Entanglement, p.14
Entanglement, page 14
Perhaps Maria was right, Emmy thought. Could she have taken the night with Gabe for more than it really was? Lost in the moment of something new and dangerous?
“Dangerous…” Emmy whispered to herself.
“What?”
Blinking, Emmy returned to the moment. “Dangerous.”
“What’s dangerous? Gabe? Hell yeah, he is. You know the stories of him with Nate’s ex.”
“They aren’t stories,” Emmy blurted out, causing Maria to burst out in a panicked giggle.
“Oh my God! You need to stay away from him.”
Emmy nodded her head, taking a drink of her wine. “Kinda hard when he stays in the same house you live in.”
“Well, that’s surprising. Can’t imagine Nate allowing that knowing about your past.” Maria took a drink herself as Emmy gave her a side look while clearing her throat.
“Oh damn, you didn’t tell him? Emmy!”
“Well, no. I mean, I was scared. Knowing about Natalie, seeing how happy the family was, I just didn’t want to ruin that.”
“Good plan, I mean, nothing feels better than finding out your girl fucked your brother before you.” Shaking her head, Maria finished her wine. Emmy placed her glass on the table, leaning forward to bury her face in her palms. Maria, let out a sigh, scooting over to her, rubbing lightly along Emmy’s back soothingly. “Look, I’m sorry. Maybe not telling Nate was smart. It's not like Gabe remembers or has tried anything with you. I mean, come on, you’re not Natalie. That girl was a born tramp.”
Emmy lifted her head, turning sad eyes toward Maria, pure regret swimming in their depths. “He didn’t forget.” Her voice was shaky with misery.
“Oh fuck. Em, you didn’t, please say you didn’t.”
“No, I haven’t slept with him again.”
“But you want to.” Emmy, pulled her gaze from Maria in response to the statement. “Well, that is a problem.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I love Nate, I love him so much. Gabe though, he just pulls at me.”
“Course he does, until you give in, I’m sure. Then he’ll tell Nate just to ruin what you have, you’ll be broken. I’ll be in prison for killing Gabe and Nate will be destroyed beyond repair this time. All fun times, really. I'm sure Jennifer will love coming to visit me with glass in between us.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m sorry Emmy, but what did you think I would really say to all this?”
“I don’t know, just, I don’t know.”
Maria laughed, shaking her head. “Look, as long as he keeps his distance and you keep yours, I think everything should be fine. If he’s not made a move by now, then I’m sure he… what?” Maria’s words came to a stop as Emmy began to bite the inside of her mouth. “You said you didn’t sleep with him again.”
“We didn’t, but…”
“But what?”
“We did other things.”
“While you were with Nate?” Emmy nodded her head in reply.
“In Nate’s house?” Emmy again just nodded in response.
“Woman, I just can’t.” Maria stood up quickly, moving from the living room with her glass. Emmy remained on the couch, sitting in silence, taking in everything that she had finally told someone. It felt good to talk about it with someone she trusted, but at the same time she felt even worse for the reality of the situation Maria was making her aware of.
“Okay,” Maria spoke as she reentered the room. “So, you’ve done things, but not slept together again. He clearly has no loyalty to his brother, so I have one question.”
“What?” Emmy asked, looking back to her.
“Could it happen again?”
“Could what?”
“Anything. Everything.”
Emmy thought about her answer. The truth was, she didn’t know. Who would? “I don’t want anything to happen, but I don’t know.” Emmy could see the disappointment on Maria's face.
“Em, I don’t know what to say. I mean, this is really fucked up.” Both women sighed as Emmy nodded her head in understanding. She couldn’t think Maria would have all the answers. “Do you want Gabriel? I mean, more than Nate?”
“No!” Emmy's attention snapped back to Maria.
“Okay, okay. I think that is your answer. You love Nate, we all know that. You made a mistake. Tell Gabriel that very thing and maybe you two can eventually have a relationship that’s normal.”
“What if he pulls me in again?”
“Em, it’s normal to be attracted to more than one person. Nothing wrong with admiring a good-looking person, noticing beauty. But if you love Nate, then you won’t allow anything to happen again with his brother.”
“What if…”
“Em. You'll kill yourself with what if's. The bottom line is simple. He doesn’t love you, he doesn’t love his brother.”
“No, he loves his brother.” Emmy quickly came to Gabe’s defense.
“If he loved his brother, he wouldn’t be trying to sleep with his girl. You either stop or you get good at lying and prepare yourself for the outcome where you lose everything. No such thing as someone having their cake and eating it too, then living happily ever after. Remember that.”
Emmy nodded her head, knowing Maria was right. She knew Gabe was dangerous and not the person she loved. She would do it tonight after dinner, pull him aside for a few minutes to talk. Let him know from this point on they were simply brother’s girlfriend and friend.
