Free Emma's Home (The Fairfield Series) by Maryann Jordan

several afternoons to help his grandmother in the yard and to mow the grass. Emma enjoyed getting to know him and found out about the high school where she would be working. Rob’s sister, Suzy, was a year younger than Brad, and she would show up on occasion as well. She was a cute, likeable girl and it didn’t take Emma long to realize that Suzy had eyes for Brad. Brad tried to be nonchalant about Suzy, but his eyes would follow her whenever she was over visiting.
    Emma never had such a support system before. When she thought back to all those years where she was alone raising Laurie, and then when they were struggling to finish college, it brought her to tears. Now she looked around and realized a community of friends were all helping out.
    When Jake was there, he would walk by just to check up on her. He was a very touch feely boyfr… well, Emma did not know what to call him. He came to see her every day when he was not on duty and spent most of the weekends with her helping with the house.
    Jake did not want her moving in until she had a security system in place. The closest neighbor was half a mile from her house. The decision about a security system quickly devolved into an argument.
    Emma tried to be upfront about her finances. She had saved enough for the down payment and budgeted for appliances, but a security system was out of the question. Jake’s solution was to pay for it himself, which made her uncomfortable.
    “Babe, I just want you safe. You live out here, in your dream house in the woods, but you are a woman living alone.”
    In the end, Jake got his way and Emma wondered aloud if he was going to win all their arguments.
    “Only the ones about your safety, Emma girl,” Jake assured her, as he pulled her in for a hug, kissing the top of her head.
    *
    One week later, it was move-in day. Jake wanted to be there when the movers came with her furniture, but he was called out on a case. Emma did not mind; she was so used to dealing with everything on her own, and Laurie was coming over to keep her company.
    The movers backed the truck up to the front porch and began moving her furniture in. Laurie arrived just as the furniture was being taken off the truck.
    “Emma, you kept the dining room set,” Laurie exclaimed with a huge grin on her face. She ran over to the dining table and lovingly ran her hands over the wood.
    “Oh, I couldn’t get rid of some of our parent’s things,” Emma said, fondly remembering the many family gatherings around the table over the years. “It may be old, but it has memories for both of us. In fact, I kept almost everything except the old sofa. That I gladly got rid of,” she laughed.
    The movers hauled in the dining room and living room furniture and had started on the other furniture when Rob and Jake came over. Laurie stood on the porch directing the movers as they were coming out of the truck. Rob hopped up on the porch, grabbed her in a big kiss, making her giggle as he swung her around.
    Jake, not seeing Emma, headed into the house. Hearing her voice from the bedroom, he headed down the hall. Jake walked into the room and saw that one of the movers stood too close to Emma, peering down her shirt as she looked away explaining where the bedroom furniture needed to go.
    “Sure is a nice bed you’ve got there, lil’ lady,” the flirtatious mover said as he looked down at Emma. Seeing where his eyes were focused, Emma was going to put him in his place when suddenly the man was pushed backwards away from her.
    “What the hell?” the man yelled as he swung around ready to fight. He looked up at Jake’s furious face and immediately backed up.
    Jake growled as he stalked closer to the man, but before he could land a punch, Emma stepped in.
    “Jake. Calm down,” she cried. “I had everything under control.”
    He rounded on her, his face showing his frustration. “Under control?” He was incredulous, looking at the bulky mover compared to her tiny stature.
    “YES,