Lily rubbed her hand over Emma’s arm. “I’m so sorry, honey.”

  Emma nodded as Lily’s heartfelt sympathy made her throat tighten. She swallowed and forced herself to continue. “He’d come back whenever he’d run out of money and sweet-talk my mother into taking him back. He’d promise her it was going to be different, but it never was. He’d hang around until he’d saved up enough money or convinced my mom to give him whatever she’d managed to put away and then he’d take off again. I was nine the last time I saw him.”

  “I still don’t understand the problem.” Annabelle laid down her fork. “I’m sorry for what happened to you and your mom, but what does that have to do with you and Tucker?”

  Couldn’t her friend see? Hadn’t she just laid it right out in front of them? Annabelle was still sitting there with an expectant look on her face. Emma opened her mouth, closed it, and then started again. “Tucker’s good-looking and charming,” she began.

  “Yes, he is, “Annabelle agreed.

  “So how can I trust him?” She buried her face in her hands. “How can I trust myself?” That was the real question.

  “Oh, honey.” Annabelle reached out and dabbed at Emma’s face with her napkin, wiping a single tear that ran down her cheek. “Your mother was weak and that’s not your fault. You were just a child. But Emma, you have to know that you’re not anything like her. You’re strong, independent and happy.”

  There it was. Emma was afraid of being weak like her mother. She’d resented the fact that her mother had allowed her father to disrupt their lives and make them unhappy. Just once, she’d wanted her mother to slam the door in her father’s face and tell him to go away, that they didn’t want him or need him in their lives. Just once, she wanted to be enough for her mother.

  Emma straightened in her chair, shocked at her revelation. She was angrier with her mother than her father. Her mother’s actions had left her feeling as if she wasn’t enough.

  Emma considered her friend’s words carefully. She was all those things Annabelle had listed. It was strange to finally come to the realization that she wasn’t responsible for her mother’s happiness, or her unhappiness for that matter. It was sad that her mother had wasted most of her life on a man who wasn’t worth it, but Annabelle was right. Emma was not her mother.

  “And Tucker isn’t your father,” Lily added. “I know I can be cynical when it comes to men, but I also know there are good ones out there.”

  Annabelle nodded. “Mike’s worked with Tucker before.” She stabbed a baby tomato with her fork, popped it into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “I like him. He’s been out to the house a few times for supper and he was at the barbecue we threw earlier this summer. He strikes me as a straightforward kind of guy.”

  “You’re right.” Emma said it hesitantly, as if trying out the words. “I’m not my mother and he’s not my father.” Saying it out loud made it feel real. It was as if shackles she’d carried around all her life suddenly vanished.

  “Emma.” Annabelle was very serious now as she reached out and took her friend’s hand. “I almost lost Mike because I couldn’t believe he’d be interested in someone like me.”

  “But you’re beautiful and wonderful. Why wouldn’t he love you?” Emma was shocked by her friend’s revelation.

  Annabelle smiled wryly. “But I didn’t see it that way at the time. I almost let my insecurities destroy us. If you have feelings for Tucker then you owe it to yourself to see where your relationship might go. Maybe it won’t last forever, maybe it will.” She shrugged. “But one thing I know for sure is that if you don’t try, you’ll never know.” Annabelle’s smile widened. “That means you have to acknowledge it publicly and not hold anything back.”

  Emma stared at her friend in horror. “I am not announcing to the entire town that I love him.” Annabelle and Mike’s story was well known by the town’s inhabitants, as she’d chosen last year’s fair to announce it over the loudspeaker. Emma herself had witnessed the event and didn’t think she was brave enough to do something quite that bold.

  Lily muffled her laughter with her napkin, but Annabelle’s filled the restaurant until tears flowed down her cheeks. Several people glanced their way and smiled. “No . . .” She tried to stop, but kept giggling. “It doesn’t have to be quite so public.”

