Out of Nowhere Read online

  “Of course. Nice chatting to you guys again, and as I said yesterday, I’ll look after Emerson for you. I will love her harder to make up for the fact that you guys aren’t here.” He then rests his hand on the memorial, before stepping away.

  “Sooo, that was Chase, but you guys already met him, I see. He really is the best and I’m lucky to have stumbled upon him.” Biting my bottom lip, unsure how to say the next part. “I’ve made a decision and I hope you all understand why I made it. I think it’s the right thing to do, but one thing will never change, and that’s how much I love and miss you all.” Lifting my fingers to my lips, I kiss the tips before placing it on the memorial. Standing up, I walk over to Chase, “Let’s go home.” He takes my outstretched hand and we walk back to the loft, as I contemplate how I’m going to put into action what I have decided.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Chase

  WAKING EARLY, I ROLL ONTO my side and watch Emerson sleep. She looks so peaceful right now. I think knowing that the James Corporation is safe is a major relief for her.

  After we have breakfast, Emerson tidies up and I grab the Times and head into the living room. I’m sitting on the couch, my feet propped up on the coffee table, engrossed in an article, when Emerson blurts out, “Let’s go home.”

  My head snaps up from the paper. “Come again?” I query.

  “I didn’t stutter,” she says with a cheeky grin. “I said, let’s go home. Let’s go back to Nels Cove.”

  “Really?” I ask.

  Nodding her head, she says, “Really, really, Chase.”

  “Really?” I ask again, my face etched with shock and confusion. “You want to come back to Nels Cove with me?”

  Again, she nods her head and walks into the room and sits on the coffee table. “Yes, I really want to.” Pausing, she looks at me and I can tell she’s telling the truth. Her face has the biggest smile on it and her eyes are sparkling. “Chase, I love you and I want to be with you. The city will always be a part of me, but you are in Nels Cove and I want to be with you. Therefore, I’m moving to Nels Cove…permanently.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?” I question her again.

  Reaching over, she grabs my cheeks and gazes lovingly into my eyes. “Yes, Chase, I’m serious.”

  Jumping up, I pull her in and wrap my arms tightly around her. “You have just made me the happiest man ever. I have been racking my brain about how I could make the move to the city, but now you’re coming back with me. Man, I love you, Emerson. So much.” Pulling back, I lower my mouth to hers. The kiss starts out slow and swiftly turns heated. Suddenly I pull back, breaking the connection. “What about the company?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that. Now that our companies are working together, I was thinking of promoting Sheridan to COO?”

  “That’s a brilliant idea, Ems, on both accounts. She’s the perfect person to have as the chief operating officer. I trust her above anyone else to look after the James Corporation, and to oversee the new joint project, AAAAND I’m super excited to have you coming home with me.” Bending down, I kiss the tip of her nose. “But I do have one question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Will you give up the cottage and move in with me?”

  Shaking her head, she replies, “No, not yet, Chase. It’s too soon.”

  “You said yet, so I’m okay with that, but I know that you will be living with me soon enough.”

  “You are soooooo full of yourself, Chase Archibald, but I wouldn’t have you any other way.” She places a quick kiss on my lips before declaring, “I love you.”

  “You’ll be full of me soon,” I say with a wink.

  She slaps me on the arm and whispers, “What are you waiting for?” Raising her hands, she ever so slowly begins to unbutton her shift dress. She has two buttons undone when I pick her up, throw her over my shoulder, and stalk into the bedroom. We spend the rest of the afternoon naked in bed, just the two of us. The sun is setting, we are snuggled together, and I find myself grinning. I’m ecstatically happy. I’m in love and about to embark on a new adventure—bring it!

  * * *

  …Four months later

  “Happy Birthday, Emerson,” I whisper as I sit on the bed next to my sleeping angel. Her eyes flutter open and she sees me holding a muffin with a candle, at that sight, she sits upright in bed.

  “Chase,” she whispers, her eyes welling with tears.

  “Spitfire, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I remember you telling me that this was a tradition, and I guess I wanted to continue that.” Leaning down, I go to blow out the candle but Emerson stops me.

