“Do you realize that I’m more attracted to you than I have been to anyone in my entire life?”

Sarah blinked at the lunacy of the comment. “That can’t be true.”

“By a long shot, actually. You’re a mystery to me, Sarah Matamoros. There are times when you seem like the most self-assured woman on the planet, and others when you seem to doubt yourself for reasons I can’t fathom. I’d give anything for you to understand how wonderful you are across the board and sexy for days.”

“Sexy too?” Sarah was starting to get into this. She cupped Emory’s ass and nipped lightly at her chin.

“Very sexy,” she said through hazy eyes. “In fact, I’m scheduled to meet Lucy in twenty minutes at the office for a work session. And because I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you, I’m going to be good and late.”

“First time?”

“Actually, yes.”

“Do you think the sun will still rise?”

“I’m finding I really don’t care.” Emory offered Sarah a smile that would keep her heart soaring for the remainder of the day and then some.

Chapter Thirteen

It was the week after Labor Day and Sarah loved life. School had started, and there was that new sense of purpose in the air that always came with it. The weather was turning colder, and she could hardly wait for full-fledged, leaves-falling-from-the-trees autumn to finally arrive. It was definitely her favorite season and always managed to get her blood pumping. Maybe she would purchase a new leather jacket for the occasion, something a little more cutting edge than her green cotton windbreaker. Who knew?

Grace seemed to be enjoying her first week in the fourth grade and had taken up with a whole new crop of kids. Emory still got first dibs on all the latest developments in her social life, but Sarah comforted herself in the fact that Grace still seemed to choose her for almost everything else.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, Sarah focused instead on the visitor in her office.

“One last question and I think we’ll have all we need for the article.”

Sarah nodded and smiled politely at the friendly looking young man who sat across the desk from her. In actuality, she was thrilled to be getting a feature article in the Union-Tribune about Immaculate Home’s expansion and would sit and talk to this reporter until the cows not only came home, but took off again. The exposure from the write-up could give the business an incredible shot in the arm, and she knew she had Emory and her press release of wonder to thank for it. It turned out there really was something to this newswire business.

The young reporter pushed his glasses up on his nose and scribbled a few notes before continuing. “So just to wrap things up, what makes Immaculate Organization different from say California Closets or The Container Store? You offer very similar services.”

“That’s true, we do.” Sarah came around and perched on the corner of her desk. She loved this question because the answer was the lynchpin in what made her mother’s parent company successful. “There’s a certain amount of hands-on, personal attention that our clients have grown to expect and depend on. It’s this component that’s kept our company growing each of the twenty-six years we’ve been in business. That one-on-one relationship transfers to this branch of the company as well.”

The reporter reached across the desk and switched off his travel-sized voice recorder. “I think that just about does it. Thank you so much for your time, Ms. Matamoros. The article should run next week.” He picked up his attaché case and headed for the door. “I think we’ll approach your story as the little engine that could and then did. Hometown little guys making good always seem to do well with our readership, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re as passionate and likable as you are. Get ready. Sometimes these feature stories can attract more attention than you realize. I hope you have the manpower lined up once that phone starts ringing.”

“Oh wow, you know, I hadn’t quite thought of that.” She jotted a note to herself on her Post-it cube. “Thanks for the tip.”

But when the article came out a week later, she couldn’t have been happier. She’d raced to the phone and called Emory first thing that morning after finding the write-up in the Life section. When she arrived at the apartment twenty minutes later, Sarah tugged her inside all the while grinning like a maniac. She was too excited to try to act anything but foolish and had absolutely no problem with that. “Read it. Read it. Hurry. Read it.”

Emory laughed when Sarah practically pushed her onto the couch. “Okay, but you have to stop grinning at me like an adorable person so I can concentrate.”

“Got it. No grinning. Not at all adorable. See?” Using the extra energy, she paced very seriously instead, killing time so Emory could read the article. The article all about her family’s business, with quotes from her directly. Super stoked was an understatement.

It was only a couple of excruciating minutes later when Emory dropped the paper and shot her one of her more radiant Emory smiles. The one that caused her whole face to light up and made Sarah all tingly. “So?”

“So, you, in addition to being incredibly cute right now, which was against the rules I might add, are also incredibly famous. This is an awesome article, Sarah. I’m so excited for you.”

Sarah practically tackled Emory in appreciation, threw her arms around her, and eventually settled quite happily into her lap. Emory knew more about these kinds of things, and getting her vote of confidence made everything that much more real.

“It’s so strange to see my name in the paper.” She picked up the page to look again. “I’m nobody. But look,” she held her photo up to her face and grinned alongside it, “there I am in black and white.”

“There you are. And I love this photo, by the way. Who do I have to sleep with to get a copy?”

Sarah slid her arms around Emory’s neck and looked skyward. “It’s possible I can set something up for you.”

“Oh good, then I came to the right place.” She kissed Sarah’s neck at the open collar of her shirt. “Grace home?”

“Nope. Headed out with Mindy’s family on a picnic.”

Emory lifted her head. “So just us? Maybe we can hang out.” She unbuttoned Sarah’s top button and kissed her collarbone.

Sarah’s mind slid to all the things they could do to each other alone in the apartment, but damn it, it would have to wait. “I wish we could, and we will soon. It just can’t be right now. I have to shower.”

Emory stilled. “No? ‘Cause I’m really good in the shower.”

Heat infused her at the memory. “You can’t say things like that to me right now. I’m running late.”

“You have big plans today?”

“I have to work.”

She looked up at Sarah. “It’s Saturday. Even I take an occasional break on Saturday. Let’s take a break together. I kinda like you.”

Sarah feathered her hands through Emory’s hair and leaned in for a light kiss. “I like you too, but Mama picked up a last-minute job and no one else is available. I should have told you when I called. Maybe you can join us for dinner tonight? I promise I won’t make you cook it.”

Emory frowned, trying to piece it all together. “Wait, so you’re not going in to the office?”

“Nope. A house. Real work.” Her eyes flashed as she grinned. “Don’t worry. I didn’t forget how.”

“No, I wouldn’t imagine.” She attempted a smile, but could feel it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She didn’t know why exactly, but she didn’t like the idea. Emory slid Sarah off her gently and crossed to the window, trying to work it out.

“Okay. What just happened in that head of yours? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I just—”

“Hey, look at me.”

Emory did. “I feel like you shouldn’t work directly for the clients anymore. In their homes. You’re heading up the new division. That’s your job.”