A/N: Hey everybody! First and foremost I want to thank you all for the support and enthusiasm for this story so far. This chapter picks up the morning after the gala and sets the stage for everything to come. As such it is quite a bit longer than the average chapter will be. Anyway I hope you all enjoy and thanks for reading!
If dreams were a window into one's truest desires, than Killian Jones had never wanted anything like he wanted more time in the presence of Detective Emma Nolan. Every night since his meeting her a week before she'd made an appearance in his slumbering thoughts, and every time she was equally enticing, calling to him in a way that nothing and no one ever had before.
Tonight's rendition included Emma in that all-together too alluring crimson dress, her body pressed close to his in that same excruciatingly perfect way. Only this time there was no interruption and no not-so-subtle hint from his boss' boss' boss that Killian's time fraternizing with his daughter was unacceptable. Instead there'd been more moments in Emma's company, or at least there would have been if not for the harsh slap of a something against his chest, forcing Killian awake.
"Bloody hell, Liam! What are you doing?"
Killian growled out the accusatory question as he tried to still his rapidly beating heart. He glanced over at his brother who had a look on his face that was halfway between amusement and judgment. It was very clear to Killian in this moment that staying with his brother and sister-in-law during these first few weeks of transition was a mistake. If a man had his own home, he didn't have anyone throwing things at him. Killian looked down and saw the item in question was a newspaper and he wondered what on earth would prompt this kind of wake up call.
"What? It's not every day my little brother is on the front page of the Boston Globe. I thought it called for action."
"Come again?" Killian asked sitting up and unfurling the paper, his tired eyes still adjusting to the light of this new morning.
"That's right Killian. You've hit the big time and all by dating the one woman in the whole bloody city that you shouldn't be going after."
Killian was going to ask what his brother was on about when he saw the picture finally. It was a shot of Emma and Killian dancing last night and his first instinct upon seeing it was real and honest joy. The photograph captured a moment in Killian's life that had been the embodiment of light and goodness. It transported him back to that dance and the way he'd felt invincible with Emma in his arms, and he couldn't help the smile that formed on his face when he looked at this image.
The expressions on both his and Emma's faces spoke to a mutual attraction, and Killian knew that despite her coy refusal to admit that last night, Emma was just as attuned to this thing between them as he was. Only after a few seconds, however, did the real problem click in – the written piece accompanying that picture was not even remotely correct, starting with the caption directly underneath the photo:
Sergeant Killian Jones of the sixty-first fire district and Detective Emma Nolan, daughter of District Fire Chief David Nolan and Police Superintendent Mary Margaret Nolan, share a dance together at the Boston Rescue Gala. Sources confirm the two are seeing each other and have been for a few weeks.
"Bloody hell! Is this even a legitimate paper? Who prints a blatant lie like that?" Liam barked out a laugh at Killian's skeptical words.
"It's the city's most trusted outlet and as such most of the state now thinks you two are an item. Not that the picture detracts from that. You're practically mooning all over each other."
"Fuck off," Killian grumbled as he stepped out of bed and threw more clothes on for the day. His brain was still too foggy to wrap around the current situation, and if he had any chance of fixing this he needed his head on straight. As soon as he'd done that he would find a way to contact Emma, because that was the most important thing to him. Killian needed to see that Emma was okay and that she realized he had nothing to do with this mess.
Moving into the kitchen, Killian was hardly surprised to find Liam's wife Elsa attempting to look busy. She was a lovely woman, easily too good for Killian's often surly brother, but she was also a wee bit nosey and over involved. Elsa had the best intentions, but Killian knew that her still being home meant he had no chance of avoiding this conversation as much as he might like to.
"Good morning, Killian," Elsa offered sweetly. "I made breakfast. Do you want some?"
"No, love. Coffee's fine, thanks." Killian reached for his cup, hoping beyond hope that when he turned back around his family would have dispersed, but instead they were staring at him intently.
"Are you two going to stand there all day or are you going to ask me whatever it is so clearly on your minds?" Killian's permission prompted Elsa into an immediate query.