  “No, don’t, babe. These are happy tears. I haven’t thought about my birthday, not since last year by myself at the lake. I wasn’t sure I was going to do it this year, but I guess you made that decision for me. Now, hand me my birthday muffin so I can make a wish and then eat it.”

  “Only if you share it with me.”

  “Pfft, it’s my birthday, I’ll do what I want with my muffin. Now gimme, gimme, gimme.”

  “Wow, we are demanding on our birthday, aren’t we?”

  “No, that’s a muffin from Tiff’s and you know how much I love muffins.” I wriggle my eyebrows at her. “Oh…my…God. Get your mind out of the gutter.” She pauses, then seductively adds, “But if you play your cards right, mister, I might let you nib…” I don’t let her finish. I shove the muffin directly in front of her and hold it up, careful not to blow the candle out. “Happy Birthday, Emerson Grace James.”

  “Thank you,” she shyly says, as she closes her eyes. Her lips silently move as she makes her wish. When she opens them again, she leans forward and blows out the candle.

  “So, what did you wish for?” I inquire.

  “If I tell you, it won’t come true.” She pats the bed next to her and I slip off my shirt and jump in next to her. She takes a bite of the muffin and moans. Yeah, Tiff’s muffins are that good. She breaks off a piece and offers it to me. Leaning forward, I take the morsel from her fingers, and when I pull back, I suck on the tip of her finger. Her eyes shoot up to mine as I continue to suck her finger and we keep staring at one another. Eventually, I pull her finger out, grip her chin between my thumb and forefinger and lower my lips to hers. Resting my forehead against hers, I whisper, “Happy birthday, Spitfire.” Emerson wraps her arms around my neck and lies back, pulling me on top of her. We make out like teenagers before I give her a birthday orgasm that she will never forget.

  * * *

  Keeping this surprise from Ems is killing me, and the closer we get to ‘go time’ the more nervous I get. She’s currently in the shower and I’m in her kitchen sucking on a beer to calm my nerves. My phone beeps with an incoming text.

  BELLA - We are all set. Ready when you are

  As I read the text, I let out a sigh of relief and whisper to myself, “Thank God for that.”

  CHASE - Ems in shower. Be there in 30

  Immediately I get a reply.

  BELLA - HA, this is Ems, see you in an hour

  Laughing at her reply, I don’t hear Emerson come up behind me, “What are you laughing at?”

  Spinning around, my mouth drops open. Standing before me is a freakin’ goddess. Emerson is wearing a Grecian-style crème dress that looks absolutely stunning on her, and she’s holding these gladiator-style, brown sandals in her hand. A force beyond my control overtakes my body and I walk over to her, wrap my arms around her waist, and stare at her. “My God, Ems, you look absolutely gorgeous. Fuck the surprise, can’t we just stay here all night long so I can ravish you?”

  “No, I want my surprise. Besides, we did that all day, I need a break if we are going to go for round two when we get home.” She winks at me and shimmies out of my grasp. She walks over to the couch and sits down, lifting the hem of her dress up to put on her shoes. I groan because her legs are silky smooth and oh-so-sexy. I’m sure she lifted it higher than necessary, but who am I to complain? She has the sexiest legs I have ever
seen and currently I’m imagining them wrapped around my head. She glances up at me and shakes her head. “Later I will wrap these babies around your head.” She winks again before she turns her attention to putting her other shoe on.

  My mouth drops open in shock, “How did you know?” I ask.

  “You have that ‘I want to ravish you’ look in your eyes and your Chase’s apple is bobbing up and down.”

  A laugh escapes me. “You and your renaming things. I’m pretty sure it’s called an Adam’s apple, babe.”

  She stands up and walks over to me, grips my crotch, and whispers into my ear, “This is Emerson’s doodle.”

  Leaning down, I whisper, “Say Emerson’s cock, and it can be yours forever.”

  She pulls back from me, her eyes locked on mine, her tongue darts out and she licks her bottom lip. She steps forward and runs her index finger over my chest, toward my cock, circling it around my crotch, she leans toward my ear and flirtatiously coos, “Emerson’s cock.” She nips along my jawline before planting her lips on mine. Wrapping my arms around her, I crush her to me. I run my hands up her back and into hair. I hold her head to mine and deepen the kiss.

