17

On the way back to town, Kian proposed that they swing by Nikki’s so the lie could come to an end. Emily knew her temper mixed with her new sporadic emotions wasn’t something to have around others; especially Nikki. The woman rubbed Emily the wrong way. And now that Emily knew Nikki had Kian and half the town lying to her and Selma it gave Emily even more reasons to dislike the woman. There was no doubt in Emily’s mind she wouldn’t play nice with Nikki. 

Emily didn’t need any trouble with the law. Grant it, there had been no sign of law enforcement, but Emily didn’t want to push her luck of getting into a fight with Nikki and ending up spending the night in the Camden jail. For that reason, Emily declined Kian’s invitation for her to go with him. He had let out a heavy breath and his body relaxed. Emily figured he was worried about the same thing as she was.

Before leaving, Kian walked Emily to the apartment and helped her settle in on the couch. She assured him she could take care of herself, but he insisted. Once he felt she was safe and comfortable inside his apartment, he kissed her then left for his mission to find Nikki. Emily waited for the sound of Kian’s truck to fade to silence before she grabbed her purse and rummaged through it.

“Ah! Ha,” she called out as she found her phone and charger. Quickly she plugged it into the wall. Her phone powered up too slow for Emily’s patience. When the screen lit up, it read full bars for receptions. “YES!”

Emily waited for hundreds of messages from Dr. Hemington to blow up her inbox. Not a single message came in. She didn’t even have any notifications for her emails or games. Her phone was completely quiet. Despite the silence, she tried calling Dr. Hemington. Nothing happened. Not even a recording came on to tell her that her call couldn’t be completed as dialed. 

“Well, that’s lovely,” she muttered. 

She walked around to different spots in the apartment trying to get the call to go through. No matter where she stood there was nothing. The phone was silent.

“Okay,” she breathed. “Let’s try this outside.” 

She went outside and tried random spots to get the call to go through. Again nothing. She tried calling one of her coworkers. That call didn’t go through either. Emily tried to call almost everyone and every place in her contact list to get a call to go through; which included a call to her favorite pizza delivery place. With a groan of defeat, she powered off her phone.

Kian still wasn’t back. She didn’t want to go back inside but had nowhere else to go. So she decided to enjoy the cool air. Just as she was about to head back to the apartment building a thought of Selma crossed her mind. I should go and see Selma. 

She didn’t have a clue which building Selma was in so she looked around for Casper’s truck. She found it within a few seconds. What was Selma’s apartment number again? Emily thought as she ran towards Casper’s building. Once inside, she looked around at the doors hoping the numbers and letters would jog her memory.

Bing.

Emily turned her head in the elevator's direction. She hoped she’d catch a break and it would be Selma. Emily was wrong. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Who stepped off of the elevator made Emily’s eyes widen and her mouth gape open. 

“Only in Camden,” she muttered shaking her head as a moose stepped off the elevator. It looked at her then bowed its head. “Um... hi. Do you know where Selma lives?” Oh my god! I am off my rocker! I’m talking to a damn moose!

The moose looked back at the elevator and gestured his head up. 

“Upstairs,” Emily asked hesitantly. The moose nodded its head then walked towards the front door. The smell of burgers followed the animal as it walked by her.

“Um... thanks, Mister... Moose.” 

She was careful to dodge the large antlers. The moose reached the front door and used its antler to push down on the door’s handle then pushed the door open. Emily was beyond impressed with the moose. She knew several humans who would have pulled at the door several tries. 

The moose took a step out the door but stopped and looked back at her. As crazy as it had already been seeing the moose, she could have sworn it winked at her before it turned and left. The door slowly closed behind it. 

“You aren’t crazy, Emily. You aren’t crazy,” Emily repeated as she looked around for the stairs. Still repeating the words, she ran up the steps and scanned the second floor. The hallway was long. There were lots of apartments. 

“Just one break is all I ask,” she said throwing her hands into the air. “Selma!” 

