“Lilyanne!” my mother said.
She burst onto the scene, as if she owned the place. But Lily adored her. She jumped from her seat, iPad abandoned, and threw herself into Autumn’s arms. She twirled Lily around and then placed her on the ground before claiming the seat beside her.
“She sure loves your little girl,” I said.
“She does. I couldn’t have asked for a better grandma,” Kimber agreed.
“Who would have guessed?”
“Everyone,” Kimber said. Then she grinned. “Look who just walked in the building.”
I swiveled in my seat just in time to watch the entire Wright family stride into the building. My eyes first latched on to Jensen in a crisp black suit, white button-up, and burgundy tie. He looked…sexy as hell. In fact, I would not mind so much seeing what was underneath that suit. My cheeks burned with the thoughts running through my head. I was in church, for Christ’s sake.
My eyes darted down the line of people—Austin, Morgan, Sutton, and Maverick. Huh, I guess not all the Wrights were here. I couldn’t help but feel grateful that Landon wasn’t here with his wife. Then, I didn’t feel as bad about checking out Jensen.
As Jensen passed my row, he turned all his attention to me. A smile dimpled his cheeks, and I stopped breathing. Fuck, I had made out with that face.
Then, he and the rest of his family took their seats in the front row. I distantly remembered that they came to church every Sunday after their mother died. They did it to honor her memory since she had been such a devoted churchgoer. It was pretty amazing that they still did it. Even the morning after Sutton’s wedding.
Maybe I had judged them all a bit too harshly after Landon.
Maybe it wasn’t the worst thing to fantasize about those dimples.
Maybe…just not in church.
Chapter 9
Emery
I’d say that the service was interesting, but I was a horrible person and didn’t pay attention. Not that I was not religious. Not exactly. But, when the most eligible bachelor in the city was sitting three rows in front of you and you knew he’d wanted nothing more than to get into your pants the night before, it was a bit hard to concentrate.
Especially at the halfway mark when everyone was allowed to get up to greet their neighbors, and he turned to look right at me. I probably should go up to him to apologize for running away yesterday and just fucking explain who I was. I still couldn’t believe that I hadn’t just told him.
How hard was it to say I dated your brother?
Apparently, really difficult. Really, really difficult. Especially with his tongue down my throat.
I’d known what Heidi was doing by only giving him my nickname, Em. Emery was not common at all, and the light bulb would have registered immediately. Still, I hadn’t corrected her, and I hadn’t told him why I’d run away. Because I hadn’t wanted to walk away. Maybe a part of me was still thinking about that unattainable, hot college guy that Heidi and I had dreamed about in high school.
Now, he was an even hotter billionaire CEO who was looking a whole hell of a lot more attainable.
If only I hadn’t dated his brother.
My mother, of all people, saved me from humiliating myself in front of Jensen. She latched on to my arm and dragged me over to Betty, a woman I used to work for at the Buddy Holly Center when I was in high school. They had an opening after their latest hire quit, and she was more than excited to have me back on staff.
So, at least something positive came out of the whole church experience.
When the service ended, my mother milled around, chatting with all her friends. I knew that we wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while unless I hitched a ride with Noah. And, by the look on Kimber’s face, she was already getting ready to tell me off for considering it.
I stood and stretched, all the while wondering whether or not I should wait for everyone outside…or if I should say something to Jensen.
Before I could decide on what to do, Jensen left his family behind in the front row and then walked casually over to where I was leaning against the edge of the pew.
“Hey. Surprised to find you here,” he said with that same charming smile.
God, did he have another smile? Oh my God, I had made out with those lips.
“Hey. Yeah,” I said back, glancing away.
Smooth.
Let’s just take awkward to a whole new level.
“I didn’t realize your family went to church here,” he said.
His eyes wandered past me to Kimber, Noah, and Lilyanne and then traveled to my mother.
“Yeah. My mom has been going here since…forever.”
“Right. I didn’t put two and two together.” He smiled. “Well, I really came over to apologize about last night.”