Unexpectedly Hers(34)

“Dumb luck. Kelsey’s the only person in the world who could’ve looked beyond his ego and wrangled him into submission.” As soon as the word submission slid over her tongue, that electric charge sparked again, knocking her into a brief daze. Judging from the way Wyatt’s eyes had strayed to her mouth, she guessed he’d been struck, too.

He might not remember her or their history, but apparently a subconscious part of him had some sort of muscle memory. Emma cleared her throat and went to the oven to check on the cake. “I’m making chocolate rum balls. It’s a favorite of the senior set.”

He followed her, which increased her self-consciousness. “So why bake a cake?”

“It’s the base for the rum balls. I crumble it up with buttercream icing, add rum, roll it up into little balls and then dunk them in jimmies.”

“Let me crumble the cake. That’s something my mom would’ve never allowed.”

Emma smiled, trying to picture Wyatt as a young boy. His loose curls, begging to be tugged, dangling around his jaw. Those hazel eyes, wide and curious, seeking answers and pleasure. Whoops, another word she should avoid in his presence unless she wanted her knees to give out.

“Okay, but it needs to cool. Go finish with Mari and come back in a bit. I’ll clean up and then mix the icing.”

Wyatt nodded and left her alone, thankfully. Of course, Kelsey picked that one moment of much-needed solitude to call. She nestled the phone between her ear and shoulder so she could keep cleaning.

“Hey, Kels. What’s up?”

“I called to thank you for thinking of Trip. He came home all wired—friskier than normal, which is saying something.”

“TMI, friend. TMI.” Emma smiled, glad to hear the cheerfulness in Kelsey’s voice. She could only pray that Trip truly loved Kelsey and would forsake others until death. Experience told Emma it wasn’t likely, but she’d keep that cynical thought to herself. “I think it’s a good pairing. Wyatt’s brother, Ryder, should be a little relieved, too, knowing Trip’s expertise will reduce some of the risks.”

“Good. Now, the other reason I called is because I have gossip.”

Gossip, the grease that kept their small town running. Last February it had been all about Andy, most of it brutal. She doubted she’d handle that kind of scrutiny as well as he had. She’d never quite understood how people quickly forgot their own mistakes when throwing stones at others. Hypocrisy was alive and well in Sterling Canyon. Who was its next victim, she wondered? “Oh, really? Who are we whispering about today?”

“You.”

Emma froze. Had Andy seen her books or overheard her marketing call earlier? But he’d come to her first, wouldn’t he? Had someone else somehow discovered the link between “Alexa” and Emma? Heart pulsing in her throat, she tried to reply without her voice squeaking. “Me?”

“Uh huh. Apparently, you’ve been holding out on me. Me, the lover of all things romance! Don’t bother denying it, all I want is confirmation.”

Emma’s vision fogged. How would she convince Kelsey to keep her secret? Kelsey would surely tell Trip, who’d never stop teasing her. And Avery, who’d then tell Grey. Lord only knew what horrid nickname Grey would think up once he knew. And Kelsey’s sister, Maura, who’d tell her husband, Bill. By morning half the town would be snickering and teasing and nosing their way into her business and onto her Facebook page, which was loaded with photos of almost-naked men.

And her mother . . . her mother would be mortified. Emma’s own mixed feelings about her dual identity aside, the idea of seeing shame reflected in her mom’s eyes nearly buckled her knees. What kind of dark tailspin might that send her mother into? She held the phone with her hand now so it didn’t drop.

“I can’t confirm anything until I know what you’re talking about.” Emma winced, doubting the wobble in her voice sounded carefree.

“Wyatt Lawson has a little crush on you.”

Emma stared at the phone as if it had turned into a potato. The relief that the gossip had nothing to do with her writing receded while disbelief rose up in its place. “What in the world gave you that idea? Honestly, I’d have thought being in a relationship would make you less crazy, not more.”

“Trip told me. Seems Wyatt has a little thing for you, but he’s keeping it in check because of his training, and the fact that you don’t seem to be interested. But honestly, Em, how can you not be interested? Wyatt Lawson . . . he’s so darn fine.”

Emma’s pulse galloped ahead of her racing thoughts. Fine? Wrong. Adorably sexy—check. Domineering in bed—double check. “Kelsey, he’s too young. And temporary. And in training, as he pointed out, assuming Trip isn’t playing some colossal joke on both you and me, which I wouldn’t put past him.”