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Authors: M.Q. Barber
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memory might be all that had her on edge.
“No, thank you, Jay.” A light, feminine voice. “That’s a gift for the chef.”
Henry kissed her, leaving behind a whisper. “I love you, sweet girl.” He straightened, though his hand stayed on her back.
Opening her eyes, she nodded once. No problem. She could handle this. She’d been the one to make the invitation. Impulsively. Out of equal parts compassion and curiosity. Which everyone knew only killed cats.
Emma turned the corner with her escort, her hand resting on Jay’s forearm.
Yeah, no. Definitely more than nerves over seeing a woman who’d been at the club. Irrational fear seized her chest.
Emma was the sort of woman who screamed perfection. Well, not screamed, because ladies didn’t do that. She dressed impeccably without Henry’s guidance. Alice nurtured a polite smile as she studied their guest. Outside the club, she wasn’t distracted by other concerns.
Mahogany hair, a deep brown glinting red in the light, twisted up in some elegantly simple design. Not a strand out of place. A knee-length sheath dress not unlike the one Henry had chosen for Alice to wear tonight. Emma’s was a smoky blue-gray. Not flashy and designed to draw eyes from across a room, but tasteful. Understated.
Bet she didn’t own a pair of jeans. A woman who’d never run to pick up takeout in a T-shirt, pajama pants, and sandals. With this expert woman right in front of him, Henry had to be wondering what the hell he’d seen in the beginner model.
“Emma.” Henry extended his hand. “It’s lovely to see you. I trust Jay was the consummate butler.”
Emma patted Jay’s arm as she let go. “He was indeed. He’s grown into quite the proper valet.” She stepped forward and laid her fingertips over Henry’s cupped hand as if it were a dance they performed. One ending with a half embrace and a kiss on Henry’s cheek before Henry released her hand and Emma stepped away.
Her smile at Alice raised tiny lines around her eyes. The eyes matched the dress, a shadowed, winter blue. A choker of platinum and pearls circled her neck above the slight vee of her dress. She clasped a book to her chest with her left hand, upon which rested two rings. Antique sapphire engagement ring. Platinum wedding band with intricate scrollwork.
Relief fizzed like a fresh can of soda. Emma might be widowed, but she wasn’t in the market for new love.
Henry petted her back in slow circles. “As we have the opportunity for a proper introduction this evening, Alice, this is Emma, a dear friend.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emma.” Alice added a wry twist to her smile as they shook hands. “I hope you’ll excuse me for not saying hello at our first meeting.”
Emma laughed quietly. “Entirely understandable. I’ve been in the same situation many times myself.”
Manners. Kindness. Two more to add to the list of Things Emma Excels At. Alice growled at her jealousy in silence until it settled down.
“My boy, would you pour the wine, please?” He’d set out a dry white for the evening, a Verdelho that paired well with every course. She’d gotten the full rundown while they’d prepared the veggies and Jay set the table.
Jay went to work, and Emma held out her slender book to Henry. “I know, I know, wine or dessert for the host is traditional, but I wouldn’t dream of usurping your prerogative in your own kitchen. I hope this will suffice in their place.”
Henry accepted the book with both hands, leaving her back cold and empty. He opened the cover. Flowing script inside ended in the words With love, Em . Alice forced herself not to read the lines above.
Henry turned the page with a soft hum. The elegant script continued, page after page, but those pages, at least, held titles with words like chicken and beef and pastry .
“Victor’s mother gave me a copy of the family recipes when I married him. The collected wisdom of her kitchen and her mother’s kitchen and so on back
“No, thank you, Jay.” A light, feminine voice. “That’s a gift for the chef.”
Henry kissed her, leaving behind a whisper. “I love you, sweet girl.” He straightened, though his hand stayed on her back.
Opening her eyes, she nodded once. No problem. She could handle this. She’d been the one to make the invitation. Impulsively. Out of equal parts compassion and curiosity. Which everyone knew only killed cats.
Emma turned the corner with her escort, her hand resting on Jay’s forearm.
Yeah, no. Definitely more than nerves over seeing a woman who’d been at the club. Irrational fear seized her chest.
Emma was the sort of woman who screamed perfection. Well, not screamed, because ladies didn’t do that. She dressed impeccably without Henry’s guidance. Alice nurtured a polite smile as she studied their guest. Outside the club, she wasn’t distracted by other concerns.
Mahogany hair, a deep brown glinting red in the light, twisted up in some elegantly simple design. Not a strand out of place. A knee-length sheath dress not unlike the one Henry had chosen for Alice to wear tonight. Emma’s was a smoky blue-gray. Not flashy and designed to draw eyes from across a room, but tasteful. Understated.
Bet she didn’t own a pair of jeans. A woman who’d never run to pick up takeout in a T-shirt, pajama pants, and sandals. With this expert woman right in front of him, Henry had to be wondering what the hell he’d seen in the beginner model.
“Emma.” Henry extended his hand. “It’s lovely to see you. I trust Jay was the consummate butler.”
Emma patted Jay’s arm as she let go. “He was indeed. He’s grown into quite the proper valet.” She stepped forward and laid her fingertips over Henry’s cupped hand as if it were a dance they performed. One ending with a half embrace and a kiss on Henry’s cheek before Henry released her hand and Emma stepped away.
Her smile at Alice raised tiny lines around her eyes. The eyes matched the dress, a shadowed, winter blue. A choker of platinum and pearls circled her neck above the slight vee of her dress. She clasped a book to her chest with her left hand, upon which rested two rings. Antique sapphire engagement ring. Platinum wedding band with intricate scrollwork.
Relief fizzed like a fresh can of soda. Emma might be widowed, but she wasn’t in the market for new love.
Henry petted her back in slow circles. “As we have the opportunity for a proper introduction this evening, Alice, this is Emma, a dear friend.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emma.” Alice added a wry twist to her smile as they shook hands. “I hope you’ll excuse me for not saying hello at our first meeting.”
Emma laughed quietly. “Entirely understandable. I’ve been in the same situation many times myself.”
Manners. Kindness. Two more to add to the list of Things Emma Excels At. Alice growled at her jealousy in silence until it settled down.
“My boy, would you pour the wine, please?” He’d set out a dry white for the evening, a Verdelho that paired well with every course. She’d gotten the full rundown while they’d prepared the veggies and Jay set the table.
Jay went to work, and Emma held out her slender book to Henry. “I know, I know, wine or dessert for the host is traditional, but I wouldn’t dream of usurping your prerogative in your own kitchen. I hope this will suffice in their place.”
Henry accepted the book with both hands, leaving her back cold and empty. He opened the cover. Flowing script inside ended in the words With love, Em . Alice forced herself not to read the lines above.
Henry turned the page with a soft hum. The elegant script continued, page after page, but those pages, at least, held titles with words like chicken and beef and pastry .
“Victor’s mother gave me a copy of the family recipes when I married him. The collected wisdom of her kitchen and her mother’s kitchen and so on back
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