The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (176 page)

When the fog clears, his gaze meets mine again. “You. Are. Beautiful.”  And just like that, I fall in love with him all over again.

“
P
LEASE DON’T STAY
locked up in your office all day while I’m out,” I warn Adam.

“I won’t.  I thought I’d swing by Derek’s place and spend some time with Kai.”  Adam has only know about Kai’s existence for a month, but in that short time, he’s made himself a regular presence in that child’s life.  Watching him build a relationship with the toddler makes me all gooey inside.  He’s patient but encouraging, gentle but firm, and always available when Shea needs a hand.

Adam reaches inside his desk drawer and hands me his Visa card, along with a warning.  “Emmy, please don’t go crazy today.  I’m still paying off our trip to Hawaii and your last two shopping sprees.”

I know how much Adam worries about money.  Ever since we found out we were expecting, we’ve been spending like crazy.  Not to mention all the toys he’s been buying for Kai.  I think he’s afraid we may actually end up in the poor house. 

“Oh, you don’t have to worry.  My mom gave me a nice big gift card to use on baby stuff.  I won’t need your card at all today.  And it’s Reese’s turn to buy lunch.  Winner, winner, chicken dinner!”

“Good girl.”  Adam swings his chair around, giving me the opening I need to swoop in and climb onto his lap.  He wraps his arms around me and I nuzzle his neck, inhaling deeply.  He smells heavenly of fresh laundry, and, well, Adam.  I start at his ear and nibble my way to his mouth. 

Suddenly, his hand cradles the back of my head and he pulls me in, pressing his lips tightly against mine.  The moment his tongue brushes and swirls with mine, I feel tingles all the way down to my panties.  I could get lost in him like this for hours.

When I hear Reese’s horn beeping out front, I pull myself away.  “Keep my seat warm.  I’ll be back by dinner and I want to pick up right where we’re leaving off.”  I give him a quick kiss and dash towards the front door.

“Em, wait!” Adam calls as he follows after me.  “Here.  Don’t forget your phone.”  He hands me my cell phone, which I thought I left in my purse.

“Thanks, babe.  I swear I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on.”  I grab the phone and scurry out the front door, eager to start my girls’ day out. 

I scoot into the front seat and drop my purse onto my lap.  I quickly shut the door to keep out the cold winter air.  “Hey, girl.  Ready to shop ‘til we drop?”

“Ready when you are,” Reese gleefully chimes back.

Before she gets a chance to put the car in drive, I ask her to wait.  “Reese, just let me check for a few things before we go.”  I rummage through the endless pit of a purse, trying to find my gift cards.  “I know it’s ... in ... here ... somewhere,” I mumble, fishing through receipts, envelopes, movie stubs, candy wrappers, business cards, and my wallet.  “Got it!” I proudly announce, waving around the envelope with the gift card from my mother.  “Hi-Ho, Silver – Away!”

Once we’re on the highway, Reese asks, “So, what’s today’s mission?”

“Today’s target purchase is a rocking chair for Bean’s room.  And whatever goodies you’d like to buy along the way,” I tell her.

I feel heat radiating on my backside and in a panic I let out a desperate yelp.

“My God, Emmy – are you okay?” Reese asks as she slows the car down.

“Oh, balls!”  I let out a sigh of relief when I realize what’s happening.  “I though I peed myself, but it’s just your stupid butt warmers.”

Reese roars with laughter, “You’re fucking nuts, do you know that?”

“I know.  Adam tells me all the time,” I admit as I start pushing all sorts of buttons on the dashboard, hoping to find the right one that will turn off this ridonculous hot seat.

Reese leans down and pushes a button on the center console.  “There you go, crazy lady.”

“Thanks, hot stuff,” I tease.

We arrive at the mall and the first thing I notice is the heavenly smell of Cinnabons.  I can’t concentrate on anything except getting myself an ooey, gooey cinnamon roll.  I drag Reese toward the source of my desire, my mouth watering. 

Once we’re standing at the counter, I see Reese studying the board.  “Hey, Emmy – let’s get a six-pack sampler.  We can bring some to Jette.  Wouldn’t these be great additions to her winter dessert menu?”

She’s right.  Nothing beats a warm and flaky pastry oozing with cinnamon and rich cream cheese frosting.  My mind is racing with the possible drink pairings we could offer to compliment the bold flavors.  I readily agree and buy a sampler box.  We grab two bottles of water and find a table nearby to sit, snack, and chat.

“Okay, Emmy.  You have your mission, but I have one, too,” Reese announces with a gleam in her eye.

“Ooh, a mission!  Tell me more.  Is it dangerous?” I ask.

“I hope not,” she quickly answers.  “I have a date tonight and I want to buy a new dress.”

I bounce up and down in my seat.  “That is the best news I’ve heard in ages!  Who is he?  How did you meet?  Where is he taking you?”  I have a million more questions, but we can start with the basics – for now.

“Um, his name is Hayes and he’s taking me to dinner in Manhattan,” she tells me.

“And?  How did you meet?  Was it romantic?  Did you see him across the room and your eyes met?  Or did your hands accidentally touch in the produce aisle reaching for the same cucumber?”  Just thinking about it makes me relive my first kiss with Adam.  Damn, there’s nothing like a first kiss.

She shakes her head, “No, nothing like that.  We haven’t actually met.  It’s a blind date.”

“Blind date?  Wow.  Tell me more.  What do you know about him?” I ask.

