be punctual, which I appreciated, but it still amused me just how much you could take the man out of the military, but never, ever take the military out of the man.
I wiped damp hands on the sides of my skirt as I made my way to answer the bell, giving my thick waves one final fluff before pulling the door open.
I put on a bright smile, and said, “Welcome to Casa Vanessa. Reservation name, please?”
While his eyes took me in, I succumbed to the moment and did the same. He wore jeans and a gray button up shirt with a blue blazer, looking handsome and dressed up. Just for me.
Emmett’s lips twitched at my question and then his tongue peeked out and slicked across his bottom lip, undeniable heat shooting sparks.
“Emmett Manning but it could be under Vanessa.”
“Good answer,” I told him and took a step back. “Come on in.”
“Nice shoes,” he said with a genuine smile as he kicked off his own brown leather shoes and hung up the blazer.
“You look beautiful, as always. And damn, it smells incredible in here.”
I laughed and looked back at him. “Thanks, and I’ll try not to be offended that the food got a bigger rise out of you than I did.”
Holy shit, that was full on blatant flirting, wasn’t it? It was. But it was also too soon for that, wasn’t it?
“The rise you’d get might be considered inappropriate,” he practically growled at me.
I shivered but chose not to respond to those words, because how in the hell could I respond to such blatant desire? Instead I gave him a quick tour of the house that ended in the kitchen.
“We’re eating in the dining room tonight because I might have gone a little overboard trying to impress you.”
“Me? Why?”
“I don’t know.” I said shyly. “I like hanging out with you Emmett, and I wanted to cook something that would show you I’m more than a grieving widow.”
“I already know that Vanessa.” He dropped down onto one of the kitchen chairs, his gaze dark. Intense.
“You do?”
He nodded but it didn’t make sense. “How?”
“Because I know I’m more than a solider with PTSD, more than a former boxer, and more than a man who can’t forget the friends he’s lost.”
“Yes, you are, Emmett.”
He didn’t look like he believed me so I went to the bottle of sake and poured two ceramic cups.
“Drink up and tell me what’s bothering you?”
He sighed, sniffed the sake and then shrugged before taking a sip.
“Not bad. You sure you want to hear it?”
I nodded. “It’ll be nice to listen to someone else’s problems for a change.”
“It’s my mother. I don’t know why I always expect things to be different when they’ve been exactly the same for two decades. Why do I keeping wanting to rescue a woman who doesn’t want to be rescued?” He finished off the sake and reached for the bottle. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” I liked that Emmett was protective in a caring, gentle way. His protectiveness wasn’t the big bad alpha, almost bullying care of Lance. This was the kind that made your knees weak just a little bit.
“It’s not a bad thing to love your mother and want better for her, even if she doesn’t want that for herself.”
“Makes me a fool,” he growled.
“It makes you a good son and an even better human.”
He didn’t look convinced, and I took a step closer, putting a hand on his shoulder, so strong and muscular. And tempting.
Emmett looked up with heat in his eyes and my lips started to tingle. He stood and stared deep into my eyes, and my whole body lit up with a feeling I thought I’d lost forever. Desire. Big strong hands were on my hips in an instant, sliding down my back and up to the curve of my breast, gentle and intense and hungry at all once.
A sharp gasp escaped, surprising us both, but Emmett just smiled and then his mouth was on mine, devouring every inch as if he just couldn’t get enough of me. It was intoxicating considering I hadn’t had a proper orgasm since learning about Lance. The kiss started out like a soft flickering flame, igniting heat all over my body, but soon enough Emmett took control, grasping my jaws and tilting my head so he could taste the depths of my mouth, making sure no spot was neglected.
The intensity of the kiss shocked me as much as my own response to the kiss. It was so