  She pulls back, nipping my bottom lip before declaring, “It’s my birthday, let’s go. My cock and you will have to wait.” She spins around, grabs her clutch from the counter, and saunters out the front door, swishing her sexy hips from side to side with each step across the room. I groan in frustration and she laughs. “Come. Birthday. Now,” she says.

  Shaking my head, I walk into the kitchen, I drop my empty beer bottle in the recycle bin, and pat my pocket to make sure her birthday present is there. When I feel it’s there, I can’t help but grin. Grabbing the keys to her Mustang off the hook, I slip on my boots and head outside to meet her. Closing the front door behind me, we head off for a birthday to remember.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Emerson

  “PLEASE TELL ME WHERE WE are going?” I beg as we back out of my driveway.

  Shaking his head, he says, “Nope.” Letting the P pop. “You’ll just have to wait. You’re lucky I’m not making you wear a blindfold.”

  “I totally would, you know,” I say. “Now…in the bedroom.” His head jolts toward me in shock. “Eyes on the road, buddy.”

  “Don’t say things like that to me. Not when, A. you look like that.” He circles his finger up and down, around and round me. “And B. Your little cock tease earlier has me on edge. And now, I’m imaging you with this tie here…” He lifts and drops the gold tie he is wearing, “…covering your eyes. Your chest heaving beneath that cream sexy-ass dress you are wearing. As I run my finger…” He lifts a hand off the steering wheel and wriggles his index finger at me. “…up your thigh and underneath your hemline. I find you bare, pantyless, and wet, and then I sink my finger deep inside you…”

  I clench my thighs together. Smug bastard, I think to myself. “Okay, stop. I get it. I get what WILL be happening later, but first birthday surprise.”

  “It sucks when it happens to you, hey?” he asks me, as he skims his finger down my arm.

  I swat it away. “Says the man with his cock currently trying to poke free from his pants.”

  “And whose fault is that? You started it,” he states.

  “It’s my birthday and I’ll cock tease if I want to, cock tease if I want to,” I sing.

  “Pretty sure that song is about a party, not my cock.”

  “Party. Cock. Same thing.” I pause. “Sort of, not really. Ugh, this is going to be a long night. I have an idea, how about we head back home, you ravage me with said cock and tie, and then we can celebrate my birthday. Alone. Naked. In bed. With cake.”

  “As much as it kills me to say so, nope, birthday surprise first.”

  “Fine, but there better be bubbly,” I huff.

  “Ems, of course there will be bubbly. It’s your birthday and I’m not stupid.” We pull up, he turns the car off and faces me. “Okay, now I really do need you to wear a blindfold.” He reaches into my glove box and withdraws a blood red tie.

  “Really?” I scoff.

  “Really, really. Now turn around.”

  I huff, but I do as I’m told. If I’m being honest, this is kind of exciting and a real turn on. He places the tie over my eyes and pulls it tight. He spins me back to face him. I can’t see anything, but I can feel his presence. All of a sudden, his lips are on mine. Opening my mouth, he slips his tongue inside. Gripping his head, I hold him tight and lose myself in this kiss. Quickly I break free. “Holy hell, Batman, stop turning me on,” I breathlessly whisper.

  “Now you know what it’s like to be in your presence day in and day out. Now, wait there for me.”

  Chase climbs out and slams the car door, while I impatiently wait for him. After what feels like forever, he opens my door and says, “Hold my hand and I’ll guide you.”

  “Yes, sir,” I cheekily reply as I climb out.

  “If it wasn’t your birthday, I’d totally spank you,” he says, as he guides me inside.

  “And I’d totally let you, Chase. This blindfold is making me so ho…”

  “Ems, just to let you know, we are in public and not alone.”

  “Ooops,” I giggle. “Sorry, not sorry, to whoever heard that,” I say. “Anyway, it’s my birthday, so I can do what I want.”

  “As I said earlier, that’s not how birthdays work, Spitfire.” He leans into me before whispering, “But when we do get home, everything we have discussed since leaving is happening. E-ve-ry-thing.” He accentuates and punctuates that last word. I moan with desire and he chuckles. Without warning, I whack him in the stomach. He grunts and I giggle.

