Page 31 of Splintered Memories (Ember Hollow Romance #2)

August

I had no idea what I was doing anymore.

In the week since Tristan Hawthorn had made a surprise visit to my house, Emersyn was different. She still buried herself in her work, but something had changed within her. Those steel walls seemed less prominent when I looked into her eyes.

She wasn’t any less fearsome. That soul wasn’t any less fiery. But there was something new stirring in those ashes. Something delicate and raw.

I didn’t know what to do.

We hadn’t talked about what else had happened before her father had barged into our space. We hadn’t spoken a word about our kiss since it happened.

It had been hard—impossible, even—not to think about it every time I looked at her.

That kiss, though much too brief and charged with emotion, had awakened a hunger inside me.

That hunger for her burned a hole in my stomach—in my chest. So much of me wanted to take her into my arms and revel in the taste of her, in the feel of her skin.

I wanted to hear those soft noises of pleasure slipping from her mouth as it moved against mine.

But I couldn’t.

I didn’t regret kissing Emersyn. I’d never regret something like that. But I was disappointed in myself for letting everything get so out of hand.

Emersyn was my client. I’d gotten so close to her that the lines between client and friend had been blurred so much that I lost sight of my job, my responsibility. I’d gotten sloppy and unfocused.

She had lost her house because of it.

I wasn’t sure whether she blamed me for what happened to the home she loved so much, but I did. Emersyn’s safety had been on my shoulders, and I’d almost let her burn to death. If she hadn’t been in the room with me—the alternative kept me up at night, thinking about what could have been.

The fire happened because I hadn’t been on my game. I hadn’t checked the house before we went to sleep like I always did. I’d let my weaknesses distract me, and I let Emersyn down.

I wouldn’t do that again.

So, as another week passed, I kept my distance from her. I couldn’t let her get closer, because that would only lead to failure.

She was counting on me to keep her safe.

We still had no information about her attacker.

I had no idea where her brother went or whether he was involved in any of this.

Roman assured me that it could be awhile before the fire department finished their investigation.

There hadn’t been much left of Emersyn’s home after the flames were put out .

“You seem…uncharacteristically grumpy,” Fox mused as he lounged on my couch, both of his hands tucked behind his head.

I scowled in his direction. The only reason he was here was because I’d needed to borrow one of his dress shirts. I hadn’t owned many, and the one I actually liked burned in the fire.

I rolled my stiff shoulder, which was slightly difficult in the tight, button-up shirt. “And you need to get to the gym and bulk up a bit, brother,” I said, indicating the differences between the width of our shoulders.

Fox had always been leaner than me, but I was only slightly joking.

My twin shrugged. “What do I need all those bulging muscles for when all I do is sit in front of a computer all day?”

I refrained from rolling my eyes. Fox could act like he did nothing but sit around, but I knew better. Sure, his main job was computers, but most of us still trained. He was in the gym almost as much as I was.

“Speaking of.” I tucked my hands into the pockets of my slacks. “Any news on Jake?”

Fox clenched his jaw. “You’d know if there had been.”

I ignored the sinking feeling in my chest. The way Emersyn’s brother had simply disappeared was more than a little concerning. Fox had been on the lookout for any activity from his phone or his credit cards. There had been nothing.

“Do you think he’s still alive?” I didn’t want to think that, but preparing for the worst-case scenario had become second nature.

Fox scrubbed a hand along his sharp jaw. “There’s always a possibility. Emersyn said he’s disappeared before.”

Jake had lived out on the streets at one point, too ashamed that he’d succumbed to his vices that he had isolated himself from his family and friends and had cut himself off. This felt different, though. “I guess we can hope. Don’t stop looking.”

Fox nodded. “I won’t.”

Just then, the door to Emersyn’s room opened. My mouth automatically lifted in a grin as I turned toward her.

“It took you long enough to—” The rest of my sentence got lost somewhere on the path from my brain to my mouth as I took her in.

She wore a short, forest-green dress that hugged her every curve. The sleeves were long, but the small slit up the side and dipping neckline was anything but modest. The whole thing seemed to shimmer in the light from the sequins sewn into the fabric.

