The Night Before Christian Read Free Page A

fell against the
doorjamb. How could he not believe she’d ever loved him?
    “You’re wrong,” she
mumbled. “You’re so wrong.”
    She’d displayed unconditional love in
its purest form—sacrifice.

Chapter 2
     
     
    From the second
Christian entered his brother’s place—ten minutes—ago, he’d paced the floor.
Why in the hell was he letting his encounter with Emory get to him? She was his
past. A past that’d come to a screeching halt with no more than an “ I need space ”
as an explanation.
    He couldn’t shake her
from his thoughts, or what she’d said. “You don’t know everything?” The
words had bounced around in his head since he’d left her shop. What didn’t he
know? It doesn’t matter . At least, he was damn sure trying to convince
himself it didn’t.
    Of all the flower shops
in Raleigh, how in the hell had he walked into Emory’s? The moment had played
out just like a movie. Their eyes locking, both bewildered, neither able to
turn away. And the attraction… His attraction to her had been off the chart.
Clearly, his body had no qualms about betraying him.
    She’d looked good. Damn
good. Swearing under his breath, he cursed himself for even allowing such
thoughts to materialize. He didn’t want to think about how damn good she
looked. He didn’t want to think about how damn nice she smelled. He didn’t want
to think about her period, dammit.
    Floral designer
extraordinaire ? When in the hell had she taken an interest in floral
design? Giving it some thought, they hadn’t spoken in years. He was sure she’d
developed an array of new interests.
    “Christian, man, please
sit down. You’re giving me motion sickness,” his younger brother Chauncey said.
    Christian massaged the
stiffness in his neck. “Can you believe she had the audacity to tell me she
wasn’t quitting? Like she has a damn choice,” he said more to himself than
Chauncey.
    “Come on. You, of all
people, should know how headstrong Emory is. And the harder you push…”
    Chauncey was right. She
was as stubborn as a constipated mule. That was one of the many reasons he’d
fallen in love with her. She never took shit from anyone. Including him.
Especially him. That definitely hadn’t changed. At least, the taking shit from
him part.
    Chauncey fell back
against the cushion of the chair he occupied. “Cut her some slack. She’s had a
rough year.”
    This slowed Christian’s
steps, the words fully garnering his attention. “Rough year? What happened?
What’s going on? Is everything all right?” He stunned himself with the amount
of concern present in his voice.
    “Damn. Take a breath,”
Chauncey said with mock humor in his tone.
    Christian shot him the
bird. When the laughter settled, Chauncey’s expression turned serious. Whatever
had his brother so bothered wasn’t good.
    “Her mother’s
Alzheimer’s Disease is progressing. It’s taking a toll on Emory.”
    Fine lines etched
across Christian’s forehead. “Alzheimer’s? When was Ms. Anne diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?”
    “Like two years ago I
believe. You didn’t know?”
    Christian dropped into
the sofa across from his brother. “No, I didn’t.” Alzheimer’s ? He’d seen
the devastation of this condition up close and personal. His grandfather had
succumbed to the effects of the dreaded disease. Ms. Anne’s diagnoses had to have
come after he and Emory had broken up. Damn. Not Ms. Anne . He’d loved
that lady. “Emory has to be taking this hard. They were really close.”
    Chauncey nodded. “She
is. She refuses to put her mother in a facility. She wants to keep her in
familiar surroundings.”
    Christian kneaded at
the tension in the crook of his neck. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
    “She’s also footing the
bill for her mother’s place and ’round the clock care.”
    That didn’t surprise him
either. “How do you know all of this?” Better yet, why hadn’t he shared any of
this with him before now? Then it hit him. Chauncey