It wasn’t the most tactful way to find Selma. Emily knew better than to disturb others. She hated when people disturbed her in her apartment, especially at night. However, this was an emergency. She needed to see Selma. She needed to know Selma was safe and okay.

“Selma!” Emily’s voice echoed down the hallway. Still no movement or sounds. “Selma,” she called out one last time.

She waited several minutes before grumbling and making her way back to the stairwell. There was another flight of stairs leading to the third floor. Instead of climbing them, Emily shouted Selma’s name several times and waited for someone to reply. No one replied so Emily defeatedly made her way back down the stairs and out of the building.

“Did Yogi give them a picnic basket, too,” she snorted. “Where the hell could she be? His truck is still here,” she complained as she stepped outside. A tall, well built, good-looking blonde man stepped outside Kian’s apartment building. In his hand was Emily’s Hello Kitty suitcase. She took off in a dead sprint as the man made his way towards a dark blue Hudson Hornet. The car alone had Emily forgetting why she was chasing after the man. She loved classic cars.

“Excuse me,” she called out to the man. He was opening the trunk of his car. “Wait! That’s mine.” 

The man stopped and set the suitcase down on its wheels. He turned his head in Emily’s direction. A flirtatious smile appeared. The man was drop-dead gorgeous. He didn’t make her knees weak like Kian but she could definitely admit the man was good looking. 

Emily finally reached the mystery man. “Hi. Sorry. Is that my suitcase?” She asked pointing at it. He looked down then back at her and smiled. 

“It’s yours if you’re Miss Emily Freeman,” he said huskily in a familiar voice.

“I am,” she stated. 

“Then, yes, this would be yours,” he smiled. “I knocked on your door then Kian’s,” the man groaned and rolled his eyes when he mentioned Kian’s name. “No one answered at either. I assumed you were still...” He cleared his throat. “At the lake. I didn’t feel right leaving your stuff out in the hallway so I was just going to hold on to it and try again later.”

The lake? That’s why he sounds familiar. He was James.

“Thanks. Guess it’s a good thing I saw you. Saves your gas and time.” 

“I don’t mind using my time to come back to see you,” James grinned. There was flirting drenched all over his words. The man was a real Rico Suave. He reminded Emily of Kian except this man was more assertive with his flirting. 

“You’re the guy from the lake, right?” Emily’s cheeks burned from the embarrassment of the man having seen her in her horniness. 

“Yes. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself.”

“It’s okay. I’m sorry I didn’t get to thank you for keeping that creep away from me.” James laughed. 

“He is definitely a creep.” James had similar features to Kian. They had the same height, body build, and they both had alluring eyes. 

“Are you and Kian related?” The man chuckled.

“In a sense. I guess you could say so.”

“In a sense,” she asked raising an eyebrow. 

“We come from the same lineage but we don’t share any relatives’ blood.” His answer confused Emily even more. 

“I’m James by the way.” He offered his hand. She stuck out her hand when she heard Kian’s truck coming. He sped over to them, slammed his truck in park and made his way over to the two. 

“James, what the hell are you doing here,” Kian growled. He wrapped his arm around Emily’s waist. James looked at Kian’s arm and grinned. 

“I was bringing Emily her suitcase. I’m sure she needs it. Right, Emily?” The way James’ words came out for full of seduction. He lingered on the words ‘she needs it.’ His eyes were on her the entire time he spoke. He wasn’t the same polite yet playful man he had been at the lake. He was more of a tempter or charmer.

“James, it’s late and you shouldn’t be here,” Kian warned. James turned his attention to Kian and smiled.

“Relax, Kian. I’m only returning her suitcase. Besides, Emily and I have a lot in common.”

“We do?” Emily blurted out without thinking. She had meant to keep quiet while Kian and James exchanged words.

“We do,” James smiled at her. “We both have a thing for books.” Emily’s face beamed with a smile.

“Do you write too,” she asked excitedly. A little too excited. James laughed while Kian growled at James.

