Lucas

Today is the day she arrives.

My heart thunders in my chest as I jog past my old cottage where Emma will soon be living.

Emma...

Meeting her that first day, I had been thrown for a loop. For someone so young to be so accomplished, I had expected someone more bookish looking.

Emma was anything but bookish looking.

I had been stunned...flabbergasted when she had walked through my door with her head held high, her clear hazel eyes not hesitating in meeting my gaze as I tried to keep my eyes on hers and off her curvaceous body that was dressed professionally in a navy pencil skirt and a white blouse.

Because I had immediately envisioned unbuttoning that professional white blouse to release those beautiful, luscious breasts that I was sure was underneath. When she had glanced at the floor momentarily, my eyes had taken advantage and I had done a double take of her body, my mind grappling with the stunning sensuality of this woman.

But the second glance had only confirmed my original reaction.

With full breasts, a tiny waist and long legs that were exposed to above her knees, Emma was a very sensual and lushly beautiful woman.

And I had had immediate flashes of having those legs wrapped around my waist.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have hired her given my immediate and overly intense attraction to her but she had the best resume and recommendations out of everyone that I had considered. Plus, I needed someone with her knowledge and work ethic to take over getting the restaurant and inn up and running and to show me the ropes of the day to day operation. Emma was one of the best out there.

Working with her, looking at her every day and keeping my hands off her was going to be a challenge.

But I would just have to ensure to keep my distance.

"Is that why you are jogging past the cottage to see if she has arrived?" I snidely mutter to myself underneath my breath as I glance down the short drive. Not seeing her car as I jog past the cottage, I feel disappointment turn to angst as I wonder if she had changed her mind.

Shaking my head, knowing she is a professional through and through as I had done my homework on her prior to her interview, I knew if she had changed her mind, she would have contacted me.

I had already gone for my usual morning jog before work but after waiting anxiously all day for her arrival, I couldn't resist pulling on my sneakers and going for another run around 7pm.

It was the best excuse I could come up with to check on her.

Reaching the end of the road that leads back to the cottage and my own home, I decide to make the best of it and take a right down the main road, hoping that she may take this route while I physically wore off some of this restless anxiousness. On my return jog home, there is still no sign of her. It's getting close to 8 o'clock with darkness just around the corner and I can't stop the doubts from running through my mind. Halting in front of the cottage driveway, I debate knocking on the door, wondering if she had arrived in a taxi.

Sighing heavily, shaking my head at myself as I give in to temptation, I walk to the front door and give it a light tap. There's no response, so I knock again, this time harder. Still no response.

Just go back home, you idiot, - I silently tell myself.

I turn to do just that but halfway down the driveway, I stop and pull my phone of out my pocket. Not letting my head talk myself out of it, I look up Emma's number that I had immediately entered from her resume after her interview. I select it and wait impatiently for her to answer.

She finally answers on the fourth ring.

"Hello?" I hear her breathless voice.

"Emma?" I ask, my heart beating erratically.

"Yes?" she responds.

"This is Lucas Reid," I say as I clear my throat. "I was out for an evening jog and happened to notice that you had not arrived yet." A white lie. I couldn't tell her I had been stalking the house, waiting for her arrival.

"Oh! Mr. Reid!" she pauses before she hastily continues, "I had a little fender bender on the way. I had to give my statement of the accident to the police and noticed my car has a flat. I tried to fix it but my spare tire has turned out to be flat too."

I come to an abrupt stop. I didn't realize I was pacing as she was talking.

"Where are you?" I ask, immediately. My heart is racing, panic rising, as I think of her on the highway all alone.

"I’m just past the St. Catherines turn off. But don't worry, Mr. Reid. I'll get a cab so I don't miss work in the morning," she assures me easily.

I hear a male voice say something in the background and I tense wondering who he is.

"I'll come get you," I hear myself offer without thinking.

There’s a moment of silence before Emma replies, "I can grab a cab."

I hear the male voice again and I grind my teeth.

"I’m already on the way," I say and pick up my jog. There is no way I’m leaving her out there.

Or leaving myself to stew and pace all evening, wondering if she had arrived.

I hear hesitation in her voice as she asks, "Are you sure?"

"I’ll be there in less than twenty minutes," I reassure her softly.

When she speaks again, I hear relief in her voice as she says, "I really appreciate it. There is an officer that has offered to stay with me until you get here. He says he’ll have the lights flashing so you can find us easier."

"Okay, hang tight. I’ll be there shortly," ending the phone call, I pick up my pace, and cover the short distance from the cottage to my house quickly. Grabbing the keys to my car from the key hook, I immediately turn and head back to my car.

The short drive seems insufferably long, until finally I see flashing lights ahead on the opposite side. Taking the ramp, I cross over to the other side of the highway and pull in ahead of Emma's car.

I see her get out of the police car - only her - and I feel myself relax. It was the cop I had heard in the background.

