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further confirmed in the time he'd spent with her so far. She was very addictive, the self-conscious, but fierce Emma.
    Deliberately stopping his train of thought, he quickly adjusted himself before the girls made their way back out. No need to show Emma what a pervert he was before he had a chance to tell her first. This could be interesting.
    "Hey, you waiting on us?" Arlene called at him as she and Emma made their way over to Arlene's truck, catching him daydreaming.
    "Yeah, actually," he said, sauntering over. "I was going to suggest that maybe I could take Emma back to her house to have another look around in the daylight. I assume you need to go back to the diner?" He looked at Arlene, but saw Emma throw a furtive look his way from the corner of his eye.
    "Sure, fine by me. Emma? Okay with you?"
    "Ehh, sure – I guess?" Raising an eyebrow, Emma turned to face him full on. "What exactly are you hoping to find there?"
    "I just want to have a quick look, and maybe we can make a start in cleaning up a little."
    "Oh, I'll worry about that later, there's no need." And with a dismissive shake of her head, Emma turned to Arlene. "I'll call you later then?"
    "Sure, Toots. Later." Arlene waved as she pulled her old truck out of the parking lot.
    "I, umm... may have a bit of trouble getting up in that massive vehicle of yours." Emma admitted with a grin.
    "Won't be any trouble at all, it just means I can get my hands on you." Smirking, he opened the passenger door of his big Yukon. Although he was not looking forward to coming clean about the telephone call, he couldn't deny he wouldn't mind spending some alone time with the luscious Emma – without Arlene's eagle eyes picking up on every nuance. He'd bet his truck that woman had already picked up on his attraction to her friend, and he was trying so hard to focus on the job... Well he was.
    "You just spit out anything that comes to mind, don't you? Is it me, or does it just seem to occur when Arlene happens to not be around?" Emma squinted her eyes at him, making him chuckle.
    Ignoring what she said, he grabbed her arm, put her walker to the side and swiftly lifted her up into the passenger seat while Emma clutched at his shoulders for dear life.
    "Holy crap! You keep doing that – picking me up like I don't weigh 170 pounds or more. Do you lift cows for fun or something?"
    Gus threw back his head and let out a hearty laugh as he folded the walker, tossing it on the backseat.
    "Woman, first of all, don't mention yourself and cows in the same breath; and secondly, I don't think I've ever met any female who willingly informed me of her weight. You are something else..." Shaking his head, he made his way to the driver's side, amused to find her staring out the window mumbling something about idiot and dimwitted female under her breath.
    Yeah, she sure was somethin’.

Chapter 5
    ––––––––
    W alking into her house, Emma took a few deep breaths, willing herself not to freak out again like she did last night. That was so not her style. Wilting flowers were reserved for others; Steel Magnolia was more her speed, or she'd like to think so, anyway. There was no way in hell she was going to let that big hulking behemoth of a... fuck! He is gorgeous... No, not going there. She wasn't going to let him distract her, especially now that the reality of the shit pile she somehow found herself floating in was so evident around her. Dammit, what a mess!
    Gus walked in and around her, slowly making his way through her living room and kitchen, then back through the hallway to stand in front of her.
    "So, I was thinking that we need to talk. If you wanna take a seat in the living room, we'll start there. I'll start and just pick up and you can tell me where it goes. We'll talk about what we find, and what’s missing as we go."
    Emma snorted. "Well that's gonna take forever. I may not be as able-bodied as you are, but I'm not bloody helpless! Let's just start somewhere."
    Gus threw