  “Ha,” I declare. “Let’s get this birthday surprise over and done with.” Quietly I add, “So we can have a naked party for two.”

  He roars with laughter. “You’ve changed your birthday tune.”

  “Just surprise me.” Pausing, I sweetly add, “Please, Chase.”

  “Since you asked so nicely, who am I to deny the birthday girl?” A door opens and the coolness of the air-conditioning blasts me. We continue to idly chat while we walk for what feels like an eternity. I have no idea where Chase has led me, when suddenly we stop. “We’re here, Ems.”

  Chase removes my blindfold, my eyes adjust to the light, and I’m met with a chorus of “Surprise!” and “Happy Birthday!” And I even hear someone whistle. Turning to Chase, I see that he is grinning. “Happy Birthday, Ems.”

  “Chase,” I manage to murmur before I’m accosted with hugs and pulled away from him. I’m enveloped with hugs and kisses from Bella, Ma, Shez, Talia, Rooney, and finally Pa. He pulls me to the side, grips my hand and says, “Happy Birthday Emerson. You have given me the best birthday gift ever; my son is finally happy.”

  “It’s your birthday too?” He nods. “I didn’t get you anything, Happy Birthday, Pa.”

  “Yes, you did, you give my son happiness. That makes my wife happy, and therefore, I’m happy. You are an amazing young woman, Emerson, and I hope to call you my daughter one day.” My cheeks darken at his comment.

  “I’d like that,” I reply. Pa grins at me and my mind drifts off to the future. Lately, I have been thinking about marriage too. I’d love nothing more than to become Emerson Archibald. I hope that one day it happens, but for now I’ll continue to be blissfully happy living the country life. I realize that Pa is still talking to me; I nod and smile, though I have no idea what he just said. He kisses me on the cheek and winks, so that’s where Chase gets the winking from, before he walks over to Ma and escorts her toward the bar.

  Staring into the room, I smile. No one has ever thrown me a surprise party before. People have arranged surprises, but never a party. I’m grinning like a lunatic at the moment, this night could not get any better…or so I think.

  Chase clears his throat and garners everyone’s attention. I stand where I am and watch the man I love suck the crowd, and me, in with his words. “I want to thank you all for being here toni
ght. A special thanks to Bella for helping me organize this. Even though you were in New York, you still managed to arrange this party. Thank you.” She nods at him then she looks to me, and grins, like she knows something that I don’t. Chase continues after everyone stops clapping. “Keeping this surprise from Ems has been killing me. Never again will I arrange a surprise party. Give me a merger or contract any day.” We all laugh at this. “Ems, babe, come here.” Walking over to him, I can’t help but smile. I see Charlotte and her mom, and she waves like crazy at me. I mouth ‘hello’ to her and wave back before I stand next to Chase. He grabs my hand and squeezes. All of a sudden, he drops to one knee, my mouth falls open and I gasp. “Emerson, you are my lil’ spitfire from the city, and even though you arrived here in less than stellar circumstances, I’m ever so glad that you did. You are the first woman to ever call me out on my shit and put me in my place. You are the first and last thing on my mind each and every day. You make me happier than I have ever been before, and I hope that I make you as happy as you make me. Emerson Grace James, will you marry me?” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gorgeous solitaire diamond ring.

  My head starts nodding, I can’t form any words and tears cascade down my cheeks. All of a sudden, I find my voice and I shout, “YES!” Everyone and I laugh. “Yes, Chase Archibald, I’ll marry you.” He slips the ring on my finger, and I stare at it before looking up at my fiancé. With a smile I jump toward him, he catches me, and I plaster my lips to his. He spins us around and I continue to kiss him as the room erupts in applause. Breaking the kiss, I say, “I really need a drink now.”

  A drink is thrust toward me. “Here,” Bella says, as she hands Chase and I a glass of bubbly each. “Congrats, babe,” she says, wrapping her arms around me, giving me a sideways hug. “When Chase asked my permission to ask you…” My head snaps toward Chase.

  “You asked Bella’s permission?” I interrupt.

  He nods his head. “Yep. When we went to the city the other week, and I had that emergency meeting.” He air quotes emergency meeting. “Bella and I went to the park. I asked her and everyone for permission.”