Free Blitzing Emily by Julie Brannagh Page B

hand.
    “Sweetheart,” her mom finally choked out, “Are you pregnant? If you’re pregnant, you know your dad and I will stand by you. You don’t have to marry him. Of course, he’ll want to see the baby, but we can get a custody agreement.”
    Emily’s mother had never missed an opportunity to panic since Emily was very young. She was in rare form today. Emily closed her eyes, and took the deepest breath she could in order to calm herself. Her parents were total opposites. Her excitable, passionate, affectionate mother and her calm, controlled, stoic father complemented each other, unless they locked horns. Emily’s mother took any argument as an excuse to increase the volume and dramatics. Emily’s father responded with silence, which made things worse.
    She’d lived away from home for the most part since she was fourteen and started her training. She’d had to grow up fast as a result. She loved her parents, but she wished at times they understood each other a little better.
    “Mom. Mama. I’m not pregnant.”
    Brandon let out a low chuckle. Of course he’d find this hilarious.
    “I could help you with that. Just let me know.” His voice was so soft that Emily’s mother couldn’t hear him, but Emily could. She turned in the seat, giving him a look she was sure would melt flesh. His response was to raise one eyebrow.
    “This is going to kill your father.” Her mother heaved a huge sigh. “Will we see you before the performances start? How are you feeling today? Amy said you got hurt on that delivery.”
    “I have a headache, but I’ll be fine,” Emily said. “The opera company wants me to get a doctor’s release. If I’m feeling any better, I’ll be over on Sunday for dinner.” Emily could still hear her mother sniffling on the other end of the phone.
    “Okay. Hopefully, we’ll see you then. If we can’t, we’ll see you when you’re back from Chicago.” Mrs. Hamilton blew her nose. “Promise me you won’t sneak off and get married.”

 
    Chapter Six
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    B RANDON STROLLED INTO Daniel’s Broiler like he owned the place. Daniel’s was an institution on Seattle’s Eastside, located on the twenty-first floor of the Bank of America Tower in Bellevue. The restaurant featured dark wood, plush chairs, soft music, floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out on a dazzling view of Lake Washington, and amazing food. The service was even better than the food, if that was possible. It wasn’t cheap, but a meal at Daniel’s was something to be savored and remembered.
    “We’d like to sit in a booth,” he said to the hostess, who’d just called him “Mr. McKenna” and asked if he’d like “the usual.”
    “No, thank you,” he said to the hostess.
    “What’s ‘the usual’?” Emily asked him as they followed the hostess.
    “A big steak and an ice-cold vodka martini with olives. Please don’t tell me you’re a vegetarian,” he said.
    “No. I eat meat. I just don’t eat that much of it.” She passed a glass case with steaks the size of someone’s head.
    They were seated, and Brandon opened the menu. “We have to drink a little champagne to celebrate.”
    “I’m concussed, and you want to celebrate.”
    “Maybe I should rephrase that. We’ll drink a little champagne. Other than that, you should order whatever you’d like.” He lowered his voice. “Are you feeling better?”
    “It comes and goes. What’s good here, besides meat?” Emily laid her menu on the table and glanced around. Brandon had slid into the booth next to her, so they could (hopefully) talk without being overheard. It was a cold but gorgeous day, and the view of Lake Washington was breathtaking. The water looked like blue glass.
    “I’m going for the penne with lemon-thyme chicken.”
    “I’ll have some, too.”
    Brandon leaned against the padded back of the booth. “The server will be along any minute now. I know I’m hungry.” Oddly enough, he appeared somewhat nervous. They’d spent the last