“Are killing me,” she finished for him.
They helped each other up, laughing when Emma’s heel knocked over the garbage can, scattering black ash on her floor.
“Okay, I have to ask. Whose idea was the trash can?” she asked.
“Was it really bad?”
“So bad.”
He grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that. That, my love, was your boy-crush Lincoln Mathis. Jake thought we should bring his legendary ways with women in on the discussion, and this is what he came up with.”
“Huh,” she said, righting the can. “Good thing he’s pretty.”
“Keep it up, and I’ll fire him.”
“Go ahead. Maybe my father will give him a job.”
Cassidy barked out a laugh, and she laughed back.
It felt good. Right. As though she could actually feel the old wounds healing the more they joked about it.
Then he backed her against the kitchen counter, and the joking was replaced by something much more interesting.
“What do you think, darling? Do we attempt a redo of the big church wedding? Or do we piss off parents and friends alike by eloping?”
Emma touched his lip with the tip of her finger. “I’m thinking small and local.”
He kissed her finger. “Whatever you want. My only request is soon.”
Emma gave him a mock frown. “You didn’t like our seven-year hiatus?”
“Are you kidding?” he said, reaching around her to grab the half-burned Stiletto magazine. “It gave you time to add twelve exes to your résumé.”
“Yeah, about that,” she said, reaching for the magazine and opening it to the page with her article. “The cover only has half of my headline.”
She turned the magazine around so he could read it, watching his face as he read it out loud:
“Twelve Days of Exes…and One Forever Love.”
His eyes found hers. “Emma.”
She smiled. “Camille let me do a last-minute change. This was printed days before you came here with your pyrotechnics and secret ring. It’s about you, Cassidy. It’s only you from here on out.”
He smiled back, his eyes looking suspiciously moist. “Wrong. From here on out, it’s only us.”
For Anna and Sarah, who taught me early on how wonderful girlfriends can be. I’m so lucky to have found you.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I owe a rather huge thank-you to my readers, particularly you Stiletto fans. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this book wouldn’t exist if not for you. Sex, Love & Stiletto was originally intended to be a three-book series. From the moment I introduced Emma, I hoped that I’d someday have the chance to tell her story, but without the enthusiastic reader demand, Emma and Alex would never have gotten their chance to shine. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the email and Goodreads messages and tweets asking about Emma. This one’s for you guys.
As always, my agent, Nicole Resciniti, played a crucial part in it. I love you, darling, and your faith that there was a story here.
For my friends and family, I’m sure you’re sick by now of me rattling on and on about yet another story, but you always let me talk. Thank you. An extra big thanks goes out to my husband, for letting me ignore him for weeks at a time while I had an emotional affair with Alex Cassidy.
Last, but never least, I absolutely must acknowledge the hardworking enthusiasm of the Loveswept team at Penguin Random House. This story wouldn’t be here without the readers, but it wouldn’t be here without my “team,” either. To Sue, Gina, Kim, Katie, Janet, Lynn, and everyone I don’t get to interface with but who plays a key part in the production of this book, you guys are beyond amazing. I’m so grateful for the chance to work with you. Here’s hoping there’re many more!
BY LAUREN LAYNE
Sex, Love & Stiletto
After the Kiss
Love the One You’re With
Just One Night
The Trouble with Love
Oxford Series
Irresistibly Yours (coming soon)
Redemption Series
Isn’t She Lovely
Broken
Crushed (coming soon)