Bottle It Up: (A Between the Pines Novel) Read online

  My phone rings with the request of someone wanting to FaceTime, and I know it’s Josh. This sound used to bring a smile to my face, today I’m conflicted. I’m always happy to hear from Josh, but there’s an underlying resentment matched with the guilt of wishing I had never signed his contract.

  I could ignore the call, but I don’t.

  “Hey.”

  “Emmy, girl where the hell are you?”

  I open my mouth to tell him exactly where I am when a sense of uncertainty washes over me. What if it is someone inside Josh’s inner circle? For the first time in my life, I don’t tell Josh every detail of what’s going on in my life.

  “I’m safe, and that’s all that matters.”

  “That is all that matters. Sorry, I didn’t call sooner, but Reeves has been updating me and let me know you were okay. I was thinking about you, though. I’m really sorry about all this, Em.”

  He didn’t even push back. Completely fine with not knowing where I was after waiting two days to even check in on me after some creep broke into my house. I’ve been so caught up with my one-on-one time with Max that I hadn’t even noticed that he didn’t so much as text me.

  Keeping a lid on my simmering bitterness, I do what I’m starting to realize I do more and more these days, let him off the hook and make it all about him.

  “It’s not your fault, Josh. How is it up there in Canada, eh?”

  That was all it took, and he’s off.

  Talking about his life.

  His favorite topic.

  This isn’t new, but for once, I actually have a lot going on. I mean, come on, I just opened my own business only to have my home broken into, and my life threatened. Now, I’m off in a mysterious location, just my bodyguard and me, and still, all he wants to talk about is himself!

  He rambles on.

  I drift off.

  I don’t hear a word he’s saying. I have the soundtrack of last night running through my head. I hear the deep timbre of Max calling me Firefly, his heavy breaths as he carried me across the yard, up the stairs, and then put me to bed.

  “I mean, it sucks that she broke her leg and needs surgery, but at least it means a break in filming. I can’t wait to see you!”

  “Wait, what?” No! “You’re coming home?”

  “Yep, we’ll finish up what we can the next few days without her, but then we’ll have to break because she’s in nearly every scene that’s left to shoot. I thought you’d be glad.”

  “Of course I am,” I lie. “Too bad, you’ll still miss Thanksgiving.”

  “I know, right? But it’s not a holiday up here in Canada so not a hardship to most of the crew. Well, listen. I have to get going but just wanted to check on you. Stay safe, Emmy, and I’ll call you when I head back to LA.”

  “Bye.”

  My screen goes black. He’s gone, and I’m bummed. Gathering my things, I drag my feet across the hall to the shower. The giddy mood that greeted me upon waking up is gone as is my racing heartbeat that had accompanied it.

  Deflated, I step under the hot water. I’ve never lied to Josh before. I’ve most certainly never been bummed at the prospect of getting to see him. His news should make me happy.

  The truth is, Josh being home means less time with Max.

  And that sucks.

  The shower hasn’t helped wash away the funk Josh’s call left me in, and when I wipe away the steam from the bathroom mirror, it’s clear that feeling sorry for myself is not an attractive look on me.

  Enough.

  Who knows what today will hold. This is Max we’re talking about. One minute he’s obsessed with being professional, and the next, he’s calling me Firefly or professing his love of my ass.

  No need to dwell on what I may be missing once we’re back in California and Josh is home because today the Max who calls me Firefly could be gone again.

  I think I’ll just live in the moment and see what happens.

  “There she is. How did you sleep, Emmett? What can I get you to eat?”

  Linda lifts my spirits in an instant.

  She reminds me a lot of my mom, always cooking and needing to feed everyone. Showing her love through her need to care for her family.

  “I slept great, thank you. The house is so quiet today.”

  “Except for the sound of Donny’s mower. I tell ya. Every three days, no matter the temperature, that man is out there on that mower. He may be retired, but he still has a schedule, and nothing will keep him from it. Except those grandkids.” The smile on her face says she wouldn’t change a thing about him.

