What Emma Craves by Amanda Abbott Read Free Book Online Page A

with people, she could, too. What does that even mean?”
    “ Are you sneaking around with other people?” Michael asked.
    “Of course not. I love my wife. But Emma caught the woman next door, a fortysomething cougar, kissing me. This woman hijacked me in my own kitchen. She came on strong with no provocation on my part, but I couldn’t shake her in time. Emma walked in on us and freaked out. She had to know nothing was going on, but she was bent out of shape anyway. She knows I’d never take Candace to bed. It isn’t even in the realm of possibilities.”
    “Man, that’s rough,” Brad commented. “I feel your pain. So what are you going to do now?”
    Pete made a face. “I have no idea. We’re going on this big vacation in a few days. We’re hitting the Bahamas. I’m hoping we can work it out while we’re there. Some time alone would be a good thing right now.”
    “Caroline mentioned something about that,” Jace said. “She was shopping for your wife. I guess they’re throwing her some kind of vacation shower? I don’t know, I don’t get women stuff. Aren’t you guys going to some kind of secret sex resort?”
    “Yep,” Pete answered. “This resort is way under the radar. You actually have to get a referral to book a suite. They only have twenty villas. We were lucky to get accepted and that they had space available. So we jumped on the dates they gave us. But now, the more I’m thinking about it, maybe I should reschedule until things get back to normal. I don’t want to screw up this vacation.”
    “Nah, I think it’s a perfect time to go,” Michael said. “What better backdrop to make your wife fall in love with you all over again than white-sand beaches and palm trees?”
    “Fall in love again ?” Pete balked. “I hope she hasn’t fallen out of love with me. Jesus .” He ran a hand around the back of his neck.
    “I don’t think she’s literally fallen out of love with you, but it sounds like she could use some serious wooing again. Was it her idea to go there or yours?”
    “Mine.” The waiter dropped his beer off, and Pete took a long drink. He set it down. “But my wife loves watching people have sex. She says there’s art in it, and I agree with her. The place we’re going is ridiculously expensive and exclusive. It doesn’t even have an official name. The guy I know just calls it Paradise. What better place to watch the art of sex than in paradise? I don’t know. I thought it was a good idea at the time.”
    “I think she’ll enjoy it,” Michael said. “But from what I know about women, it’s going to take some work on your part to make sure she does. You’re going to have to learn to appreciate her all over again, just like I did with Piper. That means no fucking other women while you’re there, even if Emma says it’s okay. All your attention should be focused on her. Her wants and needs, not yours.”
    “That won’t be hard,” Pete said. “She’s all I can think about since we’ve been fighting. I’ve never seen her act like this, and it’s gotten under my skin. If we can’t fix this, it’s going to make me crazy. Sex is sex. But love is something different. I’ve chosen one woman to be with forever, and that’s Emma. Period.”
    “Then just make sure she knows that, and you’re all set.” Michael held up his beer. “To the women we love even though they make us crazy.”
    All the guys raised their beers.
    “Amen,” Brad said as he clinked his glass against the others’ and took a drink.

    * * *

    Emma had to cover her mouth and look away so she didn’t laugh out loud. Bringing the girls to the block party had been purely for entertainment purposes, which Emma loved in so many ways, but they were all having so much fun they stayed longer than she’d anticipated. It was way past dark, and they were all settled around a bonfire in a neighbor’s yard two doors down. All the folks who were at the fire were the most interesting