Arriving back home that night, Emmy walked into the main house, slowing as Gabe’s voice was the first she heard when she stepped inside. Heading through the foyer, she entered the living area, a smile on her face, her eyes scanning the room as her hands fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
“Hey, everyone,” she spoke with a wave, her gaze moving past Nathaniel Senior, Carolyn, Carter, Gracie, and then Gabe. He was sitting back on the couch, his feet on the arm, giving her a crooked grin.
“Evening, Emmy,” Gracie spoke, standing to move towards her to kiss her on the cheek. “Nate had to run to the store, he will be back shortly, dear. Go relax in the living area until dinner.”
Emmy smiled at the older woman, her head shifting as her glance connected with Gabe’s. This was it, he was here, Nate wasn’t. Everyone was distracted so she could pull him aside and talk to him privately. Emmy felt fairly safe that he wouldn’t try anything with the family there. It was perfect.
Chapter Twelve
Pulling Gabe into the back bedroom, Emmy released his wrist, closing the door. As she turned back to him, she was surprised to find he had moved closer. The unexpected movement forced her to step back into the door. His hands lifting, he placed his palms flat against her sides, pinning her there. She could feel it again, that tug that only seemed to happen when he was around. The tingle between her thighs that only grew when he touched her.
Emmy closed her eyes at his breath against her neck. She could easily give in to him, allow herself to travel into that world of danger, of excitement. Hearing Maria’s voice in her mind, she screamed in her head. She would not do this. She would tell him this was over, she would not be sucked into this game again, not when she risked losing everything.
Lifting her hands, she pressed against his chiseled chest, ducking under his arms to spin around him and move across the room. Seeing that cocky grin on his lips only made things harder for her, but she would stand strong. She would ensure her future was bright with a man who loved her more than she could have dreamed.
“I take it back.” She uttered it quick, getting it out before she lost her nerve.
“Take back what?” he asked as he moved toward her.
“You know.”
“Nah,” he replied with a frown of his lips and a shake of his head. “I don’t.” Emmy tilted her head when she saw the expression on his face.
“Gabe, you know what I’m talking about.” Her tone was now filled with annoyance.
“Want to take something back, you have to be able to say it.” Sighing, she stood taller. She would be strong, she thought.
“What I asked you to do.” She paused, seeing the smirk on his lips grow. “For fucks sake, Gabe. I don’t want you to touch me ever again.”
“Nah,” he replied with another shake of his head, “you can’t take back what’s already out there.”
“I said I take it back. I’m not kidding, Gabe. I won’t risk losing Nate for someone like you.”
“Someone like me?”
“You wouldn’t love me, you just want to use me to screw with your brother. Holding onto this ‘cry me a river’ crap because what, he got the bigger gifts at Christmas?” Emmy knew the issues with Gabe and Nate had nothing to do with something so immature, but she knew she had to make him angry enough to hate her. To make him stay the hell away from her.
Emmy became nervous as she saw his face change, his eyes lose their light. His jaw tightened as he seemed to tower over her. She wanted to leave the room. She had said what she needed to say and frankly, he was scaring her with his dark stare.
Frozen to the spot, Emmy prepared herself to yell for Nathaniel Senior, Carter, Carolyn, anyone if she wasn’t able to get past him to the door. Exhaling nervously, she shifted in her stance, trying to push around him until she felt his strong hand grip at her wrist. Her head snapped back to him as her heart jumped into her throat.
“Do yourself a favor Emmy,” his tone was ice cold, sending chills through her. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand.”
She'd hit a nerve, no question. Jerking her arm away, she smiled up at him, doing her best to control her breathing. She would show strength even though she was shaking inside. “What don’t I understand? I love your brother and consider you a mistake.”
“You’re walking a dangerous line. He’s not as perfect as you think,” he muttered, his tone dark.
“Don’t threaten me. One move toward me again and I’ll tell him everything. Just to watch him kick your ass.”
“Everything? Even when you offered yourself to me?”
“I was scared, caught up in the moment and regretted it the second it happened. I cried in the bathroom afterward. That's not the actions of someone who enjoyed it. I would never allow you to touch me like that again willingly.”
“That a dare?” Emmy was taken aback at how quickly his attitude changed, how he was so sure of himself and the hold he had over her.
“Stay away from me, I mean it.”
The room filled with silence, as both stared at each other, refusing to break away first. There was something about his eyes, something that scared her and still excited her. Emmy’s attention was pulled away from him as she heard a sound from the front of the house. Turning. she grabbed the knob, yanking the door open. Closing it behind her, she quickly headed toward the sweet sound of Nate laughing.
Turning into the foyer, Emmy smiled as Nate glanced at her before moving towards her. Giving him a quick welcoming kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck immediately after feeling his arms move around her. The embrace caused Emmy to close her eyes, fighting back tears. She loved him so much and knew the mistakes she made would cause him so much pain. The thought of hurting him broke her heart.