  Sitting back, Emma laughed with her friends. They were right. Tucker had let her know he was interested. It was up to her to make the next move.

  The mood was lighter as they finished their meals. When they were sipping their coffee, Emma finally broached the subject. “Does anyone have any suggestions?”

  Chapter Ten

  Tucker hauled open the glass door and stalked into Art Inspired, determined to get Emma to talk to him. He’d waited all day yesterday, sure that she’d call him. But he’d waited in vain. His phone had remained silent. He hadn’t even caught a glimpse of her.

  The cold air struck him, helping to cool not only his body but his frustration as well. The temperature was soaring to over one hundred degrees again today and people’s tempers were more than a little short. His own was clinging by a thread.

  He took off his sunglasses and tucked them in his shirt pocket as he glanced around. Emma was nowhere in sight, and her assistant, Callie, was with a customer.

  He thought about barging into her office but decided that wouldn’t help his cause. After the way he’d stormed out of his apartment the other night, he figured he should try to show some restraint. It was probably better to talk to Callie first and discover what kind of mood Emma was in.

  He wandered around the room as he waited and looked at the artwork on display. Reaching into the front right pocket of his jeans, he stroked the jeweled dangle that he’d given Emma. She’d left it on the nightstand next to the bed. It had been the first thing he’d seen when he’d walked back into the empty bedroom that night because he hadn’t wanted to look at the bed.

  He’d already known she was gone because her clothes had been missing from the living room and the bedsheet had been lying in a heap on the floor. He thought about stripping the bed and changing the sheets, but he hadn’t been able to make himself do it. They smelled like her. Instead, he’d spent the past two nights on the sofa, unable to sleep with her sweet scent surrounding him without being able to hold her in his arms.

  He traced the stones of the nipple ornament with his thumb, images of her wearing it flooding his brain. His cock immediately began to swell. He yanked his hand out of his pocket and dragged it through his hair. He had to get a grip. The last thing he needed was a hard-on in Emma’s place of business.

  Giving himself a mental shake, he forced himself to look around the gallery. One thing he could say about Emma, she ran a classy establishment. Paintings hung on the walls in pleasing arrangements. Pedestals topped with sculptures made of metal, wood and stone were interspersed throughout the area. She even had one section that looked like an actual living room, giving people a better idea how certain pieces might be displayed in their homes. It gave an overall impression of class without being stuffy.

  A small doorway opened up into Artworks, the art supply shop next door. It enabled Emma to run back and forth between the businesses as needed. It was really one big space that had been divided to house the two businesses, as they generally catered to different clientele. The door could be locked, if necessary.

  Although he was trying to mind his own business, Tucker couldn’t help but notice that Callie’s voice was getting louder and she was visibly becoming more upset. Working his way back around the room toward the main counter, he absently studied the man she was talking to. He was older, probably in his early to mid-fifties, but in good shape. He’d aged well and seemed to be doing his best to try to charm Callie into something. Tucker couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could hear the soft, pleading tone in the man’s voice.

  The man made a move toward Callie and she quickly stepped back. He’d seen enough. Tucker sauntered over to the counter, casually leaned against it and crossed his arms over his chest.

  He made quite a contrast with the older man, who was dressed in an expensive suit and tie, his black leather shoes gleaming. The gentleman was the picture of suave sophistication. Tucker, on the other hand, was wearing a pair of worn jeans, a plain white cotton shirt and his dusty work boots.

  Ignoring the man, he smiled at Callie. “Problem?”

  She hesitated for a moment. “I don’t think so.”

  The older man cocked his eyebrow and gazed at Tucker for a moment before dismissing him totally. The action amused Tucker, but he stayed where he was.

  “I’ve come a long way and I wish to speak with Emma.” The man straightened his jacket, reaching into his pocket as he spoke, and withdrew a folded twenty-dollar bill. He laid it on the counter in front of Callie. “I’d really appreciate it if you’d tell her I’m here.”

