Nothing more.
Thirteen minutes later I joined Vanessa who was deep in conversation with Rachel. I overheard her say, “I saw your big fight at the Arena and…wow. Such powerful hits. It was like watching a choreographed fight.”
Rachel blushed but it was mostly hidden under her sun-kissed skin. “Thanks, I think.”
“Oh! Not that I don’t think it’s real. Trust me, those hits could be heard from half a mile away just from the way you both moved. It was magical.”
Rachel smiled. “Thanks. I can see why Emmett’s been keeping you all to himself.”
She slid a knowing look my way, her smile bright and devious.
Vanessa turned to me, mischief in her own blue eyes. “Is that what you’ve been doing Emmett, keeping me to yourself?”
“Trying,” I growled and pulled her away before Rachel said anything to embarrass me further. “Hard to do when you keep popping up around my stupid ass friends.”
She laughed and looped her arm through mine. “So far I like your friends.”
“Yeah, I like ’em too. Most of the time.” But every last one of them was determined to get me coupled up. Whether it was my brother, Maisie, Kat, Sadie or the guys, they were always trying to get me to make a move on a woman, something I’d been reluctant to do. Until Vanessa.
“Where did you park?” Too much shit had gone down in the House of Ashby parking lot to leave her alone even for a few seconds.
“I didn’t. I took a Lyft because I was hoping you’d offer me a ride home.”
There was something in her eyes that I didn’t bother trying to figure out because there was no way in hell it was desire.
“That depends, I guess.”
She smiled. “Yeah? What does it depend on?”
I shrugged and guided her to my car. “For starters, how good the food is. And then, how engaging the company is.”
She slid into the passenger seat with a laugh. “Did I ever tell you about this friend of mine who once ate a snake burger?”
Her words surprised a laugh out of me as I closed her door and jogged around to the driver’s side. The drive to the restaurant took less than twenty minutes and in a stroke of luck, the young hostess stuck us in a cozy booth near the back of the restaurant.
I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful at that small act.
Vanessa flashed a sweet, sexy smile as she looked around the upscale Mexican restaurant that looked like a hip bistro.
“Ooh, this is fancy,” she said, and I gave myself a mental high five for picking a place that make her eyes light up like that.
“Wait until you taste the food.”
If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a flash of heat in those deep blue orbs, and I let that float me through two hours of conversation and damn good food.
Chapter Sixteen
Vanessa
“You were right. Best Mexican food I’ve ever had.” I’d eaten far more than I meant to and even more considering just how fitted my jeans were tonight, but the food really was that good.
“What did you like best?”
“Easy question,” I smiled and pointed to the food in front of me. “Sweet potato tamales. I mean, can you imagine that this is a potato? Takes loving carbs to a whole new level.”
Emmett flashed another of those affectionate smiles, one that made it feel like we’d known each other much longer than a couple of months.
That’s a good sign, I reminded myself, knowing Lance would be furious if he thought I was pining away with grief. He might not be thrilled with the idea of me moving on with my life, but I knew it would be what he wanted. Hell, it would be what he expected.
Emmett cleared his throat and said in a deep, newscaster voice, “So what you’re saying is that you have a carb addiction?”
I laughed. “Addiction is pretty strong, but let’s just say we have a mutual fondness for each other. Especially on my ass.”
A big manly laugh exploded from Emmett, and I swear, it was the loudest I’d ever heard him. “That tamale has excellent taste, in that case.”
Feeling bold, I slid my fork through the scrumptious tamale and held out a bite for him. “Don’t take my word for it, have a taste.”
His blue eyes darkened with what I interpreted as desire, and I felt the last of my doubt crumble away. I wasn’t sure what I was ready for, but I knew I was ready to at least try to move on with my life. Emmett wrapped his lips around the fork and pulled the bite off with a moan, chewing slowly with his eyes closed until a small smile of satisfaction formed on his lips.
“So damn delicious.”
“What did you think about that flan? I think we should get a piece to go because I have some apple pie flavored moonshine that would be perfect with it.”