"When did you two meet?" She asked, trying to tamp down her excitement and failing miserably.
"Last week. Emma and her partner responded to the same false alarm that my unit did." And in doing so, Emma had made this move to Boston all the more enticing. Any remorse or regret Killian might have had in relocating and leaving his old home behind was gone after meeting her, but Killian wasn't about to mention that to Elsa and Liam.
"Oh it's Emma, is it?" Liam asked, hinting that the informality was somehow explicit proof of the article being grounded in fact.
"Detective Nolan and I spoke briefly then and met again last night. That's all."
Only it wasn't. They may only have spent about ten minutes in each other's company, but it was so much more than a fleeting interest, at least on Killian's part. Ten minutes was enough for Killian to know that Emma was different, and that given the chance Killian wanted to explore that more and get to know this woman who to many seemed unknowable.
"So you're not dating her?" Liam asked curiously and Killian barked out a laugh.
"Dating her? I barely managed to dance with her. I don't even think we made it through one song before her father stepped in."
"Chief Nolan saw you?!" Liam and Elsa both yelled at the same time and Killian winced at the loudness of their voices. As assistant district attorneys, it was understandable that they would know who David Nolan was, but this kind of backlash was still unexpected.
"Aye, and before you ask, yes he did look sufficiently menacing for me to end the night at one dance." Killian looked back down at the paper before shaking it angrily and continuing on. "So you can understand my frustration with this – this rag – saying that Emma and I are seeing each other when that hasn't even happened yet."
Killian wasn't sure exactly what he expected his brother and sister-in-law's response to be, but it wasn't a deafening silence from both Liam and Elsa. He looked from the picture back up to them and they both appeared stunned.
"What?" Killian barked out.
"You said yet," Elsa said, with a smile forming as she did. "And yet means that something will happen. That you want it to happen!"
Killian ran his hand through his hair at her growing giddiness, feeling unsure of himself and the whole bloody situation. Of course he wanted the chance to see if things might progress with Emma. He had thought of little else since meeting her, but he hadn't intended to give that away this morning, and he certainly didn't know how to deal with press coverage like this that was risking the still flimsy foundations he'd laid down with Emma so far.
Liam looked liable to say something, and given his facial features, it would not have been as optimistic or supportive as Elsa's remarks, but before he could Killian's phone rang. Since the only two family members Killian had were here with him, that left only the station, and though he wasn't set to report for another two hours, Killian moved to retrieve the phone from his jacket pocket across the room.
"Jones," Killian gruffly flung the half-assed greeting into the phone.
"Sergeant Jones, this is Chief Nolan." Oh fuck.
"Chief Nolan. What can I do for you, sir?" Killian asked, attempting to keep his cool when this conversation was essentially destined for disaster. He was already starting to get a headache from all of this, and Killian's fingers moved instinctually to his temple trying to massage away the pain forming behind his eyes.
"Look, Jones, I'll cut to the chase. The press is running with this picture of you and my daughter. I'm sure you've seen it by now."
"Yes, sir."
"Well it's caused quite a predicament on my end. On the one hand, the story is obviously incorrect. It's not grounded in the truth, because there's no way one of my men is dating my daughter."
David's voice through the phone was curt and matter-of-fact and though Killian knew the man was right and that technically he and Emma weren't dating, it still had him bristling all the same. It wasn't a given that no one would date Emma, and frankly Killian didn't care about whatever unspoken mandate there was that Emma be avoided. If she gave any indication of being interested, Killian would move forward, professional consequences be damned.
"But on the other hand, I've got the mayor's office and my wife insisting this might actually be a good thing." What the -
"Sir?" Killian asked, not following the logic on that sudden pivot at all.
"Apparently the public is eating this up, and both the BPD and city officials seem to believe that's valuable in some way. Our jobs are made easier with the backing of the public as you know, and though I can't imagine why a puff piece like this would make them feel better protected, I know better than to go head to head with my wife. If she thinks it's worth doing, I have to support her, even if I don't like it."