It was… she was…stunning.

She ran a hand over her long, curled hair as she stared at me. She leaned on a hip, her mouth pursing as she looked me up and down. “Why do you look like somebody slapped you across the face?”

Her glasses were missing, but I hardly noticed. She glanced from Fox to me and back again as if he had an explanation for my sudden bewilderment.

I closed my gaping mouth, opened it again, but still words failed me.

Fox chuckled from behind me as he clapped a hand on my shoulder. “He’s fine,” my brother answered for me. “I should probably get going. I’ll see you both at the party.”

The door snapped closed behind Fox, leaving Emersyn and me standing alone in the living room.

Emersyn shifted in her high heels. “Is it too much?” She looked down at her dress .

The self-conscious tone in her voice finally snapped me out of my stupor. I shook my head. “You could never be too much.” I cleared my throat, drinking her in. “You look—you look beautiful, Emersyn.”

A faint flush crept up her neck. “Thank you.” Her eyes flicked up and down my form. “You look nice too.”

I looked unsubstantial compared to her, wearing a black dress shirt and a pair of gray slacks, but I just nodded.

“Thanks.” I offered her my arm. “Shall we get going?”

Her eyes bounced to my arm, and her full lips twisted into a small smile. She nodded, threading her arm through mine, and I led her out the door.

I had to admit, it was a bit much for what was supposed to be a small celebration.

Emersyn gawked at the bulbous lights strung above us up the drive as we eased through the gate of the venue.

My mother had booked a local event hall on an expansive property outside of Ember Hollow.

The land had everything someone could ask for in a venue: privacy for acres, vineyards, a private lake with an old wooden bridge arching over the narrowest portion of it.

There were even stables with a few horses.

“I’ve never been out here,” Emersyn mused, clinging to the window as we made our way up a winding path.

There were multiple buildings used to host parties. My mother had booked the smallest, though it was anything but simple. The biggest was a huge open barn that was often used for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

The hall we were using looked like a large wooden cabin. The side of the building that faced the lake was nothing but windows from the base to the peaked roof. The sun was beginning to set, and the lights from inside made the cabin glow like a lit candle.

I parked in the lot off to the side.

“Wait.” I put a hand on Emersyn’s arm as she reached for the door handle. She gave me a quizzical look, but she froze. “A lady never opens her own door.”

I gave her a wink and hopped out of the car, quickly rounding the vehicle and opening her door. I offered her my hand.

She stared at my palm for a moment before she took it. “Being a gentleman tonight, huh?” She raised her brows.

I helped her out of the vehicle, bowing slightly as I did so. “I’ll be anything you want me to be when you look like that,” I said, leisurely scanning her dress.

Her skin flushed but she laughed and leaned into my side. “Better be careful,” she whispered in my ear. “I might take advantage of you if you’re going to say things like that.”

My core went molten as we walked toward the cabin, arm in arm.

I was quiet until we came up to the entrance.

My eyes caught hers as I reached for the door handle.

I wondered whether she could feel the heat that she had ignited in my veins.

Heat that I shouldn’t be indulging in. But that stupid dress of hers was doing things to me.

I swung open the door but held onto Emersyn’s arm for a beat longer. Pulling her against me, I spoke softly against the shell of her ear. “You have every advantage when it comes to me, Emersyn. ”

Then I let her go, gesturing for her to enter as I held the door open for her. She blinked at me, her eyes wide. The flush was vibrant against her pale skin as she walked into the hall.

I grinned, watching the sway of her hips as she went, completely mesmerized.

Hailey had done a great job picking out the decorations.

The cabin was basically one big room when you walked inside.

Long tables lined the back wall that were filled with snacks, small appetizers, and desserts.

A bar was built into the right side, where bartenders were serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Next to the bar was a hallway that led to a small sitting area and the bathrooms.

In the center of the space was a large dance floor, punctuated by a large, glimmering crystal chandelier above it. A DJ had set up on a small stage in the front corner, and round tables with seating surrounded the dance floor.