The Reunion: Emma's Vacation (The Starting Over Series) (7 page)

“
I am not the best cook. Samuel likes to eat out
…
a lot,
”
she said laughing.

“
Why were you baking a cake anyway?
”
he asked sitting down on a bar stool.

“
For you.
”

“
For me? Why?
”

“
Because I know today is your birthday. I saw it on your driver
’
s license when you bought wine the other night,
”
she said smiling.
“
So, I tried
…
for you
…
to cook this cake. But, unfortunately, I must report that this cake is not edible
…”
she said throwing down her mixing spoon.

Gaven grinned at her and then looked down, shaking his head. He stood up and walked over to her, looking down at her flour-covered face.

“
I have to say
…
that is about the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,
”
he said softly.

“
Well, then you do not get out much,
”
she responded with a giggle. Suddenly, his mouth was on hers with a warmth unlike anything she had ever felt. She wanted to say no, to stop him, but her body would not respond to her logical commands.

“
Is this okay?
”
he whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck.

“
Yes
…”
she heard herself say as she reached for his mouth again, putting her hands on the back of his head.

Moments later, he was hoisting her up onto the breakfast bar and kissing her passionately. She leaned back and pulled him closer, putting her legs around his waist.

In her mind, she wanted to stay logical and practical. But, again, her body was telling her to let loose and be a sensual woman again. Why did being forty-one have anything to do with it?  Was it because her ex-husband was sleeping with a twenty two year old?

In that moment, Emma decided to give in, just this once, to being free. She liked Gaven a lot. She might even be convinced that her feelings were closer to love than like at this point. But, for now, she just wanted to be as close to him as a woman can be to a man.

“
Gaven?
”

“
Yes,
”
he said breathlessly into her ear.

“
Can we take this to my bedroom?
”
she asked timidly. He stopped for a moment and put both of his hands on her cheeks.

“
Are you sure? I don
’
t want you to do anything you don
’
t want to do, Emma. No expectations,
”
he said.

“
I know. But, I do want to do this
…”
she said. He grabbed her around the waist as she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he carried her to the bedroom.

Moments later, clothes were flying off. Emma had never felt so free with a man before. Gaven must have known she would eventually be interested because he had protection in his pocket for the occasion. She laughed when she saw him put it on the nightstand.

“
Someone was sure of himself,
”
she said with a giggle.

“
Hopeful,
”
he responded as he looked at her. She was now lying on the bed naked and unsure of herself. At forty-one, she had a great body, but she was still comparing herself to a twenty-two year old.
“
You are simply stunning, Emma
…”
he said sitting up and looking at her.

“
Thank you
…”
she whispered.

“
No, I am serious. Don
’
t you know how breathtaking you are?
”
he asked. Before she could answer, his mouth met her lips again. It traveled down her chest to the valley between her breasts.

“
Gaven?
”
she said.

“
Yes?
”

“
I
’
ve been waiting a long time for this. We can go slow later
…”
she said grinning. With that, he pushed inside of her, filling her with a deep sense of peace and light and freedom. Waves of energy ripped through her body and took away the years of regret, sadness and self consciousness that she felt.

As night fell, they made love again and again until they were so spent that they fell asleep. When morning rolled around again, she watched him in the streams of sunlight. His chest rising and falling, she wondered how she had met this man that other women would search for their whole lives. Did she love him? And how did he feel about her?

When Gaven woke up, Emma was in the kitchen making a pot of coffee. Flour from the night before was all over the floor, but she didn
’
t care. It made her laugh when she saw it. He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist, his chin resting on the top of her head.

“
Good morning,
”
he growled into her ear.

“
Good morning. Sleep well?
”
she asked.

“
You know I did
…
Once I got to sleep
…”
he said with a chuckle.
“
I
’
ve got to meet a client today, so do you mind if I take a quick shower here?
”

“
Sure. Go ahead
…”
she said smiling.

“
Feel free to join me,
”
he said with a laugh as he walked down the hallway. She fully intended to join him as soon as she heard the water turn on.

Before Emma could jump into the water with him, there was a knock at the door. She had no idea who that could be. When she opened the door, she was shocked to find Henry standing there.

“
Henry. What are you doing here?
”
she asked with a look of disgust on her face.

“
I
’
ve been looking all over for you. Thankfully, your work friends knew where you were. Where is Samuel?
”
he asked.

“
He
’
s with my parents, not that you care about him.
”
She crossed her arms and blocked the door with her body.

“
Emma, can I come in? We need to talk. Please.
”

Thinking that he wanted to talk about Samuel, she allowed him to come in. He sat down on the sofa.

“
I don
’
t know where to start. I made a mistake, Em. I want you back,
”
he said.

Her heart started to pound. What was he saying to her? A year after their divorce, he wanted to get back together?

“
You can
’
t be serious. You cheated on me with a slut, and now you want me back? You embarrassed me in front of my friends and family. You basically abandoned your son
…”

“
I know I made some big mistakes, Em, but I love you. You must know that. Maybe it was a mid life crisis
…”

“
I don
’
t care what it was, Henry. I
’
ve gotten over you. I
’
ve gotten over our marriage. I made a clean start
…”

“
What about Samuel? Don
’
t you want him to have a father?
”

“
Are you kidding me? You are his father whether we are together or not, yet you never call, send a card or see him. You live five miles from him, Henry, and you never make an effort. You are too wrapped up with Tiffani to be bothered
…”

“
Tiffani and I are no longer together. We broke up
…”
he said looking down.

“
Oh, I see
…
You want me back because she dumped you. She was tired of your receding hairline and flabby gut?
”
Emma could not believe what she was saying.

“
That was low, Emma
…”

“
No. What you did to our family was low, Henry. Now, get out.
”
She stood and pointed at the door. Henry didn
’
t move.

“
Emma, I came a long way. At least go to lunch with me
…”

“
She has plans,
”
Gaven
’
s voice came out from behind Henry. Emma
’
s stomach started to churn as he slipped his arm around her waist.

“
Who the hell are you?
”
Henry asked as he shot up from his seat.

“
That is none of your business,
”
Gaven said towering over Henry.
“
The lady asked you to leave.
”

“
Emma
…”
Henry said looking at her.

“
Just go, Henry. It
’
s over. It
’
s been over for some time. And, let me tell you something else while you are here. I intend to go straight to court when I get home to enforce your child support. The media would love to get a hold of a story like this, I think. Superstar surgeon abandons his family and becomes a deadbeat Dad,
”
she said.

Henry stormed out of the cottage and drove away. Emma sat down trying to catch her breath, tears streaming from her eyes.

“
Emma, I
’
m sorry if I interrupted. I just couldn
’
t stand to hear him talking to you like that
…”

Once she caught her breath, she looked at him.
“
I
’
m not mad at you, Gaven. I am crying because no one has ever stood up for me like that.
”

He sat down beside her and pulled her into his lap.
“
Emma, I
’
ve been looking for you for my whole life. Not a woman like you. YOU. And I am not going to let some jerk talk to you like he owns you or like you don
’
t matter.
”

“
Thank you,
”
she whispered as she kissed him tenderly on the lips.

“
No. Thank you
…”

“
For what?
”
she asked.

“
I
’
ve been hiding out on this island for years. I didn
’
t want to meet anyone because I didn
’
t want to get hurt. I thought I had lost the love of my life to some other man, but then I learned that the love of my life just arrived a couple of weeks ago,
”
he said.