soon as I saw those men buzzin’ around you at the cookout, I knew I had to stake my claim.” At this Emma’s eyebrow rose up.

  “Baby, I can see you’re about to get your panties in a bunch over what I just said, but I haven’t felt like this in a long time, and I wanna have time to explore it without constantly fightin’ men off of you.” At this Jake got quiet but held her gaze.

  “I’ve been alone for years, but not really by choice,” Emma said. She gave a small smile as she looked at him, “But I’d like to see where this goes, too.”

  Jake dropped his gaze for a moment, then looked back up, “Well, all right then.” His big speech over, he leaned back in and kissed her once more. This time is was tender, sweet and filled with promise. Emma realized that no matter which kind of kiss Jake gave her, she felt all of them right down to her core. It had been a long time since she had slept with anyone, but she found herself wondering if she was ready for Jake. She clung to him in desperation, as she kissed him, putting all the emotion she felt into the kiss.

  Oh yeah, I’m ready for him.