Page 31 of That One Night (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation #4)

“That she does.” Jed pressed his lips together.

“Especially after her dad…” He cleared his throat.

“Anyway, in his absence, I guess I’m the closest thing she has to a father.

And since that’s the case, it’s also my job to make sure nobody endangers that happiness.

Like a guy who was taking advantage of her, for example.

” He looked Hendrix dead in the eye. “If she was involved with somebody like that, I’d need to tell him to back off. ”

Hendrix nodded. “You and me both. I feel protective of her, too. Not that she needs it. If anybody can protect themselves, it’s Emery.”

“Very true.” Jed eyed him warily. “I guess I just have to hope this guy has good intentions.”

“You don’t have to hope, sir. I know he has good intentions. The best kind of ones.” It should have been funny. The way they were dancing around the facts. Neither one of them admitting to what they knew. Neither one of them wanting to.

It was so stupidly masculine. Emery would probably laugh her head off if she knew they were doing this.

“Well, that’s nice to hear.” Jed nodded. “Very nice.”

“I think so.”

“And if this guy, whoever he is, keeps being good to her, unlike that asshole she’s engaged to, then I’ll be able to retire and not get involved.”

Hendrix’s lips twitched. “I think you can retire without worrying.” He looked at the for sale sign. “Just as soon as this place is sold.” He inclined his head at the road. “Well, I’d better get to work before my uncle sends out a search party.”

“Of course.” Jed nodded. “Oh, and Hendrix?”

“Yes, sir?”

“You deserve to be happy, too.”

“So, have you told her yet?” Maisie asked Emery.

It was early evening in Hartson’s Creek, which meant it was almost midnight in Norway, which was Maisie’s second to last country of her tour.

She’d video-called Emery to show her the midnight sun.

Even though it was almost the next day, the sun was still a burning ball of orange hanging above the horizon.

It didn’t set at all during the height of the summer there.

“I’m going to tell her tonight. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Mom spent most of the day fielding calls from people who’ve seen the for sale sign and didn’t realize we were planning on moving.

And then the realtor sent over a bunch of home listings for her to look at, which she insisted on going through right away. ”

The truth was, her mom was dealing with the for sale sign going up outside the farm better than Emery had hoped. And yeah, she was nervous as hell about telling her that her engagement was over. But tonight was the deadline. She was going to tell her mom everything.

She was so ready to get on with the rest of her life. And that life started today.

“How about the asshole? Have you heard from him?” Maisie asked her.

“No. But the ball is in his court. I’ve told him what I’m doing, how he reacts to that is up to him.”

“And how’s the hot farmer?” Maisie murmured, leaning in.

“Perfect.” She glanced up from her position in her mom’s front yard. “In fact, he’s just arriving home from work.”

“I want to talk to him,” Maisie said excitedly. “Take me over. Introduce me.”

“Hell no. That would be weird.”

Maisie gave her a pointed look. “You wouldn’t be with him if it wasn’t for me. I’m the one who gave you the list and made sure you went skinny dipping.”

“He lives about thirty yards away,” Emery said dryly. “I’m sure we would have talked eventually.”

“Oh come on. It’s daylight for almost twenty-four hours here. I can’t sleep. The least you could do is provide me with some entertainment.” She pressed her lips together. “I could add it to the list. What are we up to, number nine?”

“You’re not adding anything more to the list,” Emery said firmly. Then she looked back to check if there was any sign of her mom, but there wasn’t. “Okay, I’ll introduce you.”

“Yay!” Maisie beamed. “Ask him to take his top off. I need the full effect.”

Rolling her eyes at her friend, Emery walked through the gate and across the lane. Hendrix was climbing off of his motorcycle, and he smiled softly at her, making her heart thud.

“Hey.” He tipped his head to the side.

“Hi.” She felt stupidly breathless. Would it always feel like this? Like she couldn’t remember how to breathe around him? “My friend Maisie is on the phone. She wants to say hi.”

“Point me at him,” Maisie’s tinny voice shouted.

“Sorry,” Emery mouthed at Hendrix. He winked at her, then walked up to his house. She followed behind him, letting him usher her through the front door.

It was good thinking. If Maisie was going to embarrass them all, it was better to do it in private.

Once they were fully inside she lifted the phone up until the screen was facing Hendrix.

He looked stupidly amused. “Hi Maisie,” he said.

“Hi Hendrix.” Maisie sounded breathless. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“What did Emery tell you?” Maisie asked him. “It’s all lies. Unless it’s nice, in which case it’s all true. So… I hear you look good without a shirt.”

“Aaand that’s my cue to end the call,” Emery said, turning the phone back around. Hendrix was trying not to laugh.

“Bye Maisie. Go to bed, get some sleep.”

“I’ll see you in the flesh soon,” her friend shouted out, presumably to Hendrix as well, before Emery ended the call and rolled her eyes.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I like that you introduced me to your friend.”

“She’s even worse in real life.”

“I think I can cope with that.” He stepped forward until there were only a couple of inches between them. “How’s your day been?”

“Pretty good.” Emery let out a breath. “Did you see the for sale sign?”

“Yeah, I saw it. Jed was out there when I went by, actually. We had a very interesting conversation.”

“What kind of conversation?” she asked him.

“The kind of conversation where he pretty much admitted that he knows about us.”

“He knows?” Her eyes widened. “He never said anything.” Thank God. Her cheeks pinked up. “What did he say?”

“Just that you seem happy. And he thought there might be a guy involved. And whoever he was better treat you right.”

“So what makes you think he suspects?”

“Because the way he was looking at me made it clear he knew it was me.”

“Oh.” She put her hand over her face. “I’m so embarrassed. First him, now Maisie. Have they managed to scare you away yet?”

He gently peeled her hand away. “No. It’s funny. And sweet. And I like that people care about you.” He caught her eye. “I care too.”

There it was, that little thud of her heart against her ribcage. She looked at her watch. “I need to get back. My mom…”

“She doing okay?” he asked.

And if that didn’t make her want to swoon, she wasn’t sure what would. He cared about her. He cared about the people she cared about.

She was starting to get used to it.

“I’m going to tell her about the engagement ending when I get back.”

His eyes caught hers. “You want me to be there?”

“It’s probably best if I do it alone. And anyway, you need to stop being so sweet.”

“I can’t. I’m naturally that way.” He grinned. “But if you need me just let me know.”

“I will,” she breathed. “I really should go.”

He walked her to the door and she stepped out onto his deck. God, she wished they could stay here all night.

“Soon,” he murmured, like he could read her mind. “This will all be out in the open. We won’t have to hide anymore.”

He looked so happy at that thought that she couldn’t help but grin, too. She threw her arms around him, rolling onto her tiptoes to kiss him. “God, I can’t wait.”

His mouth was warm. Welcoming. The way he moved it against hers sent a shiver down her spine. He slid his hand down her back, pulling her closer, until their bodies touched. She could feel the thick ridge of his excitement pressed against her belly.

“Come over later,” he told her.

“I’ll try.”

“And if you don’t come over, call me.”

“I’ll definitely do that.” She kissed him again and stepped back, a grin pulling at her lips.

It reflected the smile he was giving back to her.

God, this man made her feel good. “I’ll see you later, Only Farms.”

“Yeah,” he said gruffly. “You better.”

She turned on her heels, still smiling. Because the sun was shining, Hendrix Hartson was beautiful, and the rest of her life was in front of her.

Maybe that’s why she didn’t see Trenton standing in her mom’s yard, waiting for her, until it was too late.