Read Being Emma for Free Online Page B

Sam was having
with Bud about his latest winemaking efforts. She would definitely
have to keep her ears and eyes open…
     
    * * *
     
    Jeanne
wasn’t the only one watching Janie… Ethan too had had his eye on
her most of the afternoon. He had spoken to her briefly here and
there, but had never really had a conversation with her. Once she
tried to get him to talk to Diane. Diane? Why would he want to talk to her? Not his cup of
tea…
    He was hoping to catch her alone sometime.
Diane sat down by Janie and Craig for a while and then Craig got up
to help Colt with the pony rides. He watched Janie and Diane walk
into the house together. Ethan guessed that Diane was leaving…
    Walking into the house, he caught Janie
alone. She had just closed the door after saying goodbye to Diane.
Ethan gathered his courage and walked up to her.
    “Could I talk to you for a minute?” She was
startled to see him there. His eyes looked too bright.
    “Sure. What’s up?” He stepped closer to
her.
    “I know why you invited me here today.”
    “…Okay… Why?”
    “Because I think you like me. You must know
that I like you…” She took a step back. Closing her eyes, the
conversation with Craig at the archery range came back to her with
a vengeance. Crap… she hadn’t see this coming…
    “Wait a minute, Ethan.” He stepped closer to
her. She put up her hands to block his advances. “You’ve got the
wrong idea here.”
    “I don’t think so. We work so well together
and you wanted to take my picture that day at the station. Now this
invitation… I think you’ve finally noticed that I have feelings for
you.”
    She nearly choked. “Ethan… Boy, are there
some mixed signals here.”
    He stepped in again and this time she blocked
him more emphatically with her hands.
    “I don’t think so…”
    “Well, I know so. I wanted you to notice
Diane… To take Diane out.”
    He blinked at her in complete surprise. “Why
in the world would I want to do that?”
    “Why not?”
    “Because she’s not my type. I haven’t given
her a moment’s thought. You’re my type, Janie. And I think I’m
yours.” He started moving again.
    “If you come any closer, I swear I’ll flip
you on the floor.” That stopped him – He knew she could do it.
    “Are you saying you’re not interested in
me?”
    “Not romantically. I’m sorry you got that
impression… I was just hoping you and Diane would go out.”
    Ethan coughed and sputtered. “… So not going
to happen.” He looked into her face. “But not you and me
either?”
    “No… not at all…”
    He walked to the front door and opened
it.
    “Ethan?” He turned around.
    “I hope this doesn’t affect our working
relationship. Honestly, I never meant to lead you on…” He laughed
and angrily walked out the door. Janie stood there alternately
wringing her hands and being pissed. Lily came in the back door
then and saw her.
    “Sweetie, you okay?” Janie shook her head and
shakily sat down in one of the family room chairs. All the air
seemed to whoosh out of her lungs. “Janie?”
    “Oh, Mom… It’s even obvious to me now how
little I know about some things.” Lily laughed and sat down by her.
She took one of her hands to keep her from twisting them into a
pretzel.
    “Tell me…”
    And Janie told her the whole story from Diane
to Ethan… from Meg and Carter to Craig… And then back to Ethan. It
took a while and Lily thought she might even cry in a few parts.
She certainly seemed contrite.
    Lily blew
out a breath. “ Whew … I always
guessed that Meg and Carter’s relationship was passionate – Glad to
hear I was right.” She looked at her youngest daughter. She had
lovely eyes and full lips, and probably never had been concerned
about how pretty she really was. Nor had it registered when men
noticed her.
    “You realize how wrong you were to interfere
with Diane now?”
    “Yes, absolutely. It was a wrong move. Craig
really scolded me about it.”
    “Craig