  Callie paled and then a dark flush rushed up her cheeks. Tucker was surprised that steam didn’t shoot out of Callie’s ears. Obviously the man had no idea who he was dealing with if he thought she’d take a bribe. If he’d learned anything over the past few months, it was that she guarded Emma much like a mother lion guarded her cub.

  The man smiled when Callie closed her hand over the money. It was more of a smirk really, but it quickly vanished when she tucked the money back into his pocket. Her voice was as frosty as the fake smile she gave him. “I told you already that Miss Howard is not available this morning. If you’ll leave your name and number, I’ll have her call you and set up an appointment.”

  A sound off to the side made Tucker glance over his shoulder. Emma took his breath away as she briskly strode toward them. In crisp white linen pants and a matching jacket, she looked totally professional and completely untouchable. Cool and controlled. Only he knew there was a passionate, giving woman lurking beneath the calm exterior.

  There was just a hint of red peeking out from the top of her jacket. He speculated on whether it was a camisole or just a lacy bra she was wearing. She looked so restrained, but Tucker knew that tiny splash of color bespoke more of who Emma really was. For some reason, she seemed determined to hide that part of her from not only herself but the rest of the world as well.

  She looked as cool as a scoop of vanilla ice cream and good enough to eat. His mouth went dry at the thought of licking her from the tip of her cute little toes to the top of her head. He wanted to haul her into his arms and kiss her until she was mussed up a little, the way she’d looked when she’d been in his bed.

  The sight of her bearing down on them had his cock starting to stand at attention again. He shifted position, trying to hide his growing erection without being too obvious about it and settled back to see how she’d handle the situation. And he had no doubt that she could easily deal with this guy. Emma was one confident and capable lady.

  She ignored him totally. All her attention was focused on Callie. “Is everything all right out here? I could hear you in my office.” Her eyes were cool as she glanced at the older man, but they warmed when they settled on her assistant.

  “Everything is fine. This gentleman was very insistent that he see you, even though I told him you were unavailable for a meeting today.” The emphasis that Callie put on the word “gentleman” left little doubt that she really didn’t think the title applied to the man.

  Amusement filled the man’s face. “I didn’t mean to upset anyone. It’s just that I’ve come such a long way to see you, Emma.”

  Emma turned all her attention to the gentleman in question and stared at him for several seconds. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

  He shook his head, sighed and looked hurt. Tucker wasn’t buying the act and hoped that Emma didn’t either. The man reached out with his hand pleadingly before dropping it back to his side. “You don’t recognize me, Emmy.”

  Emma stiffened and every ounce of color leached from her face. “Don’t call me that.” She swayed on her feet and the older man reached out to grab her. Jerking away, she glared at him. “Don’t you touch me.”

  Tucker straightened away from the counter, his instincts on full alert. He’d never heard such venom and anger from Emma before. Whoever this stranger was, she knew him and didn’t like him. Not one bit. Not knowing what the threat was, but sensing it anyway, he moved to stand beside her, ready to help if she should need him.

  “Is that any way to greet your father?” The look he was giving Emma made Tucker’s skin crawl. It was calculating and slightly cruel.

  Emma drew herself up and stared straight at him. “I haven’t had a father since I was nine, James.” She tapped a finger on her chin and paused for effect. “Come to think of it, I’ve never had a father. A sperm donor maybe, but not a father.”

  James Howard’s face was suffused with anger for a brief second before he buried it. If Tucker hadn’t been looking right at him, he’d have missed it. The man appeared to be very good at concealing his feelings.

  “Emma, honey, I wanted to be with you, but your mother wouldn’t let me. You were too young to understand how things really were.” He dabbed at the corner of his eye with his finger.

  “Oh, please. You performed that tear-and-pity trick with my mother one too many times for it to be believable. She kept waiting for you to come back right up until the moment she drew her last breath.” Emma’s scorn was like a living thing, and Tucker watched her with growing concern. “I couldn’t convince her she was wasting her time with you.”

