Red Hot Reunion - Bella Andre Page 0,75

like a sliver of an olive branch was laid out for the future.

And as Jason pulled her into his arms in the middle of the restaurant, Emma felt freer and more secure than she ever had before.

Twenty-One

We should leave,” Jason said, reaching for Emma’s wrap without waiting for a reply.

But rather than falling to pieces and crying all the way to his house, Emma’s eyes were bright and dry.

“I’m not in any rush to leave. I want to stay to help your crew clean up. It’s the least I can do to repay them for being so nice to me.”

What the hell? She’d just been through the ringer with her parents—doing a damn good job of telling them where to stick it, no less—and she didn’t want to run and hide? Jason studied Emma carefully. Was she trying to hide her true feelings under a cloak of bravado for his benefit?

“You don’t need to pretend to be strong for me, Emma. I want to take you home. You need me to be there for you.”

It was the craziest thing. He wasn’t feeding Emma a pack of lies about how much he cared because he was trying to get payback. He meant every word.

Not because he wanted to trap her into trusting him.

Not because he had some kind of ulterior motive.

But because he truly wanted to take away her pain.

He cared about her. Loved her. Honestly loved her, inside and out. Past and present.

He’d wanted to kill her mother for slapping Emma, for hurting her. And in that moment, when he’d been about to commit murder in front of dozens of strangers, he’d made a powerful realization: In trying to get payback for the way Emma had betrayed him so many years ago, he wasn’t any better than her parents.

Everyone thought they had their reasons to control Emma, everyone thought they were justified in causing her pain.

Including him.

But they were all wrong.

Kate was the only one who really knew the score. Just as she’d said, Emma deserved to be happy. Truly deserved it.

Jason wanted to give that happiness to her. To start, he’d worship her with his body, make her cry out in pleasure to erase her tears.

Somehow, someday, he’d make things up to her.

Because even if she never found out about how he’d planned to hurt her, he knew. And he hated himself for it.

“Get back into the kitchen,” she said with a soft smile on her lips. “I’ll help Julie bus the tables and when you’re done we can go home.”

The word “home” sounded like “heaven” to Jason. “Are you absolutely certain?”

She nodded. “There have been enough scenes in your restaurant for one week. I want you to take care of your final customers. Go finish the job you do so well.”

Bending down, he began to kiss her possessively, just as he had all week. But he no longer wanted to take her by force. He didn’t want to own her anymore. Softly, so softly, he ended the kiss and she pushed him back toward the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, I won’t go anywhere. I promise.”

Emma knew exactly why Jason had been acting so protective, why he wanted to bundle her up and carry her back to his house like a knight in shining armor. And she too was surprised that she didn’t want to scream in frustration, didn’t want to cry over the way her mother had behaved.

It was the very opposite, in fact.

She’d never felt this sense of freedom before. It was scary to be living her own life, to be in charge of making her own decisions. But my God, she felt like she could finally breathe.

A small smile playing on her lips, she cleared her table. Julie rushed over. “You don’t need to help me with this, honey. Especially not after what you’ve just been through. Sit down and I’ll bring you another drink.”

But Emma merely laughed and waved Julie away. “I want to help. Thanks for everything.”

Julie frowned. “Can I at least get you some ice for your cheek?”

Emma bit her lip. She’d almost forgotten about the slap. “That’s probably a good idea.”

Julie grabbed the dirty plates from her. “Go on, grab a seat at the bar. This place is almost cleared out, thank God. What a night.”

“You said it,” Emma murmured as she followed Julie to the deserted bar. Moments later, the ice was cool against her heated skin. “Thanks for the ice.”

Julie laid a hand over hers. “Don’t mention it. If you ever need