Free Emerald (Steele Investigations) by Kasey Millstead

turns me so
I am facing him.  Leaning down he looks into my eyes, questioningly.  “What’s
wrong?” He asks.
    “Nothing,” besides the fact
that my Father paid me a visit last night and clocked me twice on the head and
I don’t want you to touch me there because it hurts like Holy Hell, “I’m
fine,” I give what I hope is a convincing smile.  His eyes narrow and he
searches my face.  Please don’t notice the bruising.  Please don’t notice
the bruising.  Oh, and don’t move my hair, or touch my head.
    “Right.” He says curtly, “We’ll
talk about this later.”
    “Really, Travis, I’m fine,” I
boldly reach out and give his waist a squeeze. 
    He leans down and touches his
lips to mine.  “Later,” he says and his tone is clearly not to be argued with. 
    “Okay,” I mutter.
    I walk over and take a seat
opposite Kami, just as Will and Elliott stand.
    “Don’t leave on my account,” I
laugh.
    “You women talk too much shit,”
Elliott replies
    “Really,” Rae asks, her eyes
narrowing and lips pursed.  Oh Lord.  Just walk away Elliott .
    “Babe,” is his answer.  I watch
as he drops his head and tenderly kisses her mouth.  You can see the passion
and the love radiating between them.  I dart my eyes away from their PDA and my
eyes find Kami and Will.  He’s standing beside her, rubbing her shoulder
softly.  It’s almost like he needs to constantly touch her if she’s in touching
distance.  It’s very sweet.  He leans down and kisses her forehead, murmuring
something I can’t hear.  Then he and Elliott make their way over to the grill
with Grant and Travis.
    “So, spill,” Kami fires at me immediately.
    “Uh … about what?” I ask, even
though I know full well what she wants to know, but still doing my best to
delay her inquisition.
    “Don’t be coy.  You and Travis. 
What’s going on?”
    “Not a lot.  He took me out for
dinner last night.  It was really nice.  He told me he was taking me to brunch
this morning and here we are.”
    So, you’re together?” Rae asks
    “Um, no.  I don’t think so. 
We’ve had one date and to be honest, I’m not really a dating person,” I mumble
quietly.  Crap! How can I steer this conversation away from myself?
    “Kami, you and Will look really
happy together,” I add quickly, hoping it will derail her train of thought.  Phew!  
My diversion tactic works when her face lights up and she launches into a tale
about how wonderful he is.
    Judy joins us not long after with
a pitcher of Sweet Tea and some glasses.  We chatter idly for a few minutes
until Grant, Elliott, Will and Travis bring over trays of bacon, eggs, sausage
and cooked tomato from the grill.  Judy leaves and returns a minute later with
two fresh homemade loaves of bread.  My mother was not one to bake, so I have
never eaten homemade bread before.  It is simply delicious.  Soft, white,
fluffy, crusty, warm, and with melted butter.  Divine.
    “Judy, this bread is amazing.  I
must get your recipe from you.  I’d love to try it at home.”
    “Of course, Jemma.  It’s quiet
simple to make, even easier if you have a bread maker, but if you don’t you can
use your oven, or I’d be happy to lend you my maker,” her tone is warm and
sincere.
    “Okay, thank you.  I’ll try it
out using my oven first.”
    “Jemma, darling,” Judy calls just
as Travis and I are about to leave.
    “Yes?”
    “Here’s the recipe for the
bread.”  She hands me a piece of paper with the details on it.  “There are lots
of alternatives you can make – Zucchini, Chocolate, Brown, Grain, Sourdough –
lots of them.  But I thought for your first attempt, you could just try a basic
white loaf.”
    I glance at the paper in front of
me; water, flour, yeast, salt.  “It looks simple enough.  I hope mine tastes as
delicious as yours.”
    “Just remember to let the dough
rise properly.  The instructions are simple, darling, you’ll do fine.”
    Her words hit me