  “Not surprised he’s wrapped around their fingers. They’re absolutely adorable. They bring such energy to the house.”

  “They do.” Her eyes light up, just thinking about them. “I couldn’t be happier for Alex. I sure hope Max finds that same joy one day.”

  With a flutter in my belly, I tease the hem of my sweater, not sure what to say.

  But just like my mom, I don’t have to figure out what to say because Linda keeps right on chatting while pouring me a cup of coffee and placing it on the table, which I take as a request to have a seat. “But then again, we don’t see much of Max these days, so I don’t really know what’s going on in his life. For him to show up here, with you, for the holiday, was quite a surprise. A good surprise but still a surprise.”

  “How long has it been since he’s been home?”

  “Three years. We’ve been out to California, but he hasn’t come home.” The spoon in the mixing bowl stops moving as she answers, her gaze out the window as a shallow sigh escapes. “It’s really good to see him with his dad. He’s missed him.”

  I sip my coffee, searching for something to say, but I don’t know anything about Max or why he hasn’t been home in three years. “I know he’s happy to be home.”

  Her attention turns back to the mixing bowl, a slight smile on her face and an unfocused gaze almost like a wave of nostalgia has hit her.

  “Brian reminds me so much of Max. You know how he introduced himself to you yesterday and said his name meant he was noble?”

  “Yes, it was precious.”

  “Well, Max used to do that. His name is Maximus, and it means the greatest. He used to say, ‘Hi, my name is Max. I’m the greatest.’” She laughs down at her bowl. “Oh, he was something else.”

  He still is, Linda. He still is.

  “What does Alex mean?”

  “Well, Alexander represents physical courage and impulsive energy. It doesn’t really lend itself to introductions like the ones Max would give. Brian is attached to Alex just as Max was to Donny. He was his father’s shadow, even through the teenage years. Everything changed when he left for the Marine Corps. He’s been out for years now, but I’m not sure all of him came back. He’s a little distant. I don’t know. I feel like he’s been through something that none of us know about. Not to mention everything he’s gone through with Nick’s mom. It’s just such a shame he doesn’t get more time with his boy. He’s such a wonderful father.”

  The slamming of the front door ends the conversation.

  “Morning.” I hear the smile in his voice before I see him, just as I have so many times since we’ve been here, and that makes me smile.

  “Morning.”

  He takes the seat across from me, and I see the smile I heard behind me. There’s a sexy stubble on his face. Who would have thought he could look even manlier? But he does.

  “So my chores are done, and I was thinking I could take you for a drive and show you my hometown.”

  “Your chores?”

  “Damn straight. If he’s at home, he’s gonna help. That’s the way it is in the Hopper household.”

  “Well, I feel bad. I haven’t helped with anything.”

  “Don’t you worry. I’m sure Linda will put you to good use in the next day or two. We’ll let you off the hook today,” Donny says, kissing his wife on the cheek.

  Day has turned to night. The trickling sound of the gentle river w
ater rushing by and the late fall breeze rustling the pine trees are the only sounds aside from the beating of our hearts.

  We’ve spent the day in his dad’s truck, exploring his quaint hometown. It’s bigger than Eastlyn, but still has that small-town feeling. Set on the Delaware River, it’s a rural town but also has a quaint downtown waterfront shopping district. He took me to Walters Park for a walk and to Rocco’s for pizza and wings. Somehow, we managed to pass hours and hours driving and talking and skipping rocks.

  Now, we’ve got a pile of comforters under us and a blanket of stars above us. To say I was surprised when he laid out the blankets and asked me to crawl in the back of the truck with him would be an understatement, but there was no hesitation on my part. He tucked me into his side, and we’ve been staring at the night sky ever since.