"Forgive me, Chief. I'm still not entirely sure what you're saying," Killian replied.
"I'm saying for the time being you're work isn't just at the firehouse. You and Emma will be making appearances together starting with the BPD banquet this weekend. As far as the public is concerned the two of you are together. For now anyway."
"I'm sorry sir - you want me to date your daughter?" Killian asked and he heard something crash to the ground in the kitchen behind him. He looked to see a shocked Elsa ignoring the cup she'd dropped and eating up every part of this conversation she was privy to.
"I want you to appear to date my daughter, Killian. This is a job, an assignment. According to your file and your past supervisors who I spoke with all morning, you're a man who can be trusted. I'm trusting you to do right by my daughter. It's not an ideal situation for anyone and in a few weeks we can put it behind us. But for now it is what it is."
Killian didn't have words for the lingering disbelief about what he was hearing. Honestly, he was still half-asleep at this point, waiting for this to all be some kind of dream. But it wasn't. His commander was currently on the phone asking him to date his daughter – or to fake date her? It was such a mess to be honest, and every damn line was blurring at this point. Especially when Killian had a real and growing interest in Emma.
From where Killian was standing though, he had two options, be the man his former bosses had painted him as and move forward with honesty and openness, or submit to this order and potentially break a promise to Chief Nolan when it came to Emma. Because even if this was a bloody horror show in many ways, it still didn't change Killian's attraction, and it didn't change the fact that if Emma was open to it, he would try to convince her to give this a real go.
"Chief, at the risk of angering you I feel it's only right for me to tell you that I asked your daughter to dance for a reason last night."
"You're interested in her, I know. I don't like it, but I'm also not blind, Jones." The tone in David's voice was cold, but Killian could tell it was foreign to the man. Clearly the Chief wasn't angry or disappointed often.
"And still you're giving me this assignment?"
"It has to be you because of that picture. And as for Emma, she can handle herself. She's old enough to make her own decisions, and old enough to set you straight if you disrespect her. But don't be fooled, if anyone hurts my daughter they answer to me, and that goes double for men in my units."
"Understood, sir."
With that Chief Nolan gave Killian a short goodbye and left him standing there in the living room trying to wrap his mind around the new situation. Killian would have benefited from a few minutes alone to work it out, but in seconds Liam and Elsa were both on him, with more questions and more unsolicited insights. Unsurprisingly Elsa was all positives and Liam was wary and cautious, but each of them seemed to lack the understanding that Killian didn't want to hear anything from anybody right now. The only opinion that mattered to him in this moment was Emma's. Everything else was white noise, and would remain that way until he'd spoken to her.
Finally Killian had to make an excuse about going to the firehouse early just to get out of there, and when he did he allowed himself to plan out what he would do next. The critical thing was seeing Emma, and if he hadn't heard from her by lunch, he'd take his time today to go down to her district. But one way or another he had to see her, and when he did he had to make Emma see that despite the complications, this thing between them was still worth the risk. For even though everything had changed, none of the important things were altered. He still wanted her, he still wanted this, and he was willing to jump through any hoops to give this thing a go. That was a guarantee.
….
Coming back to her childhood home was always a bit of a trip for Emma. This house, located in one of the few quiet boroughs of the city, held so many memories, most of them really good. Emma remembered summers spent out on this stoop waiting for the neighborhood kids to play, and winters when the snows got so deep they didn't have school for days. Emma was always so excited for those unexpected breaks, not just because she could ditch math homework, but because in the Nolan house there was no such thing as off-time. Days away from school meant shadowing her Mom or Dad at the precinct or the firehouse and planning out her own future that would someday come.
That someday was here now, and though Emma hadn't lived at home in any capacity since the day she graduated college, she was still a frequent visitor. Her parents might only demand dinner every Tuesday, but rarely did a week go by where Emma wasn't here four or five times. It was best this way, because though Emma still had the space of being on her own, she could use these visits to calm her mother's frequent worrying and to help both her parents feel like they were still as involved as they always had been in her life.
