‘You have that on even when you’re working?’ Matt asked.
‘Yeah,’ Alex answered.
‘Some things never change,’ Matt commented, and went back to selecting a cake.
Emma watched the two men keenly. There was something about this evening that niggled at her. It almost felt as though it was some sort of test. That Alex was watching how well she got along with Matt. It didn’t make any sense to her that he should want them to get along. Matt seemed very important to him, and Emma was only ever going to be a moment in his life.
A little bit of hope and fear bloomed in her chest that maybe it meant he wanted more time with her. But she closed her eyes and tried to push the feeling away. He had been honest with her, and had never once said this would develop any further. Emma forced herself to remember that. To remember what she wanted too. Fun. No strings. No toxic relationship to follow her around for the rest of her life.
‘Emma? Are you okay?’ Alex asked.
‘Hmm? Oh, yeah. Just thinking about work,’ she lied.
She hadn’t realised Alex had been watching her, and wasn’t sure if he bought the flimsy lie. But he didn’t push and for that she was grateful.
Alex presented Matt with the opportunity to talk to Emma alone after dinner, when he was about to make coffee. Throughout the meal, Matt had been watching him with Emma. When they touched, or shared a look or a smile. As if he could tell that whatever was going on between the two of them was different from anything Alex had experienced before.
A loud buzz echoed against the counter. Picking up his phone, Alex frowned as he read through an email.
‘I have to take care of something,’ he said.
Alex caught Emma’s eye and winked. She felt her cheeks turn red, which made his smile grow as he walked away to the study, leaving Matt alone with her. She finished making the coffees, handing a cup to Matt, who took it to the living room.
‘So, Emma, you’re involved in charity work?’ he said.
‘Yes. A small charity. I’m hoping we can partner with a larger organisation, thanks to Alexander.’
She sat cross-legged on the couch opposite him, getting comfortable. She’d had a feeling that he would want to talk to her at some point. After all, friends looked out for each other. She wished sisters did too.
‘Oh?’
‘Yeah... Alexander has introduced me to the director of a large literacy charity. They seem to like what we do and how we operate.’ Emma held the coffee cup in her hands, enjoying its warmth.
‘Wow...’ Matt said, as if to himself. ‘Alex would normally never do that.’
‘Help someone out?’ she asked sceptically. She was starting to wonder how well Matt knew Alex at all.
‘No. He’s always willing to help. He’s just...disciplined. He has these rules he lives by, and one of those is to never mix business with pleasure. If he got you that meeting he pulled in a favour, and that’s not something he would ordinarily do.’
‘I’ve noticed.’
‘It means you’re different, Emma. I’ve known Alex for a very long time, and all of this,’ he said, gesturing towards her, ‘is new. He obviously has strong feelings for you.’
Emma looked at Matt, then dropped her gaze to her cup. Unsure what to say or how much to say.
‘I’m going to take a stab and say you do too. You don’t have to say it. I can see it. I’m sure Alex does have feelings, but if you’re waiting for him to say the words, they’re not going to come.’
Emma already knew that. Knew there was going to be an end. It splintered a part of her every time she thought about it, because this was the most alive she had ever felt. Awakened. The fear that she would lose that once he walked out was real. And she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him just yet. But when it did happen she would thank him for helping her find herself. For beinghim. Every moment they’d spent together would be a treasured memory that she would tuck away as she moved on with her life.
Emma cleared her throat, not quite trusting her voice. ‘I just want him to be happy. I can see there’s things he carries that he doesn’t want to talk about. I wish I knew how to help him.’
‘Get in line,’ Matt said, looking out of the window. There was an unseeing look in his eye. As if he were deep in thought. And then his features set. As if he was resolved in some kind of decision. ‘How much have you read about Alex?’
‘Actually, nothing since we met at a masquerade. And before that just what was in the news. I didn’t want to invade his privacy.’
Matt smiled. It was a soft expression. ‘Do you know about his father?’
Emma shook her head. ‘He’s an earl, and that’s as far as I know.’