  Pensive and quiet, I follow his lead and enjoy the feel of my body against his. The rising and falling of his chest under my hand, resting on his chest over his heart sets a steady rhythm, and the fresh smell of him has me under a blissful spell. I don’t dare move a muscle for fear of breaking it.

  He sits up, causing me to roll off him and my heart to squeeze at the prospect of leaving this perfect setting. Instead of getting out of the truck bed, he shrugs off his thick blue flannel and folds it up. He takes my hand, pulling me up, and places the shirt below me and then lays me back down on my new pillow. All my nerve endings fire at once with him so close and the anticipation of what he might have planned.

  The moonlight etches the outline of the surrounding trees across his face, and the starlight in his eyes shines down on me. A cool breeze may surround us, but as he lowers down to his forearms to hover over me, my body is on fire. We’ve been lying here with so much on our minds and in our hearts, not knowing how to say what we’re thinking, but as his lips brush mine for the first time, we tell each other everything.

  His kiss, his gentle touch, his intense stare that hasn’t wavered tell me what he’s thinking. He’s a man of few words, but when he communicates with his lips, and his hand brushes the hair off my face, looking at me with adoration, he tells me everything I need to know.

  The amplified sound of the zipper of my coat and our heated breaths have drowned out the river. He pulls the scarf that was tucked into my jacket out at a painstakingly slow pace, and just as the cool night air skims my exposed skin, his lips kiss my neck, leaving warmth in its place. He sets me ablaze with the heat from his kisses down my neck and over my sternum. When his lips land over my heart, he looks up at me, piercing me with his gaze while my heart tries to jump out of my chest just to get closer to him.

  We touch, and we kiss until my lips are swollen. We’re still fully clothed, but I’ve never felt so naked.

  So open.

  So vulnerable.

  So in tune with another person.

  He rolls to his back, bringing me with him. Now that I’m using him as my pillow again, he takes his flannel and covers me with it.

  His arm squeezes me tight to him, and he kisses the top of my head.

  “Two years?” His voice is gruff yet still laced with lust and want.

  “What?”

  “I’m not hiding for two years.”

  “What?” Shocked at his statement, I push up so I can see his face, not believing what I’ve heard.

  “I’ve tried, Emmett, I really have, but I can’t stop this thing between us. My mom’s right. When the right person comes along, you just know.” His jaw is set, brows furrowed while his eye contact is intentional and strong. “I knew the first moment I saw you in that dining room. You walked in with Josh laughing like a kid, and then I watched the joy in your eyes turn to fear, followed by worry about being a burden to Josh’s staff. Your resolve to deal with the situation. You went through so many emotions in that first short meeting.” He cups my cheek, his thumb gently caressing my bottom lip. “When I introduced myself, and you looked up at me, you hit me like a ton of bricks.”

  “But you…” My confusion prevents me from finding the words.

  “You’re engaged. I work for you. My job is to keep you safe. Falling in love with your client can be a distraction.”

  “What did you just say?” I whisper through my heavy breathing.

  “You’re a distraction.”

  He rolls us back over, taking control. A new light shines in his eyes as he looks down on me.

  “I’m a distraction?”

  “Firefly, you are the most dangerous kind of distraction.”

  Chapter 14

  His chest is pressed against my back, his heavy arm wrapped around my waist, and his leg is tangled between mine.

  I don’t want to open my eyes.

  We both have clothes on, but it doesn’t take away from the intimacy of sleeping in his arms.

  The smell of pine trees lingers in my hair, but I’m still afraid I may have dreamed last night. Last night when he said he was falling in love with me. At least I’m pretty sure that’s what he said.

  He stirs, and I freeze, not wanting the dream to end, but when he kisses the back of my head, my body goes lax with the assurance last night was real. As if the morning salute pressed against my lower back wasn’t enough proof.

  He clears his throat, untangling his leg from mine. “Sorry about that.” Pressing back into him with a little wiggle, I reach my hand around to grab his hip and pull him back against me, but he isn’t having it. “Emmett, be good.”

