Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Briar

Y ou'd think Gillian just found me in the bathroom with my professor or therapist or something. Emmett is her fiancé's brother. Even if we had been making out or something, it wouldn't be forbidden or wrong. And where is her trust in me?

"Nothing," I say, walking by her and into the studio.

"Emmett!" There's censure in her voice.

I turn at the entrance and return to her because Emmett didn't do anything wrong. Sure, it's weird that he followed me into the bathroom, but if it was really to make sure I was okay, can I fault that decision? No.

"Nothing happened, Gill."

Emmett holds up his hands. "Hey, I'm sure if I would've tried anything, I'd be bent over in pain right now."

"And he's not." I wave my hand up and down his body to show he's perfectly fine.

Emmett gives me a look, shifting his gaze from Gillian to me. Is he asking me if she knows? He doesn't even know. I never confirmed it for him.

"Hey, guys!" Emmett's cousin Romy walks up, dressed in yoga pants and a T-shirt tied behind her back. Another family member joining us. I'm sensing a theme.

"Romy," I say, "are you joining the class too?"

"Sure am!" Her overexcitement tells me they were all worried I wouldn't have anyone in class, and that's why she's here. I'm positive Gillian is behind this.

One after another, Emmett's cousins walk toward the studio.

Even Sadie, who is holding her stomach. "I heard yoga was good for the baby."

Emmett coughs, and I shoot him my best scathing look to shut the fuck up before he outs me.

We huddle in a circle as a few guests trickle in, smiling and saying hello. I've never had people show up like this for me. Sure, Gillian and Koa, when he's not off finding himself, but the Noughton brothers and the cousins are all so tight, it's kind of scary.

"I'm so excited. Another girl at the house," Romy says with a big smile.

"Thanks for having me. I swear I won't be a house guest for long," I assure her, Poppy, and Scarlett. Lottie is the only female cousin not here because she runs The Harvest Depot, and it's open right now.

"It's going to be so much fun. And I promise our couch is so comfortable. I've fallen asleep there many a night and just decided to stay there," Poppy adds.

"The couch?" Emmett asks with clear judgment.

"Shouldn't you be working?" Gillian asks in a tone that makes it clear she disapproves.

"I'm on break. You can't sleep on their couch," he says to me.

"Why can't she?" Romy asks. "Last I checked, you weren't looking for a roommate."

All the women laugh except for Gillian and me. She's staring at Emmett as if she wants to slice his throat. I've never seen Gillian so protective. Does she know something about him I don't? Everyone probably knows Emmett Noughton is the biggest playboy in Willowbrook. That's exactly why I'd never go for him. I promised myself when I left Chicago that I was done with my usual type, which is basically Emmett.

"I understand that Bruce said she should live with you, but I was able to make her more suitable arrangements," my sister says.

"Suitable? A couch?" Emmett raises his dark eyebrows. He's so expressive with his facial features, and I like that because it's easy to tell what he's thinking.

"Living with other women, not a bachelor." Gillian crosses her arms.

"I should get ready for the class." I thumb at the studio door.

"In my house, she'd have her own room. Her own space." Emmett's stance moves wider, and that easygoing persona he usually has is fraying at the edges the longer this continues.

"I'm gonna go set up my mat," Scarlett says. She, Romy, and Poppy walk into the studio.

I lean in close. "Will the two of you just stop?" I whisper. "It's my decision and a couch is fine." I glare at Emmett.

"It isn't fine," he says, and I double down on my death stare. He shakes his head. "I'll never understand women."

"Emmett, I love you, but go back to work." Gillian pats his shoulder. "Come on, let's go." She swings her arm around my shoulders, and I give Emmett one fleeting look, hoping to convey to him to keep quiet, before allowing Gillian to lead me into the studio.

With the addition of all the cousins who Gillian probably bribed to come here, it's actually full. I go to the front of the room, and it's nice to be back in my element. Leaving my established studio in Chicago was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but Chad gave me no choice.

Turning on the music, I begin my class, feeling a calm that rarely comes over me except when I'm teaching.

After my class was finished, Scarlett went on and on about how she was going to recruit more people from neighboring towns, and eventually, we could incorporate a lot more things with health and wellness on the ranch. It was as if she was scared I'll leave. Little does she know I have nowhere to go.