This morning though, the reason for Emma's visit wasn't calm or relaxed. She walked through the front door searching for her Mom with a copy of the morning's paper in her hand. The moment she saw it on her doorstep, Emma smiled at the image, enjoying the memory of that dance she shared with Killian, but all it took was a few seconds for Emma to realize the shit storm that awaited her. Her life was about to be seriously disrupted, and the first person Emma thought to call when she understood that was her mother. Twenty minutes later she was here and seeking more real counsel.
"Emma, honey! You just missed your father, but he made pancakes for breakfast. Do you want me to heat some up for you?" Mary Margaret asked far too cheerily for Emma to take any sort of comfort as she walked into the kitchen.
"No I'm all set. I think I'll stick to coffee." Emma reached for the pot on the counter and quickly set about making it to her liking before turning back to her Mom.
"So you're here about the article, huh?" Mary Margaret asked, nodding towards the paper that was still in Emma's hand.
"Uh, yeah. I really don't know what to do about it. Can I call someone, or something?" Emma asked, hoping her Mom had the contact info of someone at The Globe so she could maybe see about getting a retraction or a correction printed. It was bad enough that Emma and Killian had been plastered all over the front page because of her connection to her parents, but she could at least get an apology or something for the blatant falsehoods that the article and caption had presented as fact.
"Call someone? I don't understand," her mother countered, turning to Emma with a questioning look.
"Yeah, to get this sorted out. The story isn't true, Mom. Killian and I aren't dating. We just danced," Emma confessed, a slight pang of something like remorse shooting through her as she did.
"I know that," Mary Margaret stated easily before taking another sip of her coffee.
"You do?" Emma asked, wondering why if that were the case that her mother wasn't already trying to do something to get this corrected.
"Well of course I do. You only met the man last week."
"How do you know – oh forget it. Someone told you," Emma fought back an eye roll when her mother's smile appeared again in full force.
"I have my sources, yes. But whether or not the story is true, it's out there, and there's no taking it back. So we have to lean into it."
"Lean into it?" Emma asked, totally confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about letting this thing with you two develop… you know making a few more appearances together." Emma laughed at her mother's words and then saw she was serious. How the hell could she be serious?
"Okay now you're talking crazy. Seriously what is up with you?" Emma asked and her mother sighed before putting her mug down and leveling with Emma.
"The truth is, honey, that this story is kind a great thing."
"A 'great thing?'" Emma asked, her mother's phrasing not computing in the slightest.
"Yes, Emma. I've already talked to some people in the office and at the paper and they said the public's response has been substantial. People really like the idea of a police detective and a fire captain -,"
"Sergeant," Emma corrected absentmindedly and her mother smiled wider.
"A fire sergeant, finding some romance together. Is it so bad to let them think that's what has happened?"
Emma stood there trying to make sense of everything that had been said. It was a lot to take in and truthfully when she walked through the front doors this was the last response she expected from her mother. Part of Emma was ready for an inquisition about the truth behind the story or her mother's being in spin mode to make it better, but this was so far out of what Emma had considered possible. Now she was playing catch-up and trying to vocalize her concerns.
"But it isn't just a cop and a firefighter, Mom. There's a story because it's me, because of my connection to you and Dad. Can't you see that?" Mary Margaret's expression softened some, sympathy shining through her blue eyes.
"I do, Emma, and I realize that has always been hard for you, but this story isn't going to jeopardize your standing on the force. You are so far past any comparisons to me or your father. You've already proven yourself to be one of the best police officers this city has ever had."
Emma appreciated the compliment and her mother's enduring faith in her, but it still felt wrong. Something about this situation wasn't quite right, and for Emma it came down to the idea of who could possibly be this supposed 'source' saying Emma and Killian were an item.
On her way here, Emma called Ruby and though her friend was delighted at the article, Emma knew she had nothing to do with it. Ruby gave Emma her word, and that was good enough for Emma. But if it wasn't Ruby then there were only so many other people it could be, and one of those people was Killian. It felt wrong in Emma's gut to assume that he was behind this because even if they barely knew each other, Emma thought she had a pretty good sketch of Killian's character already. Nothing she'd learned about him so far hinted at him being capable of something like this. But what other explanation was there?
