Runaway Bride’s Guide to Love (Guide to Love #1)

24. Stella

24

stella

I’ll never be able to thank Simon enough for giving me a job at Magnolia Properties. And while it’s not as busy, or as intense, as my job at the law firm was, it does have much better perks.

One, I’m next door to my favorite diner, owned by my eventual sister-in-law, who makes me the best vanilla lattes I’ve ever had. Two, the days are usually calm enough that I can listen to an audiobook while doing my work. Who doesn’t like to listen to fairy smut while looking at real estate listings? Third, some days my duties include watching my niece and getting baby snuggles.

Those days, like the one today, are the best.

When I showed up to the office this morning, Simon looked frantic. And that’s saying something, because my brother’s average speed is seventy miles per hour. He was wearing a baby sling with Lainey strapped in as he paced back and forth around his office, yelling to someone over speakerphone. I don’t know what it says about my brother, or my niece, that she wasn’t fazed by this in the least. She had a toy in her hand, and that’s all she needed. She was the definition of unbothered.

Now my brother? He’s always bothered about something. Today it was why the city was dragging its feet on permits that he needed to renovate a building he bought a few months back. When I asked him how I could help, he unstrapped Lainey from his chest and handed her to me. Apparently in his rush to get out of the house today, he left her diaper bag and all her bottles at the house. So I did what any good office administrator and aunt would do—I stole my brother’s keys, forwarded the office phone to my cell, and took my niece for a day of Aunt Stella time.

Which includes story time before her nap.

“So then, she tried to propose to him , and everyone thought he was going to say yes,” I say to Lainey as I give her a bottle. “Only it turns out that he broke up with her before the reunion show. Can you believe it! And he was never good enough for her. No he wasn’t…not at all…”

I say the last part in my best baby voice as Lainey’s eyes start to get heavy. Apparently my retelling of reality television is the trick for her to go to sleep. I quickly burp her before wiping her mouth and laying her down in her crib.

“You’re such a good baby,” I whisper, kissing my fingertips before gently placing it on her forehead. “Nothing like your daddy.”

I stand over it for a few seconds, peacefully watching her sleep before slipping out. Since it was bottle and naptime as soon as we got here, I haven’t checked my phone or emails since arriving at Simon and Charlie’s. I grab my purse with my phone and laptop, bringing both to life as I take a seat on their oversized, and quite comfortable, sectional. I haven’t missed any calls, but I’m pretty sure there are a handful of emails I should get to sooner rather than later.

A few querying houses we’re renting. One from a charity asking Simon to donate.

And one from Emmett.

I know there are more to scan, and probably more in order of importance, but I click on his immediately.

Stella,

Please handle this for me.

Emmet t

Wow. So personal. I feel the warmth oozing from every letter he typed.

Then again, that’s the most I’ve heard from him in a week so maybe I should take that as a good sign?

I want to scream at the top of my lungs, but I don’t because of Lainey. So instead I toss my laptop to the side and sink into the couch, covering my face with a pillow so I can scream into it.

It’s been a week since I left Emmett’s house with a folder of signed contracts. Did I know things were weird then? Yes. But I didn’t want to press anything. This whole thing has been weird and frankly, I don’t know any scenario where I know how the hell to act.

Apparently he’s choosing to act with minimal seeing or speaking.

Which is fine. It doesn’t bother me at all. I’m sure many office assistants don’t talk to their bosses regularly. Or said bosses don’t often get them coffees or sweet treats.

This is what we said we needed. A professional, business relationship. No nicknames. No flirting. No talk of him fucking me on my desk.

Though every time I sit at it I remember what he said that first day, and I can’t get the image out of my head.

I didn’t realize he was giving me the no-contact treatment until he missed his normal Tuesday Rolling Hills visit. He told Simon he needed to handle something urgent in Nashville. Simon seemed to buy it.

I didn’t.

Emmett is a man of routine. He likes order, normalcy, and everything in a box. His idea of crazy is actually going to the beach. Him not coming to Rolling Hills was on purpose.

Because he didn’t want to see me.

I scream into the pillow one more time for good measure when I feel a dip on the couch next to me.

“Hey, Charlie,” I say as I take the pillow off my face. “What’s up? ”

“I should be asking you that. Was my child so bad you had to yell into a pillow for relief?”

I shake my head and bring the pillow down to my stomach, holding it over me like a shield of some sort. “My niece is an angel. Well done making sure she got as little of Simon’s temperament as possible.”

“I love that man with all my heart, but I agree. I can barely handle him, let alone him in small child form,” Charlie jokes.

Charlie is a true saint for putting up with my brother. And yes, Lainey might have been an unexpected surprise, but she’s truly the best parts of both of them, and I can’t wait to see how their family grows over the years.

“So, what has you yelling into a pillow on a Wednesday?” Charlie asks.

I start to say something, but quickly close my mouth. What do I tell her? I can’t tell her about Emmett. I don’t want her having to keep things from Simon. Also, and I don’t think she would judge me, but I did sleep with a man I’d known for less than a week as a vacation-slash-rebound fling.

“Oh, you know…things,” I say. “Duncan. The lawsuit that he’s still insisting on filing. The fact that I still have to go to his place and get my things, which hopefully I’ll be able to do tomorrow. You know…all that kind of stuff.”

Charlie pats me on the leg. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. I think those things are happening and weighing on your mind. But right now, in this moment, Stella Banks, you are full of shit.”