“He’s an architect in Manhattan that specializes in rehabilitation and restoration.  He’s a friend of Auggie and Lucas.  They’re the ones that set us up.”  She hesitates and takes a big bite of her pastry.  “We’ve talked on the phone every night for the past two weeks.  I really like him, Emmy.  I hope there’s something there.  He’s easy to talk to and he comes from a big family, too, so we have lots to talk about.”

“Well, let’s find you the perfect dress so that you’ll have him in the palm of your hand.  Literally, if that’s what you want.”

“Oh, that’s what I want alright.  I don’t want to tell you how long it’s been ... since ... you know,” she says.

“Who was your last?” I ask her.  Reese just shakes her head and shrugs.  “Shaun?” I ask, thinking about the adorable halfback with puppy dog eyes she dated for a while.

Again she shakes her head, “Nope.”

I can’t think of anyone else I’ve seen Reese with.  “Oh,” I say aloud as it hits me.  “It was Derek, wasn’t it?  Was he your last?”

She nods without saying a word.  She and Derek had a strong connection, but Reese wanted more than he could give her at the time.  He’s moved on, and she’s filled with regret.

“I think Derek was the one, but I blew it.  Do you think someone could have more than one true love?” she asks.

“No,” I tell her.  “I don’t.  He wasn’t the one.  If he were, he’d be with you right now.  Maybe Hayes will be the one.”

Out of nowhere, I hear “Here Comes the Bride” instrumental music nearby.  Reese hears it, too. 

“Oh. My. God.  Do you hear that?  It’s a sign from the Universe.  There’s no way that that exact song just happened to play at this exact moment.  It’s a cosmic symbol.  That little push you need to take the leap and move in the right direction.  Don’t you think I’m right?”

“Um, Emmy, I think it’s your phone,” Reese says.

“No way,” I tell her.  But just to be sure, I pull out my phone to check.  I turn it over and see that I have a new text message.  And it’s from Adam. 

I type in my passcode and read it, grinning contritely as I read today’s marriage proposal.

Adam
:  I want to wake up to you every day for the rest of eternity.  Will you marry me?

I stare at the screen and contemplate my response.  It’s not until I hear her voice that I even remember that Reese is right here with me.

“See, I told you!” she teases.  “It was your phone.  What’s with the wedding music?”

“Adam.  He changed my text ringtone.  It’s another wedding proposal,” I admit. 

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Reese contends.  “When are you going to put that poor boy out of his misery and say
yes
?”

“You and everyone else, including Adam, know the answer to that question.  After the baby’s born, we can talk about marriage.  But until then, the only thing on my mind is making sure this little one has the best possible start in life.  It’s that simple.”

“You know, Emmy, if I’ve learned one thing about you, it’s that most things are very simple.  You don’t play games and you don’t mince words.  But that man of yours is bound and determined to put a ring on your finger, and you can only keep him waiting for so long before he gives up and stops asking,” Reese warns.

“If he gives up, then he’s not the one for me.”

W
ednesday morning arrives and for the first time in a long time, Adam is nervous.  Today is his interview with the New Jersey Red Hawks and despite being indecisive about the job, he wants to make a good impression.  If nothing else, this could be a great networking opportunity for him to increase his contacts.

Adam has been up since the crack of dawn, reading and rereading all sorts of statistics.  Adam has some ideas about changing their scouting practices and their reliance on finding young, inexperienced “blue chip” high school players.

I’m opening at the restaurant today, and I haven’t gotten more than a moment of Adam’s attention all morning.  I think I know how to change that.

I slip into his office, unnoticed, as Adam types furiously on his laptop.  Standing behind him, I lean down and quietly say, “I have to leave for work soon.”

The only response I get is, “Uh huh,” as he continues to type away furiously, which is unacceptable.

In a low hum, I breathe in his ear, “I’m so proud of you,” as I nibble on his ear and trail kisses down his neck as he moans appreciatively.  His shoulders relax and his hands fall to his side as he leans into my touch.  Grabbing him by the shoulders, I spin him around to face me as I climb onto his lap. 

I throw my arms around his neck and snake my fingers through his still damp mop of hair.  “You’re going to do great,” I tell him confidently.  I’ve yet to find a single thing my man can’t do well.

“That’s not the point, Emmy.  If I do this, and I do mean
if
, I want to do it for the right reasons.  I’m not leaving the Sentinels unless I think I have something I can offer the Red Hawks.  I want to make a difference.  Does this make sense?” he asks.

“It does,” I tell him.  “What time is your interview?” I ask.

“Noon.  I’ll be meeting the General Manager and a panel of the partners and members of the Board of Directors.  They’re either going to love my ideas or hate them.  It could go either way,” he tells me.

“Then I guess it will be pretty clear if you’re on the right path or not.  If you click with them, you’ll know.  But if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.  Sometimes you just have to stop thinking so much and go where your heart leads you.”

“What does your heart tell you about
us
, O Wise One?” he asks.  “Do you see a future for us?”

I pull away and look into his eyes.  “Of course I do, silly.  How could you even ask me that?”

“Then why won’t you wear my ring?”

“Do we have to do this again, Adam?  You know how I feel.  I’ve told you a thousand times.  Not now and not like this.”

He takes my hand in his, bringing it to his lips and places a soft and lingering kiss on my ring finger.  “It makes me feel ... I don’t know ... inadequate.  Now that you’re starting to show, people are going to notice that there’s no ring on that finger and they’re going to wonder who the piece of shit is that knocked you up.  I hate that.”

“See, you just proved my point.  That’s exactly why I won’t do this.  Not now.  It’s too complicated.”  I hate making him feel like less of a man, but if we are going to have a real chance at a future together, I really need to know it’s for the right reasons, not out of some prehistoric sense of obligation or duty.