He arched his brow. She hoped she could perform that one brow lift since it was so useful.
He questioned, "Irish?" His voice caressed her skin as it was deep, smoky, and a little gruff around the edges. She trembled. When Cassie waved over the bartender, she remarked, "Green eyes." "So, what'll it be?" He said to the bartender, "Fat Yak," and the latter nodded. She questioned, "Fat Yak?" "That is a really strange name to call a drink." Irish raised the bottle in a toast after the bartender set it down on the bar in front of him. She drank her vodka cranberry while making a clink with his bottle. Irish looked at Blue, "Whoa, slow down there." Cassie snorted once more. "You called me 1Blue," she retorted. "I did," he said, adding, "You've got red hair." He then nodded. "I never did understand why that Nathanname applied," Cassie said. He shrugged and took a sip of his beer before stating, "It's ironic. She remarked, "Ahh, Alanis Morissette," with knowledge. "Ironically enough, nothing in that song could be considered ironic." Cassie laughed. You're OK, Irish, she assured him. "So, what's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?" Cassandra sighed. "You've just lost points for the lame pickup line," she stated. "Not a pickup line, just curious." She groaned. She added pathetically, "I got dumped." Speaking it aloud made it sound almost too genuine. Irish questioned, "What, tonight?" She shook her head, Cassie. "Last week." He seemed perplexed. "You're here tonight because you got dumped last week?" Once more, there was that brow furrow. Her tummy began to flutter. Well, not quite dumped, she answered, drumming her fingers on the bar. "More like put on hold." "I don't get it," he said, "explain it to me." "I had an arrangement with my boyfriend. We come together once a month for a seductive weekend and otherwise keep to ourselves. He mumbled and nodded while listening to the narrative and motioned for her to continue speaking while he sipped his drink. Well, while I was carefully maintaining my single status until he saw the light and fantasized that we would ultimately get married with two-point-five children, he got engaged. To another person. She was droning on. She was affected by alcohol, especially vodka and champagne. Irish snorted, "Asshole," with a look of disdain on his face. "Right?" He understood it. You stated you were 'on hold,' I take it. Why are you waiting if he's getting married?" "Because," Cassie said sternly, "he needs a few months to get the little woman settled and then we can pick up where we left off." With a look of disbelief on his face, he turned to face Cassie. He had an open mouth, large eyes, and eyebrows that nearly reached his hairline on both sides. "He told you that?" She regretfully nodded. She was aware of how pitiful she was, yet she was unable to control her feelings for Nathan. He had destroyed her for other guys. "And you're happy with that?" Cassie made a shrug. Which option do I have? I have a crush on him. "So why isn't he marrying you?" "Because he said he wouldn't do that to me." Cassandra sighed. "He said I'm like a wild bird and it would break his heart to see me caged." Iris laughed. He sneered, "Bullshit," he muttered. "No, that is real. We've always been the greatest of friends. He is aware of me and adores me. He's just getting married to this other woman because his father wants him to. "Blue, that's completely screwed up. Do you realize that? "What would you know," Cassie said with disdain, "Nathany loves me and he's just trying to protect me from being trapped in a marriage." Irish shook his head and replied, "No, Blue. Put his hot piece of arse on the side because that's what he wants." "You think my arse is hot?" Cassie had the familiar tummy flutter once more, except this time it was a little lower. One side of his mouth slipped up into a crooked smile. He said, "I do think your arse is hot," and the sensation of warm, melted chocolate being poured over her exposed flesh was unbearable. Her underwear became wet. Unconsciously moistening her lips to his tilted smile, she wondered what it would be like to kiss him while his beard rasped against her skin. "Would you like me to demonstrate?" He said in a low whisper. Did I just say it out loud again? she sobbed. She had no time to take it in as his eyes crinkled in a smile before she felt the warmth of his lips on hers and the exquisite scratching of his whiskers on her skin. His tongue slid over the seam of her lips, causing a little mew to erupt from her throat. He was able to get inside when she opened her lips, and as soon as his tongue entered, it licked along hers, making her tremble. The music of the bar dwindled as her eyelids closed with a flutter. Cassie's entire universe was condensed to the instant at which their lips made contact. Then it vanished. Cassie blinked a few times as the commotion from the bar re-entered, feeling as though she were emerging from a trance. Irish asked, "So?" Cassie's eyes stared owlishly and blankly. "Did it live up to your expectations?" When she continued to be unable to respond, Irish rubbed his lips with his palm while trying to hide his chuckle. "The beard, did it feel like you thought it would?" She finally got a word out, "Better," and he grinned.Six Months Later…Everyone he loved was in the room. They were celebrating. Barry and Becky had finally set a date. Lisa and Mason wouldn’t be far behind. Brian and Cassie kept sneaking glances at one another that they thought nobody else noticed. He thought he knew what was going on but he didn’t want to ruin the surprise. It was their news to share and he was happy to wait for them to be ready to share it. Liam and Loretta were here too. He’d been slowly getting to know them. There was a lot of hurt to work through, but they were getting there. Jonathon quite enjoyed having a younger brother even if it was only in small doses at the moment. Devi and Kirra were also there. Kirra was graduating in a couple of weeks and then she would be hopefully attending one of the universities close to home. She wouldn’t know if she got accepted until the new year, but Jonathan was quietly confident that she would get into her top pick. And then there was Emma. Every day with her was