“I do. And, I run the library.” Emily was ready to bounce for joy. She not only loved writing books, but she also loved reading them. “I was really sorry to hear about your books.” James looked disappointed.

“My books,” Emily breathed. “What about my books?”

Emily finally remembered that during the accident, she had been holding the box of books on her lap. However, she hadn’t seen them since. They were her most prized possessions. 

“Kian,” James growled. “You didn’t tell her?” Kian tensed against Emily’s side. She looked up at him. His jaw was tight as he glared at James. 

“Not now, James,” Kian snarled between clenched teeth. 

“Yes, now,” Emily hissed at him. She took a step away from Kian. 

“Follow me, doll,” James said gesturing towards his trunk. Kian took hold of Emily’s wrist but let go when she glared at him. 

“Emily,” Kian groaned. It was too late. She was staring into the back of James’ trunk in horror. Inside his trunk was her box of books. The box and books were water damaged. One side of the box was torn, and some books were wide open with crinkled pages. With a shaky hand, Emily reached into the box and pulled one book out. 

“What happened to them?” She asked James softly. He sighed and gestured with his eyes to Kian. Emily looked at Kian, who was running his hand through his hair which told her he was nervous. 

“I did it,” Kian whispered. “When you were in the accident, I didn’t think about the books. All I thought about was you. I tossed the box off of your lap and onto the ground. You know the rest of the story.” 

Emily looked down at the tattered and torn hardcover book in her hands. Her author career was ruined before it had even begun. Hundreds of dollars had been washed down the drain on the printing of the books. The book signing was a bust. Everything was ruined.

She couldn’t be mad at Kian. She wouldn’t have thought about the books either if he had been in an accident. He had saved her. That was more important than her books. 

Emily tossed the book back into the box. “Kian,” her voice croaked from the tears she was holding back. “Can you carry the box inside for me?”

“Emily,” Kian whispered, “I really didn’t mean for them to be destroyed.” She looked at him and smiled.

“I know. I’m not mad at you.” 

“I will figure out a way to...” 

“Kian,” she choked out. “It isn’t the end of the world. I’m alive. That’s what matters.” She acknowledged her own words with a nod. She didn’t know if she truly believed in the words. Regardless, she would use those words to help her get past the pain of her career being ruined before it ever began. 

“I was going to take them back to the library with me and restore them. Is that okay with you?” James asked. 

“Yes! Oh my god! Yes! Please! I’ll pay you whatever it costs,” Emily shouted cheerfully. She threw her arms around James and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her. 

“You’re welcome. And you won’t owe me anything.,” he whispered into her ear sending a chill down her spine. “It’s the least I can do for a fellow book lover.” James inhaled sharply. 

“You smell lovely. Are you wearing perfume?” He whispered into her ear.

James reminded her of the Big Bad Wolf from the stories. Except this wolf sounded like he was ready to jump on his prey the naughty way. He sounded aroused. 

“James,” Kian growled. Kian grabbed Emily by her elbow and pulled her back against his chest. “Don’t cross the line.” 

“Kian, if I wanted to cross the line, I could have already back at the lake,” James pointed out to Kian. Something on Emily caught James’ eyes. James looked at Emily’s neck and then Kian’s and smirked. 

“Ah. I thought I saw it back at the lake. I see hers, but where is yours? Feelings not mutual,” James snickered. He had a wicked look that made it clear he was trying to provoke Kian with Emily. Se wasn’t sure if James was really interested in her or if he just wanted to rattle Kian’s chain. 

“Don’t, James,” Kian cautioned taking a step closer to James and getting between Emily and James. Kian’s fists were balled down by his sides.

“Ah. Good,” James clapped his hands together and looked around Kian at Emily. “You get to see the sinful side of Kian, doll.” James winked at her then looked at Kian. 

“Kian,” Emily asked worried. She could see and hear him taking deep breaths. A soft growl was coming from him. It wasn’t an animal type growl. It was a manly growl. “Can we go inside? It’s cold out here.” 

