Page 47 of Decoding Emma

“No.”

Now or never…

“Then talk to me.”I was going to lay it on the line.“I know we’re working together, but I want to see you outside of the office.I want us to go out together.”

“Isn’t there some fraternization rule?”

I laughed.“No.If there was, Cassie and Marcus broke that rule a long time ago.”I waited, but when she didn’t say anything, I decided to go ahead and ask.“How do you feel about seeing me?”

Emma bit her lower lip before answering.“I want to.”

“But...”I heard the hesitation in her voice.

“There are so many things you don’t know about me.”

“Then tell me.”

“Not here.”She glanced around.“I know this is pretty private, but there are some things I don’t talk about in public.”

Now that was interesting.What made her not want to talk in public?

“I can understand that.What are you willing to talk about?”I was throwing the ball back in her court.

“I’ve had a handful of relationships.”

I stiffened.I hadn’t expected her to say that, but it was a good start.“Any serious?”

“No.”She glanced up as Wanda came around the screen, pushing a small cart.

“Lunch as ordered.”Wanda drew the cart to a stop next to the table.She put two small Caesar salads on the table, then a club sandwich and fries for Emma, and my burger and fries.“Enjoy.”

Wanda left, and I glanced over at Emma, her focus now on her food.“Did I get it right?”

“How did you know I don’t like tomatoes?”

“I didn’t.I’ve seen you order club sandwiches, but Wanda told me you always get them without tomatoes.Not a tomato fan?”

“Not really.I do use them in recipes but usually cut up so small you get the taste and don’t notice the chunks.”

“Another thing we have in common.”

Her eyebrows rose.“We do?”

“Yep, I don’t eat tomatoes either.Not on my burger, not on anything.In a sauce is fine, but not big chunks of tomato.”I shivered.“I don’t understand people who can eat them whole.”

Emma laughed, and my skin tingled at her reaction.The wall was coming down; she was relaxing, and that was good.

I dug into my salad.“I’ve had one serious relationship.”Might as well get it out of the way.

“Your tone has me thinking it wasn’t a good one.”

“It wasn’t.”I hated talking about Tiffany, but if I wanted a relationship with Emma, it was necessary.“Tiffany was my wife.”Emphasis on the past tense.

“You were married?”

“Unfortunately.”And what a disaster that had been.“I found Tiffany in bed with another man.”

Emma’s fork hovered in midair.“What the…” She carefully placed the utensil back on the plate.“Why would anyone do that?”