"What's really bothering you, Emma?" Her mother asked as she came around the island and grabbed a hold of her hand.
"How do we know he didn't set this all up?" Emma asked, her throat tightening as if her body physically didn't want to say the words. It was hard being this cynical, and yet Emma had learned that sometimes people didn't have her best interests at heart, and it was safer to be skeptical than let people in.
"Because I did," her mother said lightly, as if it wasn't some huge revelation.
"You did?!" Emma yelled stepping back from her mother immediately.
"Well technically the idea came from the mayor's office, but I gave them the go ahead." Emma's hand came to cover her eyes in frustration. The mayor's office was involved? God would this conspiracy ever end?!
"Why would you do that?" Emma asked, sincerely wanting to know why her mother would subject her and Killian to something like this. She had to know this was going to be a major pain in the ass and possibly incredibly awkward.
"Because they weren't wrong when they called me and said it could work. You and Killian make a very nice looking couple. I saw that chemistry between the two of you while you were dancing all the way across the room. Besides he's handsome, has an accent, and he made you laugh, which isn't very easy to do."
Emma didn't need reminding of all of Killian's good qualities. She had been thinking about them for most of the week, but now she couldn't think of Killian without thinking of this huge potential roadblock they were going to have to face.
"So you saw a nice interlude between me and a guy you thought I might like and said to yourself 'you know what they need? Public scrutiny and pressure to be together even if all it was ever going to be was just one dance?'" Emma didn't bother to hide her discomfort from her mother and Mary Margaret had the sense to look stricken, but she moved back to Emma and lowered her voice to a comforting level.
"What I was thinking was that it was a beautiful moment, Emma, and the city could use a story like that. And you know, the police and fire forces could do with a little more good PR. It's not really that easy to come by; there are only so many kittens stuck in trees in this world. But honestly I didn't see an issue when they asked me. You haven't brought anyone home to your father and I, which leads me to believe there's no one serious in your life right now… Was I wrong about that?"
Emma refrained again from rolling her eyes at her mother's blatant prying. It was all so ridiculous anyway since Emma was smart enough to know her mother kept tabs on her. Mary Margaret Nolan was practically in charge of all the intel in this city and if Emma so much as showed interest in someone her mother would have a file on it. That only complicated things further because Emma was interested in Killian, yet she was unsure if her mother could tell that or not. This was already going to be a dangerous potential thing between Emma and Killian when no one knew. Now a whole city would be watching them? That pressure was so messed up.
"You should have talked to me."
"You would have said no," Mary Margaret replied and Emma knew she wasn't wrong.
"I had a right to know, Mom. This is my life and you just threw a wrench in it because we 'make a cute couple!'" Emma said her emotions getting the best of her again.
"You like him," her mother said quietly and Emma looked away, not wanting to lie to her mother.
"It doesn't matter now."
"Of course it matters Emma. In this family we listen to our hearts and our instincts. Those are powerful tools, and you should never turn your back on them."
"And what about Dad? I can't imagine he was thrilled with this idea of me fake dating his employee. Imagine what he'll say if I tell him I'm not really faking all that much."
"You leave your father to me," Mary Margaret said happily as she came and put her hands on Emma's cheeks, willing her daughter to look at her. "All you need to worry about is giving this a shot. Put your best foot forward and be yourself Emma, and everything else will fall into place."
Her mother made it sound so simple, and Emma was tempted to stay really angry for a while, but the little voice in the back of her head said her mother had a point. She was making this harder for herself by lingering in the stress. If this were a case or any other problem in her life Emma would keep moving and working through it. Why should this be any different?
"You know this isn't just over, right? Eventually we're going to have to confront this for real." Even as Emma said the words, she knew that wasn't going to happen. She might be irritated with her mother, but somehow the older woman would find her way out of this uncomfortable scenario. She always did.
