For the most part, dinner went smoothly and the fact that Kevin went unrecognized too, was a blessing. Emma sat back in her seat and breathed a sigh of relief. A big sigh. She was a little worried about how dinner would play out when she saw Kevin’s expression about the roses Drake brought…but, so far so good. Winding down, they each ordered a drink and began discussing Aunt Betty’s condition.
“So, when is she due home?” Kevin questioned.
“Sunday morning,” Emma replied.
“You’ll be able to catch up with me then by the end of next week?”
“I doubt it Kevin. She’s gonna need me around for longer than a week. When I went to see her yesterday, the doctor was telling me that she won’t even be able to walk without the help of a walker for quite some time.”
Drake piped in, “You know Emma, there are people out there that do this sort of thing for a living.”
Kevin added, “Exactly and they’re better trained for it.”
“I know that guys, but how do you suggest she pays for that? I’ve checked into it and they’re quite expensive. Insurance only goes so far you know,” she huffed.
“I can help with that Em. Whatever insurance doesn’t cover, I will,” Kevin replied. Sitting back, he shook his head. “End of story.”
Emma sat up quickly in her seat. “No, it’s not the end of the story Kevin. My Aunt doesn’t really want someone taking care of her that she doesn’t know. I mean…how would you feel if you had to have some stranger wipe your butt?”
Drake flinched.
Kevin pushed his drink out of the way and threw his hands down on the table. “Okay, wait a minute here. So, what’s the real story? You want to stay and help or are you feeling guilty about not doing it?” he asked. “I thought you said that the doctor told you that she wasn’t that bad.” He paused briefly before making his next remark. “I would describe wiping her ass as being bad, wouldn’t you Drake?”
“I want to do this Kevin. For crying out loud, she was like a mother to me!”
Drake got up and excused himself. “I’ll be right back guys.”
Kevin nodded, “Thanks.”
Lifting her head slowly, Emma fought to hold the tears back. She was not going to let him make her cry. This was her Aunt, her mother figure, her responsibility and her obligation. He was not going to take that away from her. “Why are you doing this to me Kevin?”
Kevin looked over at her incredulously, “Doing what?”
Emma lowered her voice, “Making me feel like shit for wanting to take care of her.”
“I’m sorry if that’s how this is coming across to you, I’m not trying to make you feel like shit.” He leaned forward towards her and looked at her with questionable eyes. “Maybe I’d better talk to her doctor tomorrow.”
She blew out a long, loud breath; frustrated beyond belief with this man that was sitting before her. “Yeah, maybe you’d better.”
Sitting back, Kevin ran a hand through his hair. Now it was his turn to blow out a long, loud breath. The current tension between these two was so thick that even a knife couldn’t cut it. “You know, what’re the guys gonna think when I tell them that you’re not coming back on tour with us?”
So this is what it all boiled down too.
“Depends on what you tell them Kevin. If you tell them the truth, then they’ll probably think that what I’m doing is just what I’m doing…taking care of someone I care about!” Emma exploded. She paused momentarily to catch her breath. “Besides, it’s not like it’s gonna be forever.”
“You sure about that?” he questioned.
Through clenched teeth, she answered him. “Yes, now back off…please.” She could barely restrain herself from smacking him upside that pretty little head of his.
Kevin’s jaw tightened as well. “You know, maybe after talking to the doctor tomorrow, I’ll just head out. Won’t hurt to get to Pennsylvania early.”
“Fine…whatever you want.” Emma got up from her seat and grabbed her purse. “Let’s go.” Grabbing the bill off the table, she felt Kevin grab her arm. Ignoring it, she tried to wiggle free; it didn’t take long for her to figure out that she wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’ll pay the bill,” he stated dryly.
“No, I told Drake I would treat him and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.” Freeing herself, she straightened her shirt, threw her head back and walked away.
Kevin shook his head and mumbled under his breath. What difference did it make? She was using his money in the first place.
**********
After seeing Drake off, Emma walked into the house and slammed the door. She’d just about had it with his attitude. “What the hell was that?”
