Hometown Girl (Home Again) Page 4

  Emma stepped back and wiped her eyes again. "I’m sorry for ruining such a nice evening. You went to all this trouble and here I am blubbering like a ba—"

  He cut her off mid-sentence with a kiss. His hands gently held her face; his thumbs stroked away her tears. His heart was breaking just as much as hers. If he stayed, if he spent the next nine days with her, it would be impossible to leave her because he knew once he did; he'd never see her again. But if he didn't stay, if he didn't see how deep his feelings were for her, he'd live to regret it. "Do you want me to leave, Emma?"

  "No," she said with a trembling lip.

  Derrick scooped her up into his arms and carried her to bed where he made slow love to her until they were both spent. "Thank you," he said holding her close to him.

  "For what?"

  "For not asking me to leave." He kissed her forehead.

  She sighed. "We both know we're on borrowed time."

  Derrick adjusted his body so that he was looking at her. "Whatever this is, whatever is happening between us, I'm not taking it lightly, Emma. I really want to spend the next few days with you, getting to know you."

  "Okay," she whispered.

  Chapter 7

  The day she'd been dreading had arrived. Derrick was leaving for Paris. She stood in her living room and watched as he set his luggage near the front door. The past nine days had flown by. They'd had an amazing time together; hanging out at Bettie's bar, zip lining and going through the boot camp courses at Jack's adventure center. They'd taken long walks at sunset, made love every night until the sun peeked over the horizon. Derrick had taught her how to make eggs Benedict and she'd shown him the delight of chicken and dumplings. She'd even taken him to meet Olivia and her mom. They'd had dinner with Jack and Danna.

  And now she was forced to stand in her apartment, watching helplessly with tears streaming down her face as he prepared to leave. It wasn't fair. She wanted to beg him to stay; to plead with him to consider giving up everything he loved so that they could have a life together. But she couldn't be that selfish. She wouldn't. Emma knew what it was like to have someone ask you to make that choice and she would never in a million years put Derrick through that. How could she when she was so hopelessly in love with him?

  "Please don't cry, Emma." Derrick hugged her and she buried her face in his neck, sobbing.

  "I can't do this," she cried.

  "I know," he whispered and kissed the top of her head.

  With those two little words, Emma knew their fate was seal#ed. When Derrick walked out of her apartment, she would never see him again.

  *****

  It had only been a day since Derrick left, but it felt like an eternity. Emma was a mess. Everything made her think of him, which, in turn, made her cry. The sight of an empty pasta box in her trash had brought on full hysterics. She'd slumped to the floor, hugged her knees to her chest and cried for over an hour. Why did it hurt so much? Would it ever stop? She had to pull herself together or she'd never make it through the rest of the night. Danna had gotten married a little over an hour ago. The ceremony had been beautiful and everyone was in tears. Emma more so than others but for different reasons. And now the reception had begun.

  Emma hid in the bathroom for a few more minutes until she was sure she wasn't going to cry again and then she rejoined the wedding party at the head table. As soon as she sat, the room erupted with sounds of people tapping their silverware on their glasses while chanting kiss, kiss, kiss. Emma put on her best smile and watched as her sister embraced her new husband in a kiss that probably should've been saved for the bedroom. Emma was happy for Danna, she really was, but at the same time she was extremely jealous. It was a horrible way to fell about her own sister and she hated herself for it.

  The night progressed and Emma received invitation after invitation to dance. She declined all of them—except for Jack's because he was the groom and now her brother-in-law. Dancing with Jack had been nice. It was purely platonic whereas if she'd danced with any of the others, they would've anticipated something more from her. Something she was wondering if she'd ever be able to give to anyone else ever agai>

  "Hey, you okay?" Olivia asked.

  "Yeah, it's a little warm in here. I’m going to go outside and get some fresh air," Emma said standing.

  "Want me to come with you?"

  "No, but thanks." Emma smiled and made her way toward the front entrance. She had her head down, rummaging through her purse, looking for her cell phone when she ran into someone. Great! Now she was going to have to make small talk.

  "Leaving so early?"

  Emma's head jerked up at his voice. "Derrick?" She blinked several times convinced that she must be dreaming. His response was a kiss. Slow at first, his lips brushing gently over hers in a whisper of desire and then harder in a fiery demand of need. Moaning and then gasping, Emma pulled away. She hesitantly touched his face, afraid that if she were too hard he'd disappear. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Paris. Oh my, God, Derrick. Your show…it's tonight." It didn't make sense. A myriad of questions raced through her mind followed by a dozen different explanations as to why he was here, in Dallas Springs, and not in Paris where he was supposed to be.

  "To hell with Paris," he said, tightening his grip on her and pulling her closer to him.

  "To hell with Paris?" She let out a startled laugh. "This show…it's…why…?"

  "I got to New York and my meeting had been rescheduled for the following day, so I went to the Airport Lodge to get a room and I just happened to get the same room we were given that night."

  "What does that have to do with Paris?"

  "Let me finish." He smiled and Emma clamped her lips shut. "I was lying there, alone, and I realized that nothing mattered anymore. The meetings, the contracts, the shows, Paris, the fame, the money; none of it means anything to me without you, Emma."

  Behind her there was a collective "Aww." She turned to find that the entire wedding party and guests had stopped to listen to her and Derrick. It was surreal. Emma turned back to Derrick, tears filling her eyes. "What're you saying?" she whispered. In her heart she knew, but she needed to hear him say it.

  "I'm willing to give it all up to be with you."

  She gasped. "Why? Why would you do that?"

  "Because I'm so in love with you Emma; I can't function when I'm away from you." Derrick released her, took a step back, and dropped to one knee. "I know this isn't the best place to do this," he peeked around her, "and I'm sorry for doing this on your wedding day, Danna."

  "Oh, no, it's really okay. Go ahead," Danna said with a huge smile.

  Emma chuckled and held her breath as Derrick took her hand.

  "I want to be the man to give you that life you so passionately described. I want to spend my life making you smile."

  "But, Derrick, what about your career and your dreams?" she said. God, she wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around his neck and hold on to him forever. But she had to be sure this is what he really wanted because the thought of him resenting her for this later was unbearable.

  "You are my dreams, Emma. Everything else comes second to how I feel about you. I love you so much. Will you marry me?" Derrick held out the most beautiful diamond engagement ring she'd ever seen.

  "Yes." She nodded emphatically. "Yes, yes, yes!" Behind her, people clapped and whistled and shouted their congratulations. Emma's hand shook as Derrick slipped the ring on her finger. He stood, wrapped his arms around, and hugged her so tight she thought she might suffocate. "I love you too, Derrick."

  Home Again

  http://www.jenniferketcum.com/

  Danna Evans has it all. Good looks, a great career, and a fiery temper. Two out of three is not bad. That temper had a way of changing up her life, and usually not in the best way. Her divorce from her college sweetheart at the tender young age of twenty five is proof. Once she found out about the extra-marital affair, she hit the roof. She was out of the house in less than twent
y four hours, swore off dating, and threw her energy into her budding marketing career. Now, three years later, she is at the crux of her rising career aspirations.

  Home Again is the first in a series of short stories about Danna Evans that begins with a career-changing decision, a small Georgia town she so desperately left behind, and a person named Jack Swanson.

  Read more … Home Again (http://jenniferketchum.com/go/ha)

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