Emerett Has Never Been in Love (Love Austen 1)

Maybe Lake’s encouragement had helped Knight see Josh as a possibility? Maybe Knight had been slowly falling for Josh all along? Maybe Knight’s sexy tryst with Lake had been a little something to take the edge off. Had Knight been imagining he was Josh the whole time? Was that why it’d felt so raw and tender and real? Had he been extrapolating his feelings for Josh while rocking Lake’s sexual world?

A painful consideration.

Because . . . because he hated how superior Josh was.

Maybe if Lake followed through with things more? If he actually studied hard enough to call himself a photographer, or a cook. If he actually read more of the books he said he would . . .

“Dad is such a family man,” Taylor continued. “I want him to have that again.”

Lake cricked his neck whipping to look at Taylor so fast. “You think he’ll want kids again?”

“He’s not so old. He might.”

“Not with Josh!”

“With whoever he falls in love with.”

“If he wants kids, I’m sure you and Amy won’t wait forever. He’ll be there for yours. We’ll babysit them whenever you and Amy need a break.”

Taylor’s brows hopped. “Planning on renting a room with dad for a while?” He leaned close, chuckling. “Maybe you should chat more with West.”

“I don’t want to talk about romance anymore. I’d rather talk to Cameron about how many subscribers he has.”

“Ouch, bit of an attitude there, Lake.” Taylor slapped his thigh. “Another clue. Dad said he’d never had such a fascinating conversation as he had with Josh.”

Lake stared at the cake on his lap. It hurt to swallow. “Really?”

“Yeah. Good conversation makes for good partnership. Speaking of which,” he said, checking his phone, “Amy wants to chat with me about something . . .”

Taylor’s eyes glittered and he leaped to his feet. “You’ll be okay?”

Lake waved him off. “Insatiable.”

“Wait until you find Mr. Right. It’s even better when you’re in love.”

Taylor left, and Lake picked at cake crumbs.

Across the room, Knight laughed at something Cameron said, and the warm, hearty sound of it dug deep in Lake’s gut.

If Knight and Josh started something, Josh would be at Knight’s all the time. Living there would become awkward, and Lake would have to give up the only other place he’d thought of as home . . .

No, Knight couldn’t fall for Josh.

Cameron received a call and excused himself, and Knight picked up his plate of half-eaten strawberry cake and sat next to Lake.

A weird gurgle escaped and he fought down an explosion of anxious shivers. Almost successfully. The cushions shifted under them as Knight made himself comfortable, lounging into the couch, one arm stretched along the back, disappearing behind Lake.

Vibrations of Knight’s nearness caressed his shoulder blades. He shoved another forkful of cake into his mouth.

“What do you think of the cake?” Knight asked.

“How it tastes? Or as a romantic gesture?”

“How it tastes. I assume you approve of it as a gesture, being the romantic you are.”

Oh, God. Had Knight sent the wedding cake as a quiet declaration? Was he nervously awaiting Josh’s response?

“It’s a wedding cake. Whoever sent it must feel confident Josh returns their feelings.”

“I hope the feelings are mutual. I see you have a chocolate piece. Any good?”

Lake swapped their plates. “It’d taste better if there wasn’t such a mystery around it. Oh, the strawberry is delicious.”

Knight chuckled, the corners of his dark eyes pinching.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re thinking something.”

Another laugh. “I confess, I haven’t shaken your earlier words about me being one of the less handsome people in the room. It’s made me unusually self-conscious.”

“Why on Earth?” Bewilderment pinched Lake’s brow. “For the record, you are not one of the less handsome people in this room. I just like that you would be okay if you were. You’re confident enough to know that you’re the most attractive.” Lake used his fork to lightly prod Knight’s forehead, followed by his chest. “Here and here is what matters, and you have all that in abundance.”

Lake went back to eating Knight’s cake. Delicious, even though his nerves were shot.

How did he ask Knight if he’d sent it? How did he not get upset that Knight never asked his opinion? Lake thought they were open to sharing everything with one another.

Or maybe that had just been Lake.

“Taylor said that you and Josh have been having fascinating conversations.”

Knight slowly inclined his head. “We have.”

“About what?”

“The economics of saving the Amazon.”

“I thought Jeff Bezos was a billionaire?”

“The Amazon. Not Amazon.”

Ah, crap. “What are the economics of saving the rainforest?”

Knight delved into an economic summary, and it was far more interesting than Lake wanted it to be. These were the kinds of conversations Knight and Josh had? Help.

“Yeah, cattle raising is a bad tradeoff. But the people need money to live. Can’t the rest of the world pay them not to destroy it?”