Heidi snorted. “Now, that’s something I never thought I’d hear you say.”
“Oh, shut it,” I said, flipping her the bird.
“You’ve talked to Landon twice in over nine years since the breakup, including this weekend! Other than the sad, sappy messages you left on his voice mail in college.”
“Don’t,” I hissed. My cheeks flamed.
I hated to think about the heartbroken girl I’d been when Landon dumped me. But, at eighteen, he had been my first serious boyfriend. I’d gone on to forget all about him with a long line of mistakes. And, now, I was going on a date with his brother.
“Come on, Em. This will be fine. You thought Jensen Wright was sexy as hell since before you had any interest in Landon. Cut loose.”
I sighed. Sure, I’d had an unhealthy obsession with Jensen, just like every other girl my age, but I was a totally different person now than I’d been ten years ago—physically and emotionally. Plus, I’d gotten through three years of a PhD program. I could handle one night out with Jensen Wright and not make a fool of myself. Hopefully.
“All right. I won’t cancel.”
“Excellent. I’d go with this.” She plucked a black V-neck sweater off the floor and passed it to me.
I tugged it over my head and paired it with my classic black skinny jeans and boots. Swishing my dark hair over to one side of my head, I held my hands out. “What do you think?”
“I still think a little black dress would be better. Are you sure he said warm and comfortable?”
“Definitely.”
The doorbell rang downstairs, and my eyes widened to saucers.
I heard Lilyanne screaming, “I’ll get it. I’ll get it. I’ll get it!”
“He’s early,” I groaned, glancing at the clock.
“Well, hurry up. Go and intercept the minion, or he’s going to be taking Lily,” Heidi said.
I snatched my phone off of the nightstand, slid it into my back pocket, and dashed out of the room. I could see Noah and Kimber moving toward the front door, and Heidi was on my heels. With my luck, this would turn into one big family affair. Ugh!
“And who are you?” I heard Jensen ask from the front door.
I hopped the last two steps and turned to find him bending down, eye-level with my niece. He had a big smile on his face and a bouquet of gorgeous flowers in white, deep dark reds, and plum purples.
“I’m Lilyanne. Who are you?” she asked.
“So nice to meet you, Lilyanne. My name is Jensen.”
“Are those for me?” she asked, stretching her hands out toward the flowers.
He laughed. “They most certainly are. Do you have a vase to put them in? I can show you how to keep them pretty for a long time.”
Lilyanne squealed and clutched the flowers to her chest. “Mommy! Daddy!” she shrieked. “I have flowers!”
“How nice,” Kimber said.
“I think I have a boyfriend!”
Everyone laughed at that comment. But Lilyanne just twirled around in a circle and dashed to her parents.
Noah scooped her up in his arms. “You’re a little young for a boyfriend, I think. Right?”
“Yep,” Kimber agreed. “Much too young.”
Lilyanne stuck out her bottom lip and hugged her flowers.
“Let’s go with Mom to find something to put them in,” Noah said, carrying her out of the room.
Jensen stood from where he’d been crouching, and his eyes found me across the distance of the living room. His eyes seared into me like a brand. I immediately felt flushed. I watched him peruse my outfit, starting at the tips of my toes and agonizingly dragging his eyes up to my face. My cheeks burned like a torch as a smile bloomed on his face, dimpling his cheeks, and it reminded me that not only was he drop-dead gorgeous, but he was also somehow amazing with kids.
Fuck, what am I getting myself into?
Heidi nudged me forward into the charged space and then disappeared into the kitchen.
“Hey,” I said, feeling the weight of our distance and moving toward him like a magnet. How did he have this kind of effect on me? Did all women feel like their bodies were on fire when Jensen Wright settled his gaze on them?
“Hey, Emery,” he said, taking another step toward me so that we were nearly touching.
He held out his empty hand and brushed my arm. My skin crackled, and I had to control my emotions not to show it.
“I had flowers for you.”
I cleared my throat and smiled up into his deep dark eyes. “That’s okay. You just made Lily’s day. She’s going to be talking about you forever now.”
“Ah, good. She’s adorable. How old is she? Four?”
I nodded and used the opportunity to glance back at Lily, who I could just see in the kitchen. “Yeah.”
“That’s a great age.”
“She’s the best,” I agreed. I swiveled back to face him and was met with a molten gaze that brought back all of the dirty thoughts I’d had in church earlier today. Yeah, there was no way I could end this date tonight. Not with him looking like that.