"Oh I know, but you should be going."
"Going?" Emma asked, confused as to why her mother was shooing her away from the house so quickly.
"Well you've got to see Killian." Emma's heart stopped at that idea and her stomach churned anxiously.
"Oh. I was just going to call him or something -,"
"Now, Emma. I know I raised you better than that. This isn't something you handle over the phone. No, you're going to go down to the station before your shift and you'll talk to him face to face. It's best you both get on the same page."
As Mary Margaret gave the orders in the same voice she used with the people in her charge at the station, she maneuvered Emma to the door and gave her back her jacket and her scarf and gloves. Quickly and with efficiency she had Emma all bundled up again before pulling her in for a kiss on the cheek.
"You'll be fine honey, and we'll see you two for the BPD banquet Saturday."
Still in a daze, Emma found herself agreeing and back in her yellow bug that she used when not on duty. She sat there for a moment considering what the hell she was actually going to do. Should she follow her Mom's advice and go see him? Or should she just call and spare herself the potential horror of breaking it to Killian in person that his innocent flirtation had evolved into so much more?
In the end she sided with bravery, and the ride from her parents house to the sixty-first was actually really short, too short for Emma to come up with much of a plan past finding Killian and laying it all out there along with a heartfelt apology and a request that he try not to let this change anything. That last part especially was unrealistic, but Emma found herself hoping somehow that could happen. Truth was she liked where they'd been last night, and she wanted that same easy back and forth now, even if the connection between them scared her a little bit.
Upon arriving at the sixty-first, Emma stepped out of her car and leaned against the door, looking at the firehouse. She debated jumping back in the bug and making a getaway before anyone saw her, but underneath the slurry of anxiety Emma was wading through, there was an eagerness to see Killian again. It felt important to clear some of the air between them, and Emma would be lying if she said she wasn't hoping to see him again too.
Last night after their dance, and all this morning before she saw the paper, Emma replayed that moment in her head. She found herself grinning like an idiot more times than she cared to admit and despite the mortification of her father breaking them up, she'd still felt hopeful. Killian said he was interested, and his actions and words told Emma that he wasn't going to let one interruption from her father keep him from seeking her out. But now that unspoken promise was at risk, and it was up to her to do the chasing, which for Emma was so far out of her wheelhouse.
"Were you thinking of going inside, or…?" Emma jumped at the voice that manifested beside her and turned to find a woman she recognized. Emma knew she was on the force here in the sixty-first and after a few seconds of trying to come up with her chosen house nickname she remembered it.
"Tink right?" The woman smiled and nodded. "Well Tink, I was kind of thinking of abandoning ship to be honest."
"And make me miss the chance to watch the new Sergeant get all flustered because you showed up? Nuh-uh, not happening."
The next thing Emma knew, she was bring dragged by the smaller women into the squad building and Tink didn't let go until they made it past the truck bay and into the common area. When Emma stepped through the door into that large space she was struck by how similar the set up was here to her Dad's station a few neighborhoods away. Emma took comfort in that until she noticed that nearly every person in the house was in here and looking at her. One second everyone was shooting the shit and the next the whole place had gone silent. In the fray of people though, there was one person notably missing: Killian was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey Emma," Graham nodded her way and Emma offered a nod back.
"Hey." Emma was going to ask where Killian was and try to get past this awkward little impasse between her and the whole house when one of the guys she recognized, Will Scarlet, decided to holler over his shoulder.
"Oi, Jones, you've got a visitor!"
It took everything in Emma not to grimace at that announcement, but soon enough Killian was there, looking at Will with a perplexed expression until he saw Emma. In the moment where their eyes met, all of Emma's embarrassment about the situation evaporated and instead she was solely focused on him. Killian looked different in the light of day, a little less suave than he had been last night in fancier clothes, but it didn't detract from this pulsing attraction she had to him.
"Something you want to tell us, mate?" Will teased, breaking the moment and Killian turned to his friend before snatching the paper out of Will's hand and slapping him over the back of the head with it.
