Free Crazy About You by Katie O'Sullivan

reflected the oranges and pinks playing across the sky outside the large picture window. Watching the few wispy clouds move slowly across the sherbet colored backdrop, she thought again about that delicious kiss at lunch. A shiver skittered across her shoulders, her daydream finally chased away by the ringing of the phone.
    She’d checked in with her parents from the shop, getting the update from the hospital, so Emma let their machine take what was likely a message for one of them. She opened the cabinet to find a fresh can of dog food before Hershey started whining about dinner. The machine beeped and Tony’s voice filled the kitchen.
    “Emma.” He didn’t sound happy. In fact, he sounded downright pissed. She stared at the answering machine, reluctant to reach for the receiver. She’d never heard him angry. Ever. “My cousin Vito was in P-town on business and told me he saw you having lunch all hot and heavy with some stranger. I need to talk to you about this, now . This is not how our arrangement works, goomah .” An uneasy silence stretched for long minutes before the line clicked dead.
    Emma stood frozen at the counter, mouth hanging open, the can of dog food half-open. What the hell? What arrangement? Did Tony actually threaten her for eating lunch with another man? That didn’t sound like the nice guy who always opened doors for her, helped close deals with her, offered a spare bedroom with no strings… The guy who told her in no uncertain terms that they would never be more than friends. So why was he suddenly sounding uber-possessive?
    She grabbed the phone and hit redial. He picked up immediately.
    “Hey, Tony. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to call earlier, but…”
    He cut her off. “What the hell is going on, Emma? You’re sneaking behind my back to see some old hometown flame? Tell me his name so I can soften him up a little.” He definitely sounded drunk. Noises in the background indicated he wasn’t alone.
    She prickled at his tone and the accusation. “Did you listen to my message? Sean is in the hospital.”
    “Babe, I’m sorry about your brother. But Vito said…”
    “I don’t even know this Vito guy.”
    “He’s, like, my cousin. He covers business in Boston and Provincetown.”
    “And this is the first time I’m hearing of him. Forgive me if I’m not quaking in my shoes. So your cousin saw me. I ate lunch with the guy whose phone I broke yesterday.” Silence greeted her confession. “Tony?”
    “But I gave him money.”
    “Yes, but I needed to give the phone back, too. He spent your money to buy me lunch.”
    More silence. “Not an old boyfriend?”
    “Not even close. And what if it were? It’s not like you and I are hot and heavy. We’re friends, right? Just friends.”
    “Wait a sec.” The background noises faded, and Emma figured he’d left the room to find a quieter place to talk. “You don’t know these guys. In their minds, men are never just friends with women. You have sex with them, or you marry them. Or sometimes both.”
    She laughed, assuming he was making some kind of stupid joke, but quickly realized he wasn’t laughing along. “Wait, you can’t be serious.”
    “Like the plague, babe.”
    “But that’s ridiculous. We aren’t dating. You’ve already told me plenty of times how I’m not your type.”
    His words slurred and she heard the ice clinking against his glass. “But for Vito to throw down the gauntlet like that was bad. Taunting me in public. It undermines respect. Business is all about respect. I can’t show weakness, not right now.”
    “I think your problem’s with Vito, not with me.”
    “You might be right about that.” Tony sighed, his breath heavy in her ears. “I’ll take care of my cousin, soften his head a little. But I have to ask you to be more circumspect, at least until the Eco Dawn project reaches full funding. You should be focused on that. I don’t need to be worrying about this right now, when there are