Gabe was wrong, she thought. Nate was the perfect man she saw when she looked at him. He had no faults, there were no vices. He was exactly who he seemed to be and didn’t deserve the pain she had caused him, whether he knew or not. How dare Gabe try and confuse her, pull her into a false reality where she doubted the man she knew and loved. Exhaling softly, Emmy allowed herself to become lost in his embrace.
“Emmy, I want you to meet someone.” Releasing her from his hold, he took her hand, moving with her to the young brunette with bright green eyes standing opposite them. “Babe, this is Valerie Richards.”
“Val, please,” she insisted with a wide grin.
“Val,” he corrected. “This is my girl, Emmy McKay.”
“Very nice to meet you,” Emmy spoke, extending her hand. Val looked to Emmy, then Nate, a laugh escaping her.
“Well damn, this one is sweet as sugar.” Taking Emmy’s hand, she gave it a firm shake. “Pleasure is fully mine.”
Emmy couldn’t help but size up the woman before her, smiling as she slid her arm back around Nate. Val was clearly older than her, perhaps mid-thirties. She stood in a pair of light blue Levi’s, self-made holes all over the material. Her shirt was black with a red rose in the center, a tank top that showed her cleavage perfectly, along with a sleeve of tattoos over her right arm. Her hair was wavy, long and thick.
“Val is basically a member of the family,” Nate spoke as Val nodded in response with a chuckle.
“Managed to escape so far,” she teased, pushing Nate playfully with a press of her palm to his shoulder.
“One we wish would become official someday,” Gracie added, moving into the room to welcome the young woman. Who was she? She was older than Carolyn, so she couldn’t be one of her friends. Perhaps a friend of Nate’s from school or something?
“Don’t start.” Gabe's sudden interjection turned all attention to him as he stepped into the foyer.
“Val here is probably the only woman able to make you an honest man.” Gracie added, patting her son on the arm.
“Carolyn, table!” she yelled, moving toward the dining room. Val moved over to Gabe, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned into him with a wicked smile.
“Could anyone really make you an honest man, Jeremy Drake? Lost cause on that wish, isn’t it?”
Was she his girlfriend? Did he have a girlfriend this entire time? Emmy grew disgusted with his selfish and destructive attitude. She'd had no idea. Standing next to Nate, Gabe grinned with the use of his other name as Emmy’s heart sank to it. Dropping his hands to Val’s ass to give it a quick slap, he leaned down to sneak a quick kiss. For some reason, Emmy felt a twist of jealousy, which scared her even as she tried to force it away.
Gracie stood at one of the table heads, pointing to each chair. She had planned this dinner for a while, since having everyone there at the same time was normally a distant wish. Nate kissed Emmy on the cheek as he headed to his side of the table, grinning to Val as he took his position beside her, Carolyn on his other side. Nathaniel Senior claimed his usual seat, the other head of the table, followed by Carter, Emmy, Gabe then Gracie.
Emmy stood beside Gabe as she waited for him to pull her chair out. It was an unspoken rule with this family, the men always sat last and rose when a woman left the table. It was how Gracie wanted her boys to be taught and so they were, regardless of the times they lived in. Sitting down once the chair was drawn out for her, Emmy pushed into the table, Gabe quickly moving behind her to pull the chair out for his mother. Getting a thankful pat to his cheek, Gabe returned to his seat.
Dinner began, as all did, with prayer and thanks. The tradition was for Nathaniel Senior to lead the prayer, however this time, Gracie took control. Everyone grabbed each other’s hands, Emmy and Gabe pausing in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Emmy lowered her head. Feeling his strong hand in her palm, she tried to ignore the heat that radiated from it, her body growing warm in response.
“Thank you so much, for everything…” Gracie’s prayer seeped through Emmy’s thoughts, flashes of how Gabe worked his hands against her skin. No! She would not fall back into this with him because he held her hand for prayer. What in the hell was wrong with her, she thought?
“...our home, our health, the return of my eldest son and blessing of my middle child’s lovely girlfriend. In your name, we pray, amen.” Everyone repeated the final word and released hands, Emmy trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
She was not a blessing, she was a curse to this family. Here she was being thanked for loving one son while picturing the other with his hands on her. Who the hell does that, she asked inwardly with a slight shake of her head. “Corn?” Gabe’s voice brought her back to the present.
“What?” she asked, looking at Gabe.
“Do you want corn?”
“Oh. No, no thanks.” As she grabbed the bowl from him, Emmy felt his fingers slide over hers, his lips curving to a smirk as his attention moved to the plate his mother was handing to him. How did he do that? Act as though nothing was happening yet he was clearly flirting with her?
“So, Emmy, how did you manage to rope in our dear Nate here?” Val asked, placing the bowl of green beans in the center of the table.
