Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Briar

I didn't plan on coming to the Noughton Sunday dinner. I don't much care for Emmett Noughton. I'm only here because Gillian has been good to me. Ben has been nice. They're all about family and closeness and bonding, which isn't really my thing.

"Hey, Briar." Ben moves in to hug me, but I stiffen, so we awkwardly do a side hug, patting one another on the back.

Thankfully, Jude just raises his hand with a simple, "Hey."

The Noughtons are always welcoming. When I arrived, Bruce wrapped his arms around me, not caring that I drew back. He held me longer than I prefer and squeezed me tightly as if he'd missed me. When he finally released me, he smiled and said he was glad I could make it tonight. Jude's wife, Sadie, who is as sweet as sugar, shifted to get up, but I shooed her back down on account of her swollen belly.

I'm still not completely comfortable with the family dynamic here. It's an enigma I've never solved. I guess that's what happens when your mom runs out on you, and your dad works so much it puts him in an early grave. Sure, I have Koa, my brother, but he's off finding himself somewhere.

"I'm so happy you're home for good." Gillian grabs my hand and pulls me toward the kitchen. Which also means closer to Emmett.

I feel his eyes on me. The way they skirt over my body, and damn it, my body heats, wanting him to look at something he'll never have. I'm wearing my tightest yoga pants and matching sports bra with a sweatshirt unzipped, so it doesn't leave a lot to the imagination, but I was in the middle of practicing my new class set when Gillian called to say the realtor wanted to show the house immediately. I'd barely pulled out of the driveway before the realtor showed up with a middle-aged couple.

"I'm sorry you had to leave the house so quickly," Gillian says, stopping me at her giant kitchen island. She tosses a bag of bread on the fancy marble counter. "The realtor said these people want into Willowbrook…" She continues talking as she grabs butter and garlic and all the ingredients for me to make garlic bread. The one recipe my mom perfected and passed on before she ran off.

I glance at Emmett, who is still watching me.

"I'm going to check on Sadie," Jude says and flees the room.

"Yeah, I'll join you." Ben follows his brother. "Emmett?" He nods toward the door that leads to the porch.

Emmett shakes his head but doesn't say anything.

"It's fine, Gill. Thanks for letting me stay there until it sells."

She finally pulls out a bowl and smiles at me. "Are you kidding? You're my sister." She runs her hand down my arm in that loving way a mother might before she turns and grabs salad fixings from the fridge. "Sorry for putting you to work, but you're the best at garlic bread."

"Garlic bread, huh?" Emmett says and pushes himself up on the counter, watching me intently put the butter in the bowl.

"Don't you have something else to do?" I ask him.

"Emmett, why don't you check if anyone needs refills on their drinks?" Gillian takes a knife to the lettuce.

The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board startles me. I look up to see Gillian's vision only on Emmett.

"I'm not the host, your hubby is."

"He's not my husband," Gillian says, her big diamond ring sparkling under the bright lights over the island.

"Practically." Emmett shrugs. "So, Briar, what brings you back to Willowbrook?"

I cut up the garlic, not looking at him. "The yoga teacher position here on the ranch."

"That's right. I do love downward dog."

"Emmett," Gillian groans. "Ben, come get your brother," she calls.

"Cute. You're one of those," I say, slicing through the garlic faster.

"One of what?" Emmett's interest piques, and I regret engaging him.

"What's up?" Ben walks back in and steals a cucumber from Gillian's cutting board.

"Help Emmett get refills for everyone."

I glance out the corner of my eye to see her give Ben a look and nod in our direction. Gillian already warned me to stay away from Emmett. That he's the last thing I need right now. She has no idea that if Emmett was the last man on this earth, and it was up to us to recreate life, I'd knee him in the balls and push him off a cliff. Okay, that was kind of dramatic.

Emmett leans in close to my ear. "You didn't answer my question."

"Let's go, little brother," Ben says, but Emmett doesn't move.

"Hold up. I'm having a conversation with Briar." Emmett quirks one eyebrow at me.

Why can't he have gained fifty pounds around his middle and grown a few moles on his face? Lost a few teeth? But age has only made Emmett more muscular, more defined. His chin is a goddamn chiseled masterpiece. I bet he could hold me up against a wall and fuck all my problems away.

I still my mind and remind myself I hate the man. "You see yoga as sex positions."

"Emmett!" Ben says louder.

Surprising me, Emmett hops down from the counter. "I just wanted to see that amazing ass of yours up in the air."

"Fucking hell," Ben growls. "Get your ass outside."

Emmett laughs and winks at me before turning toward his brother. "We were discussing her job. You can't blame me for making small talk."

"Small talk my ass."

They walk out to the porch, and through the window, I catch Emmett holding his hands in the air, telling Clayton to throw him the ball.

"I'm sorry. He can be a lot sometimes," Gillian says.

I shake my head at my sweet sister who practically raised me. She really is the best. "I can handle Emmett Noughton."

Then I see him put one hand on the porch railing and jump over it onto the ground below. It's flawless the way his legs swing over and all his weight is held up by one bulging bicep. I need to remember why I hate Emmett. I'm in no place to start anything with any man right now, let alone a man-child like Emmett.

"Well, Ben is going to have a conversation with him." Gillian tosses the salad and sets it aside.

I spread the garlic butter mixture over the bread. She puts it in the oven, then she grabs a wine bottle from the fridge and snatches two glasses. I still for a moment, watching the wine fill the crystal glass. It looks really good, and lord knows I could use it right now to calm my frazzled nerves.

She slides a glass my way, and my shoulders sink. "Tomorrow is my first day, and I don't want to have a headache. Wine always gives me a headache."

Gillian's head tilts, and I prepare for her to push me on the subject. "More for me then. Water's in the fridge." Her phone rings on the counter. "Oh, it's the realtor." She slides her thumb over the screen and walks into the attached living room. Their entire downstairs is open concept. "Hello?"

I check the garlic bread and make a mental note to check it again in a few minutes.

"No way! Are you serious?" Gillian says, her eyes widening in my direction. "Well, yeah, I guess." Her smile dims, and she cringes at me. "No, I see your point. Okay, well…" She stares at me for a long time. "Of course. Yeah. Definitely. I'll take it."

She hangs up and stands in place for a second. That's Gillian though. Always taking a moment to think about her words and what the next step is. She doesn't often act impulsively, and I've always admired that because I'm the opposite. I'm not sure if she was born that way or if it was the years of child-rearing she's done, unable to ever be a child herself.

"Ben!" she calls.

He walks in, looking into the kitchen before finding her in the living room. "What's up?"

"The house is sold. Cash offer, and they want to move in as soon as they can."

And just like that, I'm homeless once again.