Champagne Kisses A Timeless Love Story - Krista Lakes Page 0,2
use a little good news.
Emma's joyful grin infused her voice as she spoke. "Kaylee's pregnant."
My face split into a grin. Kaylee, Emma's older sister, had recently found love. Owen had been Jack's vice president of fuel marketing until he quit to be with Kaylee. I hadn't spent much time with Kaylee, other than at Emma's wedding and a shopping trip, but I had a gut feeling that she would be be a wonderful mother. I was more excited for Emma, enjoying her joyfulness at being an aunt.
"How is she handling it? Especially since she and Owen are running that bed and breakfast." It felt good to talk about something that didn't affect me.
Emma laughed. "Like she handles everything. Perfectly. She says the nausea isn't so bad, and Owen has been taking care of the bed and breakfast side of things. They are pretty much perfectly happy."
"Good. I like knowing someone is happy." I really liked the warm, fuzzy feeling knowing someone's world was working out the way it should. "When is she due?"
"Late April. They've known for a little while, but they wanted to make sure before they told anyone. My parents are so crazy excited. It's all they talk about now. I'm just nervous they are going to start asking me when I'm going to give the little bean some cousins." Emma's nervous expression at the future question made me smile.
"Yeah, when are you going to get knocked up? I want to be Aunt Rachel." I gave her an evil grin. I knew Jack and Emma wanted to wait a little while to have kids, but it was too easy a target not to tease her.
Emma gave me a playful push, and we both giggled softly in the kitchen. It felt good to smile, if just for a moment. A new life was always something to smile about.
Footsteps entered the kitchen, and both our faces quickly schooled to reserved dignity. Emma turned and gave the source of the footsteps a welcoming smile, her shoulders relaxing as she recognized the intruder. I turned, and my shoulders tightened, butterflies suddenly dancing the mambo in my stomach. Seeing Dean always made my insides quiver like a teenage girl with a crush.
Dean stood nonchalantly in the doorway. His worn leather jacket hung casually across comfortable jeans, his lithe muscled body giving the fabric beautiful contours. He looked relaxed, but I knew he was always working. His light blue eyes were always active, his muscles ready for anything. He took his job as Emma's bodyguard very seriously. He gave us both a smile as greeting.
"Emma, will you be staying on the grounds for the rest of the evening? I saw the helicopter prepping and wanted to check with you." Dean gave his full attention to Emma. Since I was with Emma much of the time, it was often the three of us.
"I'll be staying here." Her eyes grew big for a moment as she realized something. "Has Jack left yet? I wanted him to drop something important off at the office."
Dean glanced at his watch. "If you hurry, you'll catch them. They're just finishing the flight plan and takeoff checklist."
"Thanks, Dean. I'll be back in a bit, Rachel," Emma said. She touched my shoulder as she stood to go catch her husband. I hadn't expected her to become such a close friend, but I loved having her around. She kept herself busy managing a wildlife rehabilitation fund, but she loved it and it allowed her to work on a regular basis with Jack.
Dean stepped out of the hallway to allow Emma to leave. She gave him a quick smile as she passed, hurrying up the stairs to fetch whatever it was she needed. I felt a quiver start in my stomach at the thought of being alone in a room with Dean.
"I heard about Daniel," he said, stepping back into the kitchen. "How are you doing?"
His blue eyes held genuine concern. I wished that he could just wrap me up in his strong arms and tell me everything was going to be okay. I wished that we could have a chance at being together, but I knew that just wasn't going to happen. For one moment, I just wanted my heart not to feel torn.
"I'm okay. It doesn't feel real. I keep expecting him to bounce down the stairs with a naughty grin and tell us all that it was just an elaborate, horrible prank." I gave him a weak smile.