it. It’s fine. Just come by and get it one night,” she said.
Jack had wanted to kiss Emma last night when he’d been alone with her in her house on her birthday. Going over to her house a second night this week might not be a good idea. They were friends, and he’d made a promise to her dad to never cross that line with her. After Jack had arrived drunk to pick up Emma for prom, her father had cut him off at the pass and said Jack didn’t deserve her. And on some level, based on that one incident, Jack agreed. He wanted to be the type of guy who deserved Emma though.
“Thanks,” he said. “And I guess if you’re sure you don’t mind, I’ll take you up on borrowing that bed.”
She smiled back at him, completely oblivious to his thoughts, and to the fact that he actually had shown up to take her to prom. And he wanted to keep it that way.
“I’m sure.”
The store employee arrived with the boxes, and Jack loaded them into his truck. “I’ll take them over to the café right now and set them up,” he said.
Emma looked excited, which was a welcome change from how she’d looked last night in her house. “I’ll meet you there. We can have those lemonades afterward.”
“Sounds fitting for the best summer ever,” Jack said. Even if his idea of the best summer included a lot more than a friendly lemonade with Emma.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, Jack pulled into the Sweetwater Café’s parking lot and got out. “You want the tables set up out front?” he asked as Emma walked up beside him.
She nodded. “Yes, please. Thank you again. You’re a lifesaver. I’ll help you carry them.”
He started to argue, but she rolled her eyes. “Put your alpha pride away and let me. I’ve been working out, you know.” She flexed her biceps, and he swallowed. “That’s impressive.” And attractive.
10, 9, 8, 7…
He started mentally counting backward the way he did when he needed to cancel his thoughts and refocus his brain.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He met her gaze. “What do you mean?”
“You just went blank. You completely disappeared.”
He cleared his throat. “Sorry. I guess I got distracted.”
She offered a hesitant smile. “Okay, well, as you can see, I can help with the tables and chairs. Let’s do this.” She grabbed the edge of one box and started pulling, not waiting for him to agree. He grabbed the other side. He could’ve carried it by himself. They weren’t heavy but he didn’t want to tell Emma no. He suspected she wouldn’t have accepted no for an answer anyway.
“I have a toolbox inside the café,” she said once they’d gotten the box to the front of the shop. “Be right back.”
His gaze followed her as she disappeared inside the café.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6…
“Hey, Jack.”
He looked up as his buddy Granger headed toward him on the sidewalk with his two little girls, Abigail and Willow.
“Hey, buddy. What are you guys doing tonight?” Jack asked.
“I promised the girls a trip to Dawanda’s Fudge Shop for a little treat.” Granger looked at the front entrance of the Sweetwater Café and then back to Jack. “And what are you doing standing out here?”
Jack held out his hands. “Just helping Emma set up some new tables out here. No big deal.”
“Yeah, right, Mr. Jack,” Willow said, her perception way beyond her six years. “You like Miss Emma. Daddy told us so.”
Granger shushed his daughter. “I told you it was a secret. That means you’re not supposed to repeat it.”
Willow looked proud of herself.
“Well, I like Miss Emma,” Jack said. “But we’re just friends.”
Emma walked up behind him as he squatted to the girls’ level. “That’s exactly right,” she agreed. “Good friends.”
Jack straightened and turned to face her. “I thought you’d come back out the café door.”
“I took the long way because I couldn’t remember where my toolbox was.” She gave him a strange look, her smile still hesitant. She lifted her chin slightly as she met his gaze.
What? They were just friends.
“Daddy says—” Willow started before Granger put a hand over her mouth.
“Daddy says if you want fudge, you better keep his secrets safe.” Granger gave a sheepish smile. “Hey, Emma. How are you?”
She nodded. “Good, Granger. And you?”
“Just perfect. Happy belated birthday, by the way,” Granger added. “Jack told me.”
She slid Jack another look before returning her attention to Granger. “Thank you. I’m twenty-nine and holding.”