“We gave you two months for him to learn what you’re like first,” Noah said.
“I know how she is,” he said. “I’ve got no problem with it.”
“Maybe you can get her off this island a time or two. I’m Roark, and this is my wife, Chelsea.”
He shook hands with Emma’s brother and sister-in-law and noticed the baby sleeping off to the side in a portable playpen. He knew Taryn was about five months old.
“Hey,” Emma said. “I’ll go off the island when I need to or I’m asked.”
“Asked?” Warren lifted an eyebrow. “I didn’t know I needed to ask.”
She shrugged. “You keep bringing up coming here. I just figured it’s so you weren’t noticed as much. I don’t know. It’s working, isn’t it?”
He frowned. “I didn’t know if you had to work something out with Lucky?”
“What’s there to work out?” she asked. “Everything is on automatic. Even his litter box. I don’t have to do much otherthan fill his water and food bowl once a week. I’ve got it marked on my calendar to get a text reminder.”
“That’s horrible, Emma,” Noah said.
“What,” she said. “I think it’s practical. This way I will never forget.”
“Do you even play with your cat?” Roark asked. “I can’t believe you’ve got a pet. You can barely remember to feed yourself.”
“I guess we are going to gang up on me today. I play with Lucky. He likes to sit on my feet now when I’m writing. He’s got toys too, but he’s not a dog and doesn’t play fetch. We’ve got a good routine. Besides, Roark. You’re the one who said I’d end up as the crazy cat lady. We know I’m crazy, but I’ve only got one cat. I’m there.”
“She’s a joke a minute,” Melissa said. “How do you stand it?”
“I love her humor,” he said. “Maybe it’s to counter all the murder and seriousness of her books.”
“Ahhhh,” Emma said, moving over to slip her arm around his waist. “Warren gets me. How come none of you figured that out?”
There was silence to that statement, his own included.
It might be the first time she didn’t have a joking tone to her words, but more of a tender emotion.
19
BELIEVE IN LOVE
This day was going close to what Emma had expected.
She wasn’t one to let too much of her real self out there, but she’d slipped when Warren nailed her personality.
Even her parents and brother never got that about her.
But the guy she spent more time talking with on video or sending flirty texts to knew her well.
“Maybe you don’t let us in as much as you do Warren?” Chelsea said, smirking.
“We are all busy,” she said. “Everyone in this room. Except Taryn. I can’t wait to get my hands on her.”
“She ate lunch and just went down,” Chelsea said. “Then she’ll be all excited to see Aunt Emma.”
“And Aunt Emma is all excited to see her. How about some food for us?” she asked. “I’m starving.”
“Did you eat anything today?” her mother asked.
She crossed her eyes at her mother. “I had two cups of coffee. I was saving room for someone else’s food. But Warren will tell you that when he’s around I eat well. And he’s got me exercising, right?”