“I know it’s too soon,” he said, cupping her cheek. “But I want you to know that I am in this for good. I want to spend my life with you Emma. I want us to be a family. You, me, Kirra, Devi, Liam, and Loretta—” “Loretta?” “My mum. I want one big, messy family with you and me at the heart of it. Tell me you want that too.” She pressed against him and brushed a kiss on his lips. “I do,” she said before putting the remaining half of the chocolate in her mouth and grinning. The wheel came to a stop and he drew Emma to her feet, moving them both over to the window. The entire city of Melbourne was spread out below them, but it dimmed in comparison to the woman in his arms. “I love you, Emma,” he whispered before kissing her while they stood on top of the world.He took her home. He couldn’t not. They had stuff to work out and a relationship to manage. He had a family to get to know and she had her mother’s illness to navigate and her sister’s final year of sch
He stepped into the pod and waited for the door to close before holding the final box out to her, his mouth dry. She reached for it but he snatched it away, lifting it beyond her reach. “Before I give this to you, I need to explain.” She looked from the box to his face and nodded. “Okay.” The wheel started to move and Jonathon moved them over to sit on a bench. He exhaled roughly. “Okay, so I don’t know how much of this you already know, but how about I just start at the beginning?” She nodded again. “My mother left when I was two. I always believed she left us for a man with money. I’ve recently found out that wasn’t true.” He took a deep breath and her hand rested gently on his chest as she moved closer to him. He took strength from her closeness. “Someone was impersonating me—” “Liam?” He nodded. “Right. Liam. It turns out Liam is my brother. He was trying to draw me out and get me to notice him. He ultimately wanted to meet his father. He didn’t
“Are you looking for this?” the security guy asked, holding out an old-fashioned paper ticket. Emma laughed as she snatched it from him, waving it over her shoulder as she jogged toward the front doors of the building. She slid into the car and Brian looked at her expectantly. “Um…” Emma looked between Brian and Cassie. “I want to say Luna Park, but I don’t think that’s right.” “Why Luna Park?” Cassie asked. Emma held up the ticket in her hand. “We went to a fête in Merveille and rode the Ferris wheel.” “The Melbourne Star,” Brian said, his voice gruff. “Of course!” Cassie cried excitedly, leaning over to give Brian a smacking kiss. “You’re brilliant.” Emma could barely keep still as Brian drove them across town toward the Docklands and the giant observation wheel. As much as she was enjoying herself, she wanted to see him. She had already forgiven him for his lie and now she desperately wanted to ask his forgiveness for her stupid, fearful, erratic
She walked around the corner expecting to see Jonathon outside the patisserie, but there was no one there. She stepped inside breathed in the sweet scent of pastries and chocolate and looked around, hoping to spot him, but he wasn’t there. “Are you Emma?” a lady asked. “Yeah,” Emma said, turning to the woman who sat at a small table with a familiar little box in front of her. “This is for you,” the woman said, standing and walking away. Emma sat and took the box, pulling at the bow and opening it to see another chocolate truffle, this time it had an ’S’ written on top of it in dark chocolate. She didn’t need the little ‘Eat Me’ note to know what to do. She put the truffle on her tongue and closed her eyes. The chocolate coating melted away to leave behind a cake center with the sweet tang of apricot jam. “Sachertorte,” she mumbled to herself as she sighed and opened her eyes. Emma picked up the note that had nestled beside the truffle in the box.The first time we made lov
Dear Emma,The first time we met I wanted to kiss you. I knew I couldn’t. I knew it was stepping across a line both personally and professionally, but still, I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt.Our relationship has had an unconventional start, a bit of a rocky middle, and an absolutely appalling ending, but there were some real high points along the way. Let me remind you of how good it was between us and how good it could be again.Do you remember our first kiss? I don’t think I will ever forget it. I thought I knew what I was getting myself in for when I leaned down to brush my lips across yours, but I was a fool. You were so much more than I ever thought I would ever experience. You took my breath away and I lost a little bit of my heart to you at that moment.If it meant as much to you as it did to me, meet me there at the place where we first kissed.Jonathon.Emma could feel the wetness on her cheeks and she sniffed as she wiped at the tears. “Well?” Cassie asked, rocking o