I let out an audible gasp. Did she really see through that? Damn, Emmett was right. I am a really shitty actress.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Charlie gives me the head tilt along with the raised eyebrow. “We can play this any way you want. We can live in your world of denial that this is only about Duncan. You can tell me what’s happening while using hypotheticals and fake names. Or, you can tell me what’s going on with you and Emmett that’s making you scream into upholstery and making our stoic friend one day buy cake pops then proceed to drop off the face of the earth.”

Damn, she’s good.

“I don’t want to put you in a weird situation,” I say. “Simon doesn’t know anything and we’d both like to keep it that way.”

Charlie nods. “I’m an amazing secret keeper. Plus, this can be payback for him not telling me he owned my restaurant for the first six months.”

I still can’t believe my brother did that.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Charlie says. “If I’m going to have to not react to him buying you lattes, I’d at least like to know what I’m getting into.”

I relax into the couch as I tell her everything. Well, not everything. She doesn’t need to know about my now deeper love for ice cream.

But I do tell her about meeting him after I ran out of the wedding. And us showing up in Florida. And how when things escalated we made it clear that this was only to be in Florida. That when we got back to Nashville, we’d go our separate ways.

“Except your ways have you now working together.”

“Exactly,” I say. “We figured we could hold it together if we saw each other a few times a year. But every day? With Simon usually in the room? It hasn’t been as easy. It doesn’t help matters that Emmett is giving me whiplash. Like you said, one day he’s sweet and buying me coffee and the next it’s the cold shoulder. I just want to know which way is up.”

“As you should,” she says. “Can I ask a dumb question?”

“There are no such things as dumb questions,” I say. “Just sometimes dumb people. Which you are not.”

That makes her laugh. “Why did you two draw the line in the sand? I can understand if you thought it was going to be just a vacation fling. Fine. But clearly you are both attracted to each other. Is it just because of Simon that you’re not seeing if there’s something really there? ”

I shake my head. “Simon is part of it, but not the majority. I’m not in a place to be in a relationship. I mean, I should be writing out thank you notes right now. And for Emmett, he was very clear that he’s not a relationship guy. Between those two factors, we thought it made for a perfect, and temporary, situation.”

“Nothing’s ever perfect.”

I let out a quick laugh. “You’re telling me.”

Though there were moments in Florida when I thought it was perfect. Now I’m wondering if it was just the timing and the excitement or if it truly was.

“I haven’t known Emmett for long,” Charlie says. “But I’ve known him long enough that I think I can read him. Until last week, the man was one of schedule and routine. Consistency. Ordered the same thing all the time because he isn’t one to rock the boat.”

“Oh I know,” I say. “Though he does get a little crazy and mix pasta sauces.”

“Interesting. I didn’t think he had it in him.”

I don’t even try to hide the smile I know is on my face when thinking back to that first night in Florida. Who would’ve thought Mr. Don’t Rock the Boat would be the one to push me to try something new?

“And I haven’t known you for that long,” Charlie continues. “But in the time I have, and a majority of that was you being engaged to Duncan, I’ve never seen you smile like you just did. And it was over marinara sauce. I can’t imagine what you’d look like if you told me about the time you spent together in Destin.”

I fall back into the sofa, now feeling more defeated. “I don’t know what to do, Charlie. I’m never getting back with Duncan, but it feels like it’s too soon to be even thinking about being with someone else. But on the other hand, he’s all I think about, and I’m going a little crazy. And then there’s the major flashing sign that he doesn’t want this. He’s been adamant about that. With me or anyone. And I do want it. I want it all.”

I look down the hallway toward Lainey’s nursery. “I want babies. I want marriage. I want a family. I might have wanted it before because of me feeling like I was missing out on what other’s had, but deep down, that’s what I want in the long run. And I’m not going to be with a man who doesn’t want what I do.”

“Good,” Charlie says. “You shouldn’t settle. You should have everything you want. And if that’s a family with a husband, a few kids, and a dog running around, then that’s what you should have.”

I feel the tears start pooling in my eyes as I think of Winnie jumping on me.

“I wish he could see what I do,” I say. “He’d be the best partner.”

“I mean, he got you a cake pop just because,” Charlie says.

I laugh. “He’s all about the little things. Small gestures. And he’s quiet, but will say what he needs to when he wants to. And did you know he’s a history nerd? And that he built his house with his own hands? You should see it, Charlie. High ceilings. Beautiful hardwood. And his dog, oh my gosh! Winnie is just the most beautiful golden retriever. Oh! And did you know…”

I trail off because at some point during my ramble Charlie’s smile is now ear to ear.

“What?”

“You love him.”

Well, that’s absurd. Feelings? Sure. Love? Ha. She’s hilarious.

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Charlie, do I like him? Yes. Did he help me in the hardest part of my life? Yes, I couldn’t have done it without him. Is it weird transitioning from what we were to apparently what we’re being? Yes. But I’m not in…”

I trail off, because fuck. She’s right.

I accidentally fell in love with Emmett Collins when I gave myself clear instructions not to .

“Oh no,” I say, falling directly into her lap as I start crying. “How did this happen?”

“I’m not sure,” she says as she strokes my hair. “But I’m sure orgasms have something to do with it.”

I laugh through the tears. “This is so bad, Charlie.”

“I know,” she says. “But don’t change who you are, or what you want, because of him. I know you did that before, and I don’t want you falling back in those old ways. You’re Stella Banks, and you deserve everything you want. And a person who wants those for you. Nothing less will do.”

She’s right. I do deserve that. I lost sight of that with Duncan, and like hell I’m ever going back.

Do I wish Emmett would want that too? Sure. More than anything.

But if he doesn’t, I’ll get over it. I have to. Because I’m not settling. I’m not compromising on things I want more than anything.

Even for the man I love.