"Yeah. Trucks need washing today." Everyone groaned at that and Emma couldn't help but smile at the way they looked so forlorn. She remembered being a beat cop and having days where they washed the squad cars. In the summer it wasn't terrible, but come the frigid winter months it was less than invigorating.
"But it's freezing out!" Will complained, still sounding good-natured somehow underneath his outcry.
"That's unfortunate for you, Scarlet, but alas not my problem." With Killian's words uttered, Will turned to Graham in mock desperation.
"Come on Lieutenant, you just gonna let him do this?"
"I don't let the Sergeant do anything, man. Maybe if you stop screwing around with the ladders every time we have a run you'll get promoted," Graham quipped.
"Well that's not bloody likely is it?" Will joked as he eventually filed out of the room with some of the others. Emma watched it all rather entertained, but then a rush coursed through her when Killian's hand reached for hers.
"Don't be fooled. They might be leaving, but staying here would just invite the whole house to eavesdrop."
"Do you have somewhere else we could go?" Emma asked and Killian nodded, leading her down the hall to an office with an open door. On the solid wood was a plaque bearing his name and rank, looking brand new and overly shiny. The interior, however, was inviting and Emma watched as Killian closed the door behind them. The ambient sound of the house faded away with the action, and Emma's pulse thrummed a little faster, her excitement rising at their being really alone.
"I'll admit I'm a bit surprised to see you again so soon," Killian tossed his thoughts out easily but Emma noticed there was nothing like resentment in his voice, only genuine enjoyment in this turn of events.
"I'm sorry to just show up like this," Emma said, waving her hand around like that would explain anything. Killian, meanwhile, only smiled and moved a step closer to her.
"I'm glad you came, Emma." Emma felt a blush coming on at his words but she fought it off, willing herself to be more composed than she felt on the inside.
"I take it from the copies of The Globe out there that you know about the article." Emma felt the nerves kick in again as she asked. Even though she already knew the answer, she didn't really know what he was thinking.
"Aye. I've had a few people bring it up so far today," Killian confirmed.
"Well I kind of have a crazy proposition I'm supposed to float your way."
God how was Emma going to explain this to him? She couldn't just stand there and say 'Hey, Killian, I know we really just met but you have to pretend to be my boyfriend or my soul mate or something for a few weeks while people write about us in the paper,' It was a ridiculous situation and she had no idea how to handle it. Damn it, she should have come up with a better plan!
"You mean about us dating?" Killian asked and Emma's jaw nearly dropped. "Or rather appearing to be together at a host of upcoming events."
"You know?" Emma asked.
"Your father called me this morning."
"He didn't!" Emma exclaimed, a thousand scenarios (all of them bad) running through her mind about how that conversation could have possibly gone.
"He did," Killian countered with a smirk at his lips.
"I'm so sorry," Emma rushed the words out to the point that they were almost indecipherable but Killian just laughed and shook his head. Leaning back on his desk slightly.
"Don't be. I've been in worse scrapes than this, and I would hardly call spending more time with you a burden, Emma. Believe me, I am more than up to the task at hand."
"You say that now but these parties… they're pretty dull." Killian sobered some at Emma's claim and the fire in his blue eyes was back, mirroring the way they'd looked when she was in his arms last night.
"I doubt any scenario could possibly be lacking if you were in attendance, love."
"How are you still like this?" Emma asked and Killian's brow rose in silent questioning.
"Like what?"
"Charming and funny and…flirting with me? My family just stomped into your life and dragged us into this – because it was my Mom who gave that statement by the way – and yet you're…" Emma couldn't even summarize how he was. It was too unbelievable.
"I'm happy at the chance for more, Emma, in whatever form that takes." The way his voice sounded out across the space between them to her ears made Killian's intentions clear. He wasn't thinking of this as just a job, and Emma was torn about how she felt about that.
"Well this is supposed to be professional. You know that right? Just a bit of PR for the city. A bonus assignment if you will." Emma was babbling and she heard herself doing it. She was tempted to groan aloud at her inability to speak, but Killian pushed off of his desk and moved forward, entering her space and leaving the air around them filled with a crackling of energy and the smell of him.