  James nodded. “I just found out about your mother.” He shook his head and sighed deeply. “She was such a troubled woman.”

  “The only trouble she had in her life was you.” Emma stood her ground, not giving an inch.

  “You’ve grown into a hard woman.”

  “If I have, it’s because you helped to make me into one.”

  Emma might sound brisk and cool, but Tucker knew her well and sensed her underlying pain. He wanted to reach out and touch her, to reassure her that he was here to help if she needed him. It was tough, but he forced himself to keep his hands by his sides, clenching them into fists to keep from hauling her into his arms to protect her. He sensed that it was very important for her to deal with this on her own.

  “What do you want, James?” Emma broke the uncomfortable silence that had settled over the group.

  James Howard looked affronted. “What makes you think I want anything from you?”

  Her laughter was brittle and made Tucker’s heart ache. “Because you only show up when you want something.” She took a step toward him and glared. “Enough of this show of fatherly concern. Your time is almost up. What do you want?”

  “I was just wondering if your mother mentioned me in her will. Some small token.” The older man shrugged, looking totally comfortable with his request. Tucker couldn’t believe the audacity of the man. Emma’s mother had been dead for four years and this son of a bitch had the nerve to come around asking about the contents of her will.

  “Money.” Emma nodded knowingly. “I knew this was about money. Who do you owe this time? Or is it a get-rich-quick scheme?” She held up her hand to stop him before he could speak. “By the time she died, there were nothing left but medical bills. I don’t suppose you’d want to contribute to those?” She continued on without giving anyone else time to speak. “I would imagine not. So why don’t you do us all a favor and leave.”

  “I thought I might stay and visit you for a few days. We could talk about your mother.” Tucker couldn’t believe this guy. He just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Even Callie was staring at the older man like he was some kind of idiot.

  “You are not welcome and I will never give you a penny of my money. I am not my mother.” She said each of her last five words slowly, enunciating each one so that there was no misunderstanding.

  James stepped back and brushed a piece of lint off the sleeve of his suit jacket. “No, you’re not your mother. She was a kind, gentle woman.”

  Tucker actually growled at this insult to Emma. Every muscle in his body went rigid as he barely restrained himself from beating the older man to a pulp. “It’s time you left.” The harsh words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. But he didn’t care. No one was going to get away with insulting his woman like that. Tucker didn’t care who the hell they were. Emma laid her hand on his forearm and gently squeezed. That small touch enabled him to calm down enough to regain control.

  “No, I’m not my mother.” Tucker could hear the pain in her voice so he covered her hand with his own, silently offering her his strength. “She was a wonderful woman, but she was weak where you were concerned. She never understood that she could do much better.”

  “Your mother was a little nobody until she married me,” the older man spat out, but quickly took a step back when Tucker broke away from Emma’s grip and moved toward him. “I know where I’m not wanted.” Sniffing haughtily, he raised his chin. “You could have used my help in your quaint shop, but I’m sure you’ve done the best you could.” With that parting shot, he turned and strode from the gallery. No one else moved until the door closed behind him.

  Emma began to laugh. It wasn’t a pleasant sound and had an edge of desperation about it. She clapped one hand over her mouth and the other over her stomach, as if she could somehow hold in her pain.

  Tucker wrapped his arm around her shoulders and shot Callie a look. Callie nodded and motioned him back to the privacy of the office. He guided Emma toward it, knowing that they wouldn’t be disturbed.

  It bothered him that she let him lead her so easily. It was so unlike Emma, who was usually so full of life and independent to a fault. As soon as the door closed behind them, he drew her into his arms and hugged her. She tucked her face against his chest and her laughter quickly became tears. Huge gut-wrenching sobs rose from deep inside her, and he was powerless to do anything but hold her close and rock her from side to side.