this time, it’s my game.”
If that was what he wanted to think, more power to him, but relief lifted Allie’s mood.
She was still grinning when she pulled into the parking lot behind her building, where Emmalee waited by the back door. Before climbing out of her car, Allie double-checked her halter tie and pulled at the wrinkles in her skirt.
She stepped out, and Emmalee rushed forward. “Oh, Allie. I’m sorry. After I called, I remembered you had plans. But I was desperate at the time.”
Allie wrapped an arm around Emmalee’s shoulders and led her inside. “If you need to talk, that’s what I’m here for.” She motioned Emmalee to the couch in the foyer rather than using her office. The more casual environment might help her calm down. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back with tea.”
“Don’t bother on my acc—”
“Emmalee, sit.”
She complied, but her lost look and slumped shoulders cracked a corner of Allie’s heart. This woman deserved some happiness.
She quickly gathered their drinks and returned to the foyer. She handed Emmalee a thick mug of fragrant green tea and settled onto the couch, but said nothing.
They sipped silently for several minutes before Emmalee blurted, “I lost it tonight, Allie. I didn’t know what to do.”
“Why don’t you tell me about your evening and we’ll make sense of it together.”
Emmalee talked for five minutes, the words rolling over each other like a landslide. “To say I was shocked at Charlie’s feelings is an understatement.”
“You had no idea he felt this way?”
“We’ve been friends, just friends, for so long.”
“You’ve never experienced that little spark of excitement telling you he might be the one?” Or at least the one right now, as Cameron was for Allie.
“No, I...well, I...I mean...” Emmalee flapped her hands. “That says it all, doesn’t it? I have no idea what I know anymore.”
“Be honest with me, Emmalee. Even if you haven’t been honest with yourself.”
“I’m not blind. Charlie’s an attractive man. But it seemed wrong to be attracted to him so I convinced myself I wasn’t.” She covered her eyes with her palms and shook her head. “Allie, I don’t know how to do this.”
Allie stroked the older woman’s back. “Yes, you do.”
Emmalee laughed, a tinge of hysteria bleeding through. “They say it’s like riding a bicycle. My God, I haven’t ridden anything in so long I don’t even know if I’d recognize the proper equipment.” She clapped a hand over her mouth.
This woman needed to embrace her feminine power and realize she deserved emotional affection and physical satisfaction. Allie couldn’t remember Emmalee being involved with a man since her ex-husband left. Everyone in Shelbyville had known he was a drunk, but as with many things in a place this size, no one had discussed it in public. Fifteen years was too long for a woman as beautiful and caring as Cameron’s mother to go without companionship. That had been her choice and Allie respected her for it. Up to a point.
“I’m sure Charlie doesn’t want a relationship to frighten or confuse you. He’s not going to push for anything you’re not ready for. You come first, and his feelings come second. You do have feelings for him, right?”
“I love him as a best friend.”
Ouch for Charlie. “Friendship is the best foundation for a romantic relationship.”
“I never thought about it that way.” Emmalee set her tea aside and faced Allie. “I don’t have any experience with a healthy relationship with a man. What if I let him down?”
Compassion for Emmalee waved through Allie and she took the older woman’s hand in hers. “What if you don’t?”
Emmalee embraced Allie in a hug and, for a moment, she remembered the comfort of her own mother’s arms, strong and loving and understanding. It made her wonder what it would be like if people never tried to control the ones they loved.
* * *
Cameron strode
If that was what he wanted to think, more power to him, but relief lifted Allie’s mood.
She was still grinning when she pulled into the parking lot behind her building, where Emmalee waited by the back door. Before climbing out of her car, Allie double-checked her halter tie and pulled at the wrinkles in her skirt.
She stepped out, and Emmalee rushed forward. “Oh, Allie. I’m sorry. After I called, I remembered you had plans. But I was desperate at the time.”
Allie wrapped an arm around Emmalee’s shoulders and led her inside. “If you need to talk, that’s what I’m here for.” She motioned Emmalee to the couch in the foyer rather than using her office. The more casual environment might help her calm down. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back with tea.”
“Don’t bother on my acc—”
“Emmalee, sit.”
She complied, but her lost look and slumped shoulders cracked a corner of Allie’s heart. This woman deserved some happiness.
She quickly gathered their drinks and returned to the foyer. She handed Emmalee a thick mug of fragrant green tea and settled onto the couch, but said nothing.
They sipped silently for several minutes before Emmalee blurted, “I lost it tonight, Allie. I didn’t know what to do.”
“Why don’t you tell me about your evening and we’ll make sense of it together.”
Emmalee talked for five minutes, the words rolling over each other like a landslide. “To say I was shocked at Charlie’s feelings is an understatement.”
“You had no idea he felt this way?”
“We’ve been friends, just friends, for so long.”
“You’ve never experienced that little spark of excitement telling you he might be the one?” Or at least the one right now, as Cameron was for Allie.
“No, I...well, I...I mean...” Emmalee flapped her hands. “That says it all, doesn’t it? I have no idea what I know anymore.”
“Be honest with me, Emmalee. Even if you haven’t been honest with yourself.”
“I’m not blind. Charlie’s an attractive man. But it seemed wrong to be attracted to him so I convinced myself I wasn’t.” She covered her eyes with her palms and shook her head. “Allie, I don’t know how to do this.”
Allie stroked the older woman’s back. “Yes, you do.”
Emmalee laughed, a tinge of hysteria bleeding through. “They say it’s like riding a bicycle. My God, I haven’t ridden anything in so long I don’t even know if I’d recognize the proper equipment.” She clapped a hand over her mouth.
This woman needed to embrace her feminine power and realize she deserved emotional affection and physical satisfaction. Allie couldn’t remember Emmalee being involved with a man since her ex-husband left. Everyone in Shelbyville had known he was a drunk, but as with many things in a place this size, no one had discussed it in public. Fifteen years was too long for a woman as beautiful and caring as Cameron’s mother to go without companionship. That had been her choice and Allie respected her for it. Up to a point.
“I’m sure Charlie doesn’t want a relationship to frighten or confuse you. He’s not going to push for anything you’re not ready for. You come first, and his feelings come second. You do have feelings for him, right?”
“I love him as a best friend.”
Ouch for Charlie. “Friendship is the best foundation for a romantic relationship.”
“I never thought about it that way.” Emmalee set her tea aside and faced Allie. “I don’t have any experience with a healthy relationship with a man. What if I let him down?”
Compassion for Emmalee waved through Allie and she took the older woman’s hand in hers. “What if you don’t?”
Emmalee embraced Allie in a hug and, for a moment, she remembered the comfort of her own mother’s arms, strong and loving and understanding. It made her wonder what it would be like if people never tried to control the ones they loved.
* * *
Cameron strode
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