If I thought Emma dressed as a business woman was sexy, her dressed in white yoga pants practically had me panting as they clung to her toned legs. With a tight, black long sleeved workout top that molded to her every curve, her full breasts were outlined perfectly.

I want her, - I acknowledge.

There was no denying it.

And I knew I was going to make it happen – somehow. There was no way that I could stay away from her. I was no innocent when it came to women and I have had more than my fair share at my disposal, but Emma is somehow different.

Just the mere sight of her drew me in, sucking me under and I also knew there was no way for this attraction to be tempered.

Except to give in and explore this fascinating, sexually lush woman.

Meeting her at her car, I notice she is holding something furry in her arms. A pug lifts its head from where it is resting to look at me, its tongue hanging partially out as I’m sized up. Seeming to find nothing wrong, it drops its head back to its resting place.

"Who’s this we have here?" I ask, immediately reaching out to pet the pug's head.

"This is Quinella but I call her Quinny as well," Emma replies as she lifts the pug to place a kiss on the top of her head.

I envy the pug.

Clearing his throat, the police officer who had at some time appeared next to Emma without me noticing, interjects awkwardly, "Emma, I'll grab your luggage from the trunk."

My body stiffens as I hear him use her first name.

"Oh! Thanks so much Dave," she says, turning to him with a wide and grateful smile on her face.

As Dave opens her trunk and reaches inside to pull out her luggage, I continue to look at Emma's face. She’s watching him admiringly as he walks past us to my vehicle.

My hands instinctively clench tight into fists, the keys in my right-hand biting into my flesh.

Because I want to punch him in the face.

Instead, I force my hands to unclench and press the trunk release; silently hoping it will spring open and hit him in the face. No such luck as the officer places her luggage inside before slamming the trunk closed.

I’m irrationally and suddenly irritated.

Turning to Emma, I grind out, "Ready?"

Emma's eyes jump to my face, her face showing she is trying to understand my suddenly abrupt tone.

"Yes, Mr. Reid. I’m ready. I’m sorry for the inconvenience." Her tone has turned to one of aloofness. Breaking eye contact with me, she turns to Dave, her tone now softening and appreciative, setting me further on edge, as she says, "Thanks for arranging the tow and staying with me, Dave."

"Anytime, Emma," he replies quietly, his soft undertone making his intentions clear that he was interested in her.

Taking Emma's arm abruptly, instead of wrapping my arm around her shoulder to pull her close to me like I want to do, I guide her to the front passenger side of my car. Opening the door, I watch as she slides in, my eyes on her long legs outlined by her clinging pants.

I swallow thickly as I feel my groin twitch, then swell.

Slamming her door shut, I smirk at the cop as I cross to the driver's side. He may be using her first name, but I’m the one taking her home.

Sliding in next to her, my sour mood lifts as I glance over at Emma's stiff posture. I know I’m the reason for it and I immediately try to put her at ease.

"You'll be home in twenty minutes," I try, my tone completely losing the hard edge from only a few minutes ago, as I pull out onto the highway. I continue to try lightening the mood by switching on a playlist I listen to while running, but Emma doesn't say anything for the full twenty minutes, leaving me to feel awkward and regretting my abruptness with her.

Pulling into the driveway of the cottage, I have barely stopped the car before Emma has her seatbelt off, and is opening her door, tossing over her shoulder in forced politeness, "Thanks for the ride, Mr. Reid. I'll see you in the morning."

Slamming the door shut, she walks to the back of my car with one arm holding her pug, and using the trunk release with her free hand, she pops it open. With a strength I didn't know she had, she pulls her luggage out. The slamming of the trunk resounds through my head.

I get out of the car to help her, but she ignores me, tugging her luggage to the front step.

"I have it from here, Mr. Reid. I have already been enough of an inconvenience," she says quietly, but firmly, as she slips her key into the door. Turning, she doesn't look up at me as she angrily pulls her luggage inside, allowing the door to swing shut in my face.

I stand there a moment, staring at the closed door, feeling like a chastised child.

Not knowing what else to do, I turn and walk back to my car. Getting in, I glance one more time at the cottage. Despite her anger and distance with me, I feel relief at seeing the lights come on, knowing that she is the one inside.

Tomorrow, I will apologize, show her I’m not normally such an ass.

After a quick shower, I feel energized at thoughts of having Emma finally here and I decide to open a bottle of red wine. I unlock and slide the doors open to my deck that overlooks my family’s vineyard but also has a view of the lake. I find my mind slipping back to Emma as I stand in the doorway.

I have never experienced such an intense, immediate attraction to anyone else.

I knew I was never going to be able to stay away from her. Having a sexual liaison with an employee is never a good thing, and thankfully, I have always kept my distance there, but with Emma...I know it’s headed down that road.

I’m even semi hard now thinking about her.

“God, she looked so god damn good in those tight leggings,” I whisper under my breath.

Finishing my glass of wine while thinking of Emma the entire time, I resign myself to the fact that I acted like a jealous ass and treated Emma abruptly.