The weather wasn’t bothering her, but the tension between Kian and James was. Emily stepped around Kian and faced him.

“Emily. Sweetheart, wait for me inside,” Kian whispered to her. “I’ll be right there.” He smiled.

“Don’t want her to see the demon side of you,” James sneered. Emily thought she saw Kian’s eyes shift from their normal blue-green to black then back to normal. His jaw was clenched. The vein in his neck was bulging. 

“Sweetheart,” Kian breathed. “Please? Go inside.” She could tell it was taking everything within him not to snap on James in front of her. 

Scared of having your ass kicked in front of your mate so you’re going to send her inside, James thought.

Emily turned and faced James then pointed a finger at him.

“Look, pretty boy,” Emily snapped at James. “You need to get in your car and leave. Kian isn’t sending me inside because he’s afraid that he’ll get his ass kicked in front of me. He’s doing it as a favor to you! Because he knows he’ll kick your ass! And he doesn’t want you embarrassed!”

“What?” James asked in a whisper. “You heard me?”

“I’d have to be deaf not to. You practically yelled it,” Emily murmured. Kian looked at James confused. James tapped the side of his head. They both looked at her with wide eyes. Then looked back each other. James gestured at Emily. Kian shrugged his shoulders.

“I thought you were just having some fun at the lake, but this is much more. You said them, didn’t you,” James asked in a different tone than the tone he had earlier. His voice was soft. He looked at Emily with remorse in his eyes.

“Yes,” Kian muttered and ran his hand through his hair. Emily found herself, yet again, lost in the conversation. 

“Have you...” 

“No... I can’t.”

“It’s Nikki isn’t it,” James groaned. 

“Does everyone know this damn secret except Selma and me,” Emily growled putting both hands on her hips. James looked at Kian. 

“And on that note, I’m going to go,” James chuckled. “It was a pleasure officially meeting you, Emily. I will let you know when your books are ready.” He smiled then got in his car before Emily could reply. He gave a short wave then drove off. 

“What in the hell, Kian Lucas Nordin!” Emily turned and faced a very nervous Kian. “Is everyone in this town bipolar?”

“What do you mean, sweetheart?” Kian asked taking ahold of her suitcase handle. “Let’s get you inside.”

“Don’t you ignore my question, mister.” She poked him in his chest. He didn’t budge just looked down at her and chuckled. “Shut up,” she huffed and turned on her heels to go towards the apartment. Kian caught her hand. She looked back at him. 

“You said you’d give me twenty-four hours,” he reminded her. Her shoulders slumped. He was right. She had given him twenty-four hours; however, she hadn’t expected the whole town to know except her and Selma. She was getting antsier and antsier by the second. The lie would make or break her relationship with Kian. 

“Didn’t you talk to that witch, yet?” Emily griped. 

“You really hate Nikki. Don’t you?” Kian asked before kissing the top of her hand. “She wasn’t home but I will find her in the morning. Promise.” 

“Kian,” she whined and stomped her foot like a toddler. He laughed and pulled her in against his chest. 

“I know. It’s difficult for me to, sweetheart. I swear,” he stated holding her closely. “I just want this to all be out in the open. To be honest...” There was hesitation and lack of confidence in his words.

“To be honest what,” Emily asked forcing herself to look up at him. The tone in his voice terrified her. 

“I’m scared,” he breathed.

“Of what, Kian,” she asked laying her head on his chest and holding on to him as though it was the last time she’d be able to hold him. 

“I just hope you accept me for me,” he sighed.

“Why wouldn’t I?” 

“I’m not the prince charming you read in fairytales.” Emily laughed against his chest.

“I’m not exactly a princess from a fairytale, Kian.” 

“You’re my princess.” She looked up to see him looking down at her smiling. “Ready to go inside?”

“Mmhmm.” She held his hand, and they walked towards the door. “We’ll deal with this tomorrow.”