"So if this is an assignment that makes us partners, doesn't it?" Killian asked, his voice dipping low as he did. It sent a delicious shiver through Emma's body that she desperately tried to conceal.
"In a way, I guess," Emma said, watching as Killian moved slightly closer to her again.
"And partners trust each other, correct?"
"Yeah. They do."
"Well that's all I need to know then, love, because I trust you and I am hoping you'll learn to trust me. Besides, it will be an honor to escort you, Emma. Honestly I only have one request."
"And that would be…?" She asked, her voice breathier than it had been a moment ago.
"That you go out with me for real. No cameras, no obligations, just you and me on the date we were supposed to go on before all of this happened."
Emma's stomach flipped at his earnest words, and she was caught again by just how smooth Killian was. Here he was propositioning her, and where history dictated that Emma should cut and run or let him down easy, she couldn't manifest a refusal. Instead she wanted to engage with him a little more, and to make him sweat a little when he appeared so sure of himself.
"I don't remember agreeing to any date."
"Oh but you would have, love. One more song and I'd have had that pleasure, but your father cut in before I could show you my best moves." Emma laughed at the phrasing and the reminder of her Dad stepping in the way he had.
"You're really that sure of yourself?" Emma asked, knowing he was totally right and that in the end she was going to say yes to this date.
"Not at all, but I am sure that every movie on the subject says if you spin a woman around in your arms enough she eventually goes along with your plan." Emma grinned at the words, and then bit her lip to try and hide it.
"This is a really bad idea," Emma's words died on her lips as Killian pushed a strand of her golden hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing the edges ever so slightly. When they did Emma's whole body went on alert, her craving for more skyrocketing.
"Maybe so, but I see it as an opportunity. I want to see where this goes. I know you feel it too, but the choice is yours, Emma. Either way it's up to you."
For Killian to give Emma the choice was incredibly important. All her life, Emma felt like decisions were made for her, and it wasn't until she'd climbed her way up through some of the different levels on the force that she began to feel in charge of her own path. Individuality was important to Emma after spending so long in her parents' shadows and yet most guys she met just barreled into her life, thinking they could make demands and drop a couple of sweet sounding lines on her and she would jump at the chance to be with them. Emma hated that, but she didn't hate this. Seeing Killian standing here, waiting for her to make a move was exhilarating and a real turn on.
"Yes," she said, liking the taste of that word on her tongue. Her whole body flooded with excitement when she agreed, as if she had been waiting to say yes to someone forever. Who knew? Maybe she had.
"Excellent. Your father mentioned Saturday for the banquet, but if you're off Friday maybe we could start from someplace real."
"I'd like that," Emma replied, her words almost whispered and there was definitely a moment when Emma thought that he was going to kiss her. The look in Killian's eyes and the charge between them hinted that it was a real possibility, but then the alarm started ringing and Emma knew he had to go. This was his job after all, rushing into danger when the call came.
"To be continued, love. But if you could, would you leave me your number? In case something should happen before Friday," Killian teased and Emma smiled again nodding.
"Yeah sure. You should go."
Killian looked at her for another moment, appearing like he wanted to say more, but then the fast movement of footsteps rushed past the door signaling everyone else moving towards the trucks and Killian had to leave, stealing one last glance at Emma and offering that slightly tilted smile to her as he left.
And in that moment Emma realized that despite the forced appearances and the pictures and the press, she was actually looking forward to everything in store. Because for better or worse she was going to have a partner in this, and that partner was a man she was already beginning to feel for and to trust more than she ever thought possible.
Post-Note: So there we have it. Another chapter of this story is done and next chapter I believe I'll be showing their first real date and their first 'fake' date. I think it will be pretty fun, and I am definitely excited to write it. Expect more fluff of course, and a bit more humor from both the meddling friends, and Emma's overly-involved parents. Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and I sincerely hope that you all enjoyed and that you have a great rest of your day!