  “That doesn’t sound nearly as fun as what I had in mind.”

  He places a pillow between us, then his arm is back around my waist, and his leg is wrapped around mine. “There, now we can have a serious conversation.”

  “The sun’s barely up. Do we have to be serious already?”

  “There’s only serious when it comes to you and me.”

  Whoa.

  It feels like I’m playing catch-up. I mean, I’m glad to know things weren’t one-sided, but to go from getting excited to have his hand on the small of my back to the two of us being serious is quite an extreme change of pace.

  It’s a nice change but an extreme one all the same.

  “Okay, well, I’m clearly not going anywhere with a lumberjack on top of me, so talk away.”

  “Lumberjack, huh?”

  “Sexy lumberjack.”

  “As long as I’m your lumberjack?” He nuzzles into my hair, but when I don’t immediately reply, he pauses. Unable to answer his question because a part of me isn’t sure if maybe I haven’t lost all sense of reason.

  Did he really just say he was mine?

  “You want to be mine?” I whisper.

  “I already am, Emmett.”

  If it wasn’t for the weight of his body on top of mine, I might have spontaneously combusted into a million pieces unable to put myself back together.

  Reaching behind me, I move the pillow from between us and roll over to face him. He already knows exactly what I need. He rolls to his back so I can lie on top of him. My arm around his waist, my leg over his, and my head on his broad chest where I can feel his heart beating under me.

  “What in the world are we going to do? We’re never alone back in LA and when we are, paparazzi are hiding around every corner. Not to mention the fact that the house has cameras everywhere.”

  “We need to bottle moments like this one, right here, up. Take sips when we can, and when we can’t make new memories like last night, this right here and every other memory we make, we use these memories to get us through. Take them with us wherever we go. We’ll find a way. And if all we have for the next year and seven months are stolen moments, I’ll take it. Because just being in the same orbit as you for these past months has changed my life.”

  I start to sit up so I can look at him, but his arm tightens around me, holding me to his chest. I don’t think he shares this vulnerable side of him often, and he needs a moment, so I give it to him. He’s opened up and shared his feelings, and never really let me do the same. It’s my turn now.

  “Yo
u’re all that’s been on my mind since that first meeting. I missed you as soon as you left the room that day. Even though you never talk to me while you sit at your little perch at the kitchen island, I get a little sad every night when you go home. Before last night, I thought just knowing you were in the other room while I was at work or that you might put your hand on my lower back from time to time was enough, but now, I think only having that might kill me.”

  “I know, baby.”

  Baby. Max Hopper just called me baby.

  “So what are we going to do?”

  “Well, for starters, are you gonna tell Josh?”

  “I probably should. I mean he’s with Jace. Why shouldn’t I be with someone?”

  “What does the contract say?”

  Shooting up in the bed, I feel panic course through me. “Oh my gosh, Max. I don’t even really know. I’m a smart woman. I manage a team of thirty. I know better than to sign something without reading the fine print, but that’s exactly what I did. I trust Josh with my life, so I just signed the contract. I know I have an NDA, I know that our situation will stay intact for two years, and at that time, Sibby will release a statement that says with all of the distance we grew apart and remain the best of friends. That’s all I know.” I press my back against the headboard for support, my legs pulled into my chest. “What have I done?”

  Lying on his side propped up with his head in his hand, he rubs my flannel-clad leg.

  “Hey, we’ll be back in California in a few days, and we’ll get a hold of the contract and see what it says.”

  “I cannot believe I didn’t read the contract.”

  “No matter what it says, we’ll figure this out. If we wait, we wait. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Taking his hand in mine, I look at the man who has captured my heart. We’re just getting to know each other, and this conversation should seem too serious. Too soon. But it’s not. His eyes are the only ones I want to look at for the rest of my life. That should scare the crap out of me, but it doesn’t.