Confused, Kevin looked over to her. “What’re you talking about?” His gaze was unfocused.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about.” She paced the floor, continuously shaking her head back and forth. “The way you were acting in the car was terrible.” Throwing her arms up in the arm, she sighed. “Let me guess…he WANTS you too?”
Kevin cocked an eyebrow in question at her nativity. His voice deep and low when he responded, “I don’t think it’s me he wants.”
A flush of color brightened her cheeks. “For your information, he doesn’t even like boy bands…he told me that the first day I met him!”
Emma completely missed the meaning behind his earlier remark. It really shouldn’t have been any big surprise, but even he thought he spelled it out clear enough for her to understand. No sense in spelling it out any clearer, she probably still wouldn’t get it.
“Oh, he did huh? Is that why you didn’t tell him who I was…because you were embarrassed about what I do for a living?”
Her eyes flew open and then narrowed in anger. “I am not embarrassed because you’re in a boy band!”
“You sure?” Kevin brushed her cheek with his fingertips.
Emma swung her hand up and brushed his away. “I’m embarrassed because of the way you acted in the car. You were fine at dinner, what happened?”
“I was getting a bad vibe from him, that’s all.”
“You acted like you were marking your territory!” Emma shot back and gave him a disgusted look.
Kevin drawled, “I was marking my territory.”
“I am not a piece of property Kevin.” She stepped back from him a few steps and quickly reached down to pull her shirt out of her pants; her eyes never left his.
His eye’s widened at the sight. What was she doing? Getting naked? The thought of her undressing, getting down on her knees and making up with him was enough to start the blood flowing down below; Kevin swallowed hard. “I know that.”
Emma slid towards him and got right in his face. “I’m not your property either!”
“I know that too.” He grabbed her waist and brought her close to him. “But you are my wife.”
She wiggled free and backed up. Grabbing her shirt by the hem, she stretched it taut and looked up at Kevin. “What does this shirt say?”
He furrowed his eyebrows and waltzed over to her. Was the shirt coming off or not? He didn’t care about anything else.
Emma repeated her question; “What does it say Kevin?” When he ignored her question and kept his gaze transfixed on hers, she proceeded to answer the question herself. “That’s right Kevin…it doesn’t say anything. It does not say Property of a Backstreet Boy, does it? And it doesn’t say Kevin Richardson’s wife…back off, does it?”
It took him a while to respond. He wasn’t prepared for that. Kevin really thought that she was going to get naked, not get nasty. Well…okay, maybe nasty in the sexual sense of the word - but not nasty in her comments. “No it doesn’t Emma…but I could definitely have some t-shirts made up with those sayings if you’d like.” His lips curled up in a devastating grin. “I’d like to see those t-shirts on you.”
Emma turned away and headed towards the bedroom. “You’re insatiable, you know that Mr. Richardson.”
Kevin followed directly behind her. “And you’re lovable.”
She turned around sharply. “What’d you say?”
“I said you were lovable…that’s why Drake is having such a hard time resisting you,” Kevin replied.
Emma smiled and mumbled under her breath, “Yeah I guess.”
She turned back around and walked into the bedroom with Kevin following close behind her. She could feel him right on her heels. “What’re you doing Kevin?”
“Going to bed, what’re you doing?”
Emma walked into the bedroom and right over to the bed. Sitting down, she looked up at him. “Going to bed.”
“Then it looks like we got the same thing on our minds.” He started removing his clothes while she just sat there open-mouthed.
“We are not sleeping in the same bed tonight!”
Kevin stopped after his shirt was off. “And why the hell not?”
“Because I’m mad at you Richardson, that’s why!” Emma got up and placed both hands on his chest. With all her strength, she started pushing him to the door. “You can sleep on the couch.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I’ll bring you a blanket and pillow in a few minutes.”
He rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks.”
When Emma noticed he wasn’t moving, she placed her hands on her hips. “Will you be needing anything else?”
“Yeah, how about a nice warm body to snuggle up with?” Kevin smiled.
“It’ll be a cold day in hell before that happens!” She slammed the door.
