Read Online Thirteen (Love by Numbers Book 4) by E.S. Carter - Free Book Online Page B

notice her knife has stopped chopping and her hand hovers in the air.
    “Oh, that’s… different. Something to tell your grandkids I guess.”
    This time, it’s my turn to stop chopping.
    “We, umm, it’s not like that…yet. This is our second date. Well, it’s a payback date actually, and boy has he paid me back.”
    We both look at each at the same time. “And he’s paying you back for what exactly?”
    I can feel my blush rise when I reply, “For scaring the shit out of him and taking him to a biker pub full of big, hairy, mean looking blokes.”
    She swallows a giggle, “And H wasn’t impressed with the choice of venue?”
    I smirk back, “I forgot to tell him they are all my friends, and I may have also implied they can get violent with newcomers.” I grin when I add, “I also held back the fact that they are a gay biker club.”
    Emma’s mouth opens wide and she promptly bursts into infectious laughter.
    “Oh, my, days. To have been a fly on the wall for that.” She wipes her eyes with the back of her hands, and adds, “I think H has met his match. I hope you want to keep him.”
    Just lay it out there Emma, don’t pull any punches.
    “He may not want to keep me. It’s too early to tell. I enjoy teasing him, though, and it seems it’s me who’s met her match if today is anything to go by.”
    She shakes her head and goes back to chopping, “Trust me, H has been off his usual form for a while. When he gets back to full throttle, you’d better be prepared.”
    I pick up some lettuce and begin to shred it, mulling over her words.
    “I wondered why he had such sad eyes. Sometimes I see a flash of the spark that resides in them, but I’d like to see more of it.”
    Her hand stills again, and she’s silent for a moment before she quietly speaks again, “Jokes, laughs, smiles: they all work well in disguising a person’s pain. Most people accept a fake smile, it’s easier than asking if someone is doing okay.” She looks up and catches my eyes, “I know all of H’s smiles, none of the ones I’ve seen since he’s walked through the door today, have been fake. That’s how I know he wants to keep you.”
    Well then. That’s a bit deep for a conversation with a stranger while chopping vegetables.
    “I know. Too much too soon.” She rolls her eyes and smiles at me. “I tend to speak without thinking, but it doesn’t mean I don’t tell the truth.”
    After that slightly awkward conversation, talk moves swiftly on to easier things. I find out how they manage Jake’s work commitments around their family life, how they are about to try for a brother or sister for CJ and how much Emma enjoys her charity work.
    Emma is very open and honest for someone who is in the public eye, and nothing like I would expect the beautiful wife of a movie star to be.
    I can see how these people are Harry’s friends. There’s a warmth to them that transcends the whole fame thing.
     
    A round thirty minutes later, we finally have something to present to the guys for lunch. Salad, pasta and homemade meatballs. I have to admit, I’m impressed with Emma’s kitchen skills, and that is my only explanation for the words, “Don’t you have a cook or a housekeeper?” that I blurt out as we carry the food outside.
    She laughs as I look sheepishly at her, counting my blessings that she didn’t think I insulted her homemaking skills.
    “Jake keeps trying to get me to have one, but this is our home, they are my boys to look after. I don’t want anyone taking away any part of the role I love. Though, I’ll admit, we do have a cleaning lady who comes twice a week, sometimes more if we are away and trust me when I say, that woman is a Godsend.”
    Shouts of, “About bloody time”, and “I could eat a scabby horse”, greet us as we step out on the patio.
    “If you hadn’t cremated the steaks, you’d have a full belly right now, so I’d watch your words, Mr Fox,” Emma replies. Her husband just smiles, walks