Page 37 of That One Night (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation #4)

Chapter

Thirty

Hendrix was waiting for her as she walked down the steps, leaving Trenton talking to his parents. She reminded him of that little girl in the meme, the one who is walking away while the world is burning behind her.

She was beautiful. And strong. And he didn’t deserve her. But damn, he wanted to try.

“You okay?” he asked her.

She nodded. “I need to get this filed,” she said, her voice low as she lifted the signed document Trenton had given her. “But first of all I need to talk to my mom. You know how news spreads around here.”

“Of course.” He wouldn’t expect anything else of her. “Are you okay to drive? I’ll follow you.”

She nodded, giving him a weak smile. She looked as tired as he’d felt all week. “Yeah, I think so.”

He resisted pulling her into his arms even though every cell in his body wanted it.

Instead, he walked her to her car, and opened the driver’s door for her, closing it once she was safely inside.

He watched Trenton walk into his parents' house and close the front door behind them, as Emery started her engine up.

A moment later he was on his motorcycle. Like he promised, he let Emery lead, following behind her like some kind of secret service agent keeping her safe. Not that she needed it.

She’d been so strong back there. She was breathtaking.

He was still kicking himself for not being truthful with her from the start.

They were about a mile away from the farm when she turned on her blinker and pulled over to the side, coming to a stop at the edge of the country road. He pulled up behind her, frowning.

“Everything okay?” he called out, climbing off his bike as she opened her door.

She nodded. “I’m just… can you pick the car up later?”

“You planning on walking home?”

Emery shook her head, letting her gaze meet his. “Can I ride with you?”

She could do whatever the hell she wanted as far as he was concerned.

“I don’t have a helmet,” he realized.

“I know.” She nodded. “But I need to be on the back of your bike right now.”

“Okay.”

He got back on his bike, trying not to react as she climbed on behind him, her body warm against his back. She fitted against him like they were made for each other, her arms wrapping around him, her head against his spine.

It warmed him more than he could say that she was letting him take the strain right now. There were times for words and there were times for actions. She was better with the former and he was always so much more at ease with the latter.

But right now her actions were telling him that he had some hope. For their future together.

It was only a couple of minutes before he turned onto the lane leading to their farms. She kept her tight hold on him, like she needed this closeness as much as he did.

And when they reached the offshoot that housed their farms, he slowed down to a stop, turning to look at her.

“You want me to pull up outside your place or mine? Or let you off here?” he asked her.

Because if he pulled up outside hers, and her mom saw her climbing off his bike, she’d have a thousand questions. He needed to know that Emery was ready to answer them.

Their eyes caught for a moment. God, she was beautiful. “Mine,” she said.

There was a stubbornness in her jaw that warmed him. She might have just gone ten rounds in the ring with her ex, but she was ready to face her mom, too.

“Let’s do it.”

Her arms tightened around his waist as he took a right into her mom’s drive, stopping next to her steps, cutting the engine and kicking out the stand. He climbed off, turning to look at the woman he loved sitting on his bike, her hair flowing down her shoulders, her eyes shining.

Then he helped her off, his hands warm and strong on her waist, and she took a long breath in as he kept them there.

“Emery?” her mom said, opening the front door, looking confused when she saw her daughter standing in Hendrix’s arms. “What’s going on? Where’s Trenton?”

Emery frowned at the mention of his name. Like she was trying to make a point, she put her hand in Hendrix’s, squeezing it tight. “You’re coming in with me, right?” she asked him.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Emery? What’s going on?” Her mom sounded almost frantic.

“It’s a long story,” Emery told her. “Can we come inside? And maybe get some sweet tea?”

“Him too?” Her mom asked, frowning at Hendrix.

Emery winced at her mom’s tone. “Can you at least call the man I love by his name?” Emery said.

And for a second, there was complete silence. Her words felt like a mac truck hitting his chest. But in a good way.

The best of ways.

She loved him. After all he’d done. He didn’t deserve it, but he would take it.

He’d work so damn hard every day to be the man who deserved her.

“The man loves you, too,” he said, his eyes meeting Emery’s. Her lips parted as she exhaled softly.

There were tears in her eyes.

Emery’s mom was still staring at them, completely confused.

“Mom, I know this is a shock. There’s a lot I have to explain to you and I will,” Emery promised. “But you need to know that Hendrix is a good man and I’d like you to treat him that way.”

Her mom looked from her to Hendrix, like she wasn’t sure what to do next. “But Trenton is your fiancé. How can you be in love with another man?”

“We split up a while ago. I’ll explain it all to you, but I assume you prefer not to do it out here.”

Her mom nodded, her sense of hospitality overriding her confusion. “Very well.” She looked at Hendrix. “Please come in.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “With pleasure.”