I walk out of The Getaway Lodge and stare at the sky, allowing the sun to heat my skin. It's still spring though, so I zip up my sweatshirt.

"You're not going to sleep on a couch."

I turn to my right and find Emmett pushing himself off the wall.

"Do you ever work?" I ask, walking again to get away from any prying ears. I don't trust Emmett to keep my secret quiet.

"It's a benefit of being one of the owners." He follows me toward the walking path through the grounds.

"And Jude? His days are just as leisurely?"

"Well, he takes a long lunch if you know what I mean." He knocks his shoulder against mine.

I say nothing, but Emmett is loud. Like, the loudest person I've ever met. So distance from everyone is my friend right now. Once we're hidden by some of the trees, and I don't see anyone, I stop.

He draws back, surprised by my sudden stop.

"Listen, whatever you think you know, you don't."

His eyes fall to my stomach.

"Stop doing that."

"I'm not doing anything."

I lean in close. "It was just nerves. I'm not… you know."

He laughs and shakes his head. "I get that a lot of people around here underestimate me, but I know I'm right. You're preg?—"

I cover his mouth with my hand. "Shut up." I look around us. He nips at my fingers, and I pull back, shaking my hand at my side. "What the hell?" I scour the area one more time. "Listen. You can't tell anyone, okay?"

"So, I was right?" He beams. "Total honesty, I figured—you can't lie very well—but for a second, I thought maybe I wasn't piecing the puzzle together correctly, you know?"

"Emmett…" I attempt to maintain some patience with him by drawing in a deep breath. "Please, I'm asking you not to say anything."

He crosses his arms, bringing one hand up to his mouth and tapping his pointer finger on his bottom lip. His biceps bulge, and his lips look kissable, and his eyes, the way they're watching me… this man is my kryptonite. He always has been. "On one condition."

I huff. "What do you want? I can't cook. I suck at cleaning. I don't have anything to offer you, I promise."

He stares at the sky. "Beautiful day, right?"

"Emmett," I say with a growl, losing my patience.

His million-dollar smile lands on me, and it feels… unsettling. "Move in with me."

I throw my hands up at my sides and walk again. Why the hell would he want that? How would it benefit him? Then the reason flickers through my pregnancy brain, and I circle back to him. "I am not going to sleep with you whenever you want just so you don't tell anyone I'm pregnant."

I've never seen Emmett short of a response, but his mouth slowly falls open, and there's hurt in his eyes. "Is that what you think of me?"

Oh, for hell's sake. I cannot handle this right now. "Just… why then?"

"Because I'm not the type of guy to let a pregnant woman sleep on a couch, share a bathroom, and have no privacy of her own."

"So, no sex then?"

He shakes his head. "I don't need to swindle deals to make a beautiful woman sleep with me."

I hate the way the word beautiful repeats in my head. "For real, though, how does this benefit you?"

He shrugs. "Told you. Peace of mind."

My tense exterior slips, and I sigh, allowing the weight of all my problems to crumble around me for just a moment because who is this version of Emmett Noughton? Maybe he's not the guy I thought he was. Either that or there's some angle I can't figure out. "But why do you need peace of mind where I'm concerned?"

"I'm not sure I have an answer. Or at least not a logical one. You clearly don't like me, and allowing you to live in my house might feel like a torture chamber for me, thanks to your hormones. I get that I can be annoying, but it's obvious you don't want to tell Gillian or anyone else. I understand feeling judged or whatever. And I just… I don't know, just say yes, though."

Something in me softens a bit. "I should do something for you. For letting me live there."

He shakes his head. "Not necessary."

"Can we really do this?" I'm unsure if I can coexist with him, but what he's offering with no strings attached sounds nice. I want a spot of my own to reflect on the choices I've made and what my future will look like. The couch at the girls' house is a great offer, but Emmett's does sound nicer.

"I guess we'll see. You'll probably be in the bathroom throwing up most of the time."

I roll my eyes.

"You really have to start getting my humor. Otherwise, we're going to be in a lot of fights, roomie."

I walk back in the direction of my car. "Emmett?"

"Yeah," he says in a quiet voice like mine.

"Thanks."

"Ah." He puts his arm around my shoulders and tugs me into his side. "Just call me Prince Charming."

What did I sign myself up for?