job making sure everyone is happy and well-loved.” He took her hands in his and tugged her gently toward him so that she was looking directly in his eyes as he said, “And now it’s your turn.”
CHAPTER TWO
Michael had been in love with Emily his entire life. After all these years, he knew her different expressions—the way she lit up whenever her sisters had good news to share, the way she couldn’t stop frowning when she was worried about them, and how much genuine caring there was in her eyes every time she counseled a student at the high school or was helping out with one of the many island community projects.
Today, however, he couldn’t quite figure out what she was thinking as she said, “What do you mean, it’s my turn now?”
All the Walker sisters had the same blond hair, blue eyes and high cheekbones—the extraordinary good looks they’d inherited from their grandmother. Yet it had always been Emily Michael had been drawn to, with her effortless grace, her self-assured manner, her kind and caring nature...and her sexy girl-next-door appearance.
The strains from the string quartet drifted up to where they stood, and twilight was settling in over the scene. It did look magical, and it was not hard to see that the guests were having a great time.
But Michael only had eyes for Emily.
Always Emily.
He knew how much she had put into helping raise her sisters up and making sure things didn’t fall apart after their mother died. Which was why he’d forced himself to wait to have this moment with Emily until she could stop focusing on her sisters’ lives and finally think about her own.
“You did an amazing job bringing up your sisters,” Michael replied. “And when you aren’t working at the school, you’re always getting involved in local projects.”
“I like my job and working with the community. And I like looking after my sisters, too.” Her mouth quirked up slightly at the corner as she added, “Someone has to.”
He gestured to the scene below them, where her sisters were all dancing. “Like I said, you did great with your sisters, but they’re all more than capable of looking after themselves. They finally all have the lives they’ve always wanted. They’re with men they love.” He didn’t take his eyes off of her face as he said, “I know as well as anyone that you’ve been putting off your own happiness to make sure that everything works out for them. And now, maybe it’s time to think about what you want for once.”
She was frowning as she turned her beautiful blue eyes to him again, and just like always, he immediately got lost in them. “What are you saying, Michael?”
Maybe he should have been nervous. But how could he be nervous when Emily had always been the only woman in his heart? What’s more, he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. Even if she still seemed to want to try to avoid everything that had lain between them since they were kids, he had to get it out into the open. Just one glance down at the wedding told him that.
It wasn’t just that her sisters all had their own lives now. It wasn’t just that Emily had done everything she had said she was going to do to protect them and see them forth into the future. That made it sound as if her sisters had been a weight that had been holding Emily back, and that wasn’t true. Michael cared about all of them too much to think that way.
Most of all, today’s wedding proved just how well things could work out when people finally went after what they wanted. Brian was with Morgan because he hadn’t given up. Hanna was with Joel because she’d told him how she felt about him. Rachel had gone after Nicholas on a Jet Ski . Even Paige—shy, reserved Paige—had been prepared to say on national television what she felt for Christian.
If they could each do that, then surely Michael could say what he felt about Emily here and now. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d ever doubted what he felt. He’d just been
CHAPTER TWO
Michael had been in love with Emily his entire life. After all these years, he knew her different expressions—the way she lit up whenever her sisters had good news to share, the way she couldn’t stop frowning when she was worried about them, and how much genuine caring there was in her eyes every time she counseled a student at the high school or was helping out with one of the many island community projects.
Today, however, he couldn’t quite figure out what she was thinking as she said, “What do you mean, it’s my turn now?”
All the Walker sisters had the same blond hair, blue eyes and high cheekbones—the extraordinary good looks they’d inherited from their grandmother. Yet it had always been Emily Michael had been drawn to, with her effortless grace, her self-assured manner, her kind and caring nature...and her sexy girl-next-door appearance.
The strains from the string quartet drifted up to where they stood, and twilight was settling in over the scene. It did look magical, and it was not hard to see that the guests were having a great time.
But Michael only had eyes for Emily.
Always Emily.
He knew how much she had put into helping raise her sisters up and making sure things didn’t fall apart after their mother died. Which was why he’d forced himself to wait to have this moment with Emily until she could stop focusing on her sisters’ lives and finally think about her own.
“You did an amazing job bringing up your sisters,” Michael replied. “And when you aren’t working at the school, you’re always getting involved in local projects.”
“I like my job and working with the community. And I like looking after my sisters, too.” Her mouth quirked up slightly at the corner as she added, “Someone has to.”
He gestured to the scene below them, where her sisters were all dancing. “Like I said, you did great with your sisters, but they’re all more than capable of looking after themselves. They finally all have the lives they’ve always wanted. They’re with men they love.” He didn’t take his eyes off of her face as he said, “I know as well as anyone that you’ve been putting off your own happiness to make sure that everything works out for them. And now, maybe it’s time to think about what you want for once.”
She was frowning as she turned her beautiful blue eyes to him again, and just like always, he immediately got lost in them. “What are you saying, Michael?”
Maybe he should have been nervous. But how could he be nervous when Emily had always been the only woman in his heart? What’s more, he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. Even if she still seemed to want to try to avoid everything that had lain between them since they were kids, he had to get it out into the open. Just one glance down at the wedding told him that.
It wasn’t just that her sisters all had their own lives now. It wasn’t just that Emily had done everything she had said she was going to do to protect them and see them forth into the future. That made it sound as if her sisters had been a weight that had been holding Emily back, and that wasn’t true. Michael cared about all of them too much to think that way.
Most of all, today’s wedding proved just how well things could work out when people finally went after what they wanted. Brian was with Morgan because he hadn’t given up. Hanna was with Joel because she’d told him how she felt about him. Rachel had gone after Nicholas on a Jet Ski . Even Paige—shy, reserved Paige—had been prepared to say on national television what she felt for Christian.
If they could each do that, then surely Michael could say what he felt about Emily here and now. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d ever doubted what he felt. He’d just been
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