I reiterate to myself that tomorrow I will show her I'm not an ass. She’ll have no other option only to change her opinion of me.

When she arrives for work in the morning, I allow my eyes, for a brief moment, to run appreciatively over her as she concentrates on opening the heavy door to the restaurant. She has on another pair of tight leggings with a light spring jacket to help ward off the cool spring air and wearing minimal makeup, taking me by surprise that I prefer that over the heavy makeup of the women of my past.

Emma is without a doubt, a natural beauty.

"Good morning, Emma," I murmur quietly, watching her for her mood.

She hesitates briefly before crossing to where I’m standing in the middle of the construction zone of my soon to be restaurant, a polite, but indifferent, professional smile on her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Reid. Thank you once again for picking me up last night. I know it must have been a bit inconvenient." Her aloofness towards me is still evident. Gesturing to herself, she continues very politely and professionally, “I thought I would dress down today given we are in the middle of construction.”

I will break through that aloofness, - I silently promise her.

My heart races at the challenge.

"You’re dressed perfectly for this construction site but I’m warning you ahead of time, you will be covered in dust by the time you’re finished here today and be craving a shower.” My cock jumps, pulsating against my jeans, as my mind envisions Emma naked...in my shower. I clear my throat in an attempt to clear that image from my head. “I'd like you to start with reviewing the plans for the restaurant. Let’s head up to my office and we can grab a coffee before we start reviewing," I say invitingly. I arrived here this morning before anyone else, so that I could move the coffee maker to my office from the main construction area, ensuring that we would be in complete privacy. Lying to the construction crew that the coffee maker had somehow gotten broke was a small lie if it meant I could have Emma all to myself.

I had totally given up on the impossible idea of leaving her alone during the night when I had dreamt of her. She has somehow possessed me in the short period of time I have known her.

I may not know her well, but I want her...so bad.

I see her hesitation before she replies, "I thought Martha would be with me today."

Stung, I lose a little edge of the happiness I had felt upon seeing her walk through the door this morning.

"You’ll be working with Martha at some point but since I’m the owner, it only makes sense that we start you off reviewing plans and ideas with me, doesn't it?" I can’t help the hard edge that has entered my tone.

My direct question sets her back for a moment before she replies, "Yes, I guess it does make sense."

"You lead the way," I continue quietly, this time trying harder to keep the frustration from my tone, as I gesture for her to proceed me up the stairs.

Allowing her to walk ahead of me is absolutely the wrong decision.

Her ass is level with my face as I follow her up the stairs...

And I’m solidly rock hard by the time we reach the top.

Feeling like a bumbling yet aroused fool, I step ahead of her in the hallway at the top of the steps and try to get myself a little under control, praying she doesn’t glance at my crotch. Reaching my office, I swing the door open and gesture for her to enter as the smell of coffee greets us. As she walks past me, I close my eyes as her scent passes briefly under my nose, the coffee no match in downplaying the appeal of her scent to me. I clench my hands, forcing them to remain at my sides, instead of reaching out...touching her.

Closing the door behind us, I walk over to the coffee maker behind my desk and pour us each a cup of coffee. Laying it in front of her where she has chosen to sit in front of my desk, I watch as she stirs in a little cream and sugar.

The silence between us is heavy.

She finally lifts her eyes to mine and I admit quietly, "I didn't mind picking you up last night. I was actually worried about you and was only too glad to do it."

She holds my eyes for a moment before dropping hers.

Changing the subject, I turn and grasp the rolled-up plans and unroll them on my desk.

We get to work, sipping on our coffees, and as we discuss the layout of the kitchen, I can feel Emma slowly thaw and even relax a little.

Her knowledge impresses me as she makes an argument to change the location of the service station to move it a little closer to the kitchen. I watch her face, her lips, as she argues her point that the service staff need to maintain close contact with the kitchen because if it was at the opposite ends of the building, it would keep the staff separated during service, unable to communicate. She points out even more little changes that will make the flow of service easier. By lunch time, we have made the necessary changes to the plan. I offer her the portion of my lunch that I had packed in hopefulness of sharing with her. But she quickly declines and instead she heads outside. As I eat by myself at my desk, I can’t help but wonder where she has gone. After thirty minutes, she returns, looking refreshed and relaxed as we meet with the renovation foreman and electrical contractor followed by the plumbing contractor.

At the end of the day, she looks tired but still she offers, "I should get home to Quinny but if you want to work this evening, I can come back."

I almost jump at the chance to work this evening if it means being with her. But I know she is tired and needing time to settle in after her long day yesterday.

"No, that's fine. You take some time and get settled."

She hesitates before she asks, "If you’re sure?" But I hear the relief in her tone.

Nodding, smiling gently, I reply, "Yes, Emma. We’ll get back to this in the morning."

A smile breaks across her face as she replies in obvious relief, "Thank you. I'll see you then."

I return her smile and watch as she walks out the door, wanting desperately to go with her.

Knowing someday I will.

Chapter 3