Ch 2
Drew hesitated at the door, staring at the swirling snow through the frosted glass. He hated apologizing—it wasn't exactly his forte—but guilt nagged at him like an unrelenting thorn. Emma had saved his life, and he'd repaid her by dredging up one of the most painful moments of hers.
Bracing himself, he stepped out into the icy wind. Emma stood at the edge of the yard, bundled in a thick coat, strands of her auburn hair getting swept back by the wind. Max bounded through the snow beside her, occasionally stopping to bark at nothing in particular.
"Emma," Drew called, his voice low but firm.
She glanced over her shoulder, her expression cool and unreadable. "What do you want, McIntyre?"
He trudged through the snow, stopping a few feet away. "I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have brought up… all that." He rubbed the back of his neck, searching for the right words. "It was out of line. You didn't deserve that, especially after what you've done for me. You saved my life."
Emma sighed, her breath forming a soft cloud in the frigid air. "You're right. I didn't deserve your thoughtless words."
Drew winced but nodded. "I'm sorry and I'm sorry for the loss of your sister. Really please give me another chance to prove I'm not all bad."
For a moment, she didn't respond. Then, with a small shrug, she muttered, "Fine. Apology accepted. It's not like I can get rid of you anyway. The doctor recommended you rest for a few days. He was confused if the bruises on your face and stomach were from the accident or something else. He will be back in a few hours to check on you."
Drew exhaled in relief, the tension between them easing slightly. "I got in a fight yesterday before the accident with Karrion. I took a few shots to the face and stomach," he softly said, making her shake her head. "Look, I'm not usually this much of a jackass."
Emma arched her brow. "Could've fooled me."
Despite himself, Drew chuckled. "Fair enough. But seriously, thank you. For saving me, for putting up with me and for getting me medical attention. Thank you Max for finding me," he glanced at the dog, who was now digging enthusiastically in a snowdrift.
Emma allowed a faint smile to curve her lips. "Max has a knack for finding trouble. Guess that is why he found you since you're trouble with a capital T."
Drew grinned, the ice between them finally beginning to thaw. "I owe Max one."
They stood in silence for a moment, watching the snow start to pick up again, the wind whipping again. Drew glanced around, concerned about knitting his brow. "This storm isn't letting up, is it?"
Emma shook her head. "No. I just checked. It was in a lull for a bit now its going to pick back up for awhile. The blizzard shut down all the roads for miles. Looks like we're stuck here until it clears. Last year every time it snowed like this it took them a few days to clear the roads."
"Great," Drew muttered, though his tone held more amusement than frustration. "Guess that means I'll be spending Christmas here with you then."
Emma turned to him, her expression unreadable again. "It's not exactly a five-star resort, but I think you'll survive. John got your bags from the truck and put them in your room so you should have everything you need till the roads clear. Did you have plans for Christmas?"
"I'll definitely survive," Drew said looking around, then added, "Honestly this beats my Christmas plans of being alone. I was going to spend Christmas in New York City instead of going to spend it with my family. I didn't want my foul mood to ruin their holidays. Being here with Max and you sounds like much better plans than sitting in a hotel room drinking till I passed out. That's what I did last year. Hmmm maybe fate is trying to send me a signal to smarten up."
Emma blinked, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. She softened, her earlier irritation fading. "Well, I hope you can watch your words more. That would be a nice early Christmas gift for me."
Drew smiled, the first genuine one she'd seen from him. "I promise I can do that."
As they headed back to the house, Max trotting happily beside them, Emma found herself wondering if this unexpected Christmas guest might not be so bad after all.
The fire crackled softly in the hearth as Drew leaned back on the couch, savoring the warmth. He glanced around Emma's house, taking in the subtle details—a few framed photos, cozy furniture, and the faint scent of vanilla from a candle on the mantle. It was her home, not just a hideaway.
Emma sat across from him in an armchair, a cup of tea in her hands. Her posture was relaxed, but there was still a guardedness in her gaze, as though she wasn't quite sure what to make of him yet.
"So, about your bodyguard," Drew said, breaking the silence. "John, right? How long has he been with you?"
Emma took a sip of tea before answering. "Almost 9 years since my first big movie. Once I started playing Cassandra, the daughter of the grim reaper, on a path to find out who she truly wanted to be. The studio insisted I have security after I started getting fan mail that… wasn't exactly friendly about the choices Cassandra had made at the end of the movie."
Drew frowned. "I remember that movie and the sequels to it. Fans can be very intense sometimes. It must have been difficult to get used to not only the fans but the paparazzi."
"It was," Emma admitted. "But John makes it bearable. He's ex-military, highly trained, and—most importantly—someone I can trust completely. Over the years, he's become more like family. His wife, Angie, is my personal assistant. She handles everything—scheduling, travel, even the little things like making sure I remember to eat on set."
Drew's brows lifted. "Sounds like you've got a solid team."
"I do," Emma said with a small smile. "They've stuck with me through everything—the good, the bad, and crazy moments." Her smile faded slightly as she added, "When things fell apart last year, they were the only ones who didn't ask questions or try to get me to talk. They just… helped me disappear."
Drew nodded, sensing the weight of her words. "Do they live with you?"
"Yeah," Emma said. "There is an in-law suite attached to the house. They have their own space and pretty much leave me alone unless I call them. I value my privacy, but it's comforting knowing they're nearby if I need them."
Drew hesitated, then asked, "So, why'd you put me in your part of the house? You could've had me stay with them."
Emma met his gaze evenly. "Because the doctor said to keep an eye on you through the night. If you needed help in the middle of the night, I didn't want to make John or Angie deal with it. I kept checking on you every hour to make sure you were ok. If I needed help, I could have called them."
Drew blinked, genuinely surprised. "You were willing to take care of me? I can't believe you kept checking on me like that."
Emma shrugged, her tone casual but her expression revealing a hint of vulnerability. "I wasn't about to let anything happen to you. And… I guess I figured you'd do the same if the roles were reversed."
Drew chuckled softly. "You give me a lot of credit."
Emma smirked. "I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt that the way you act in the WWE isn't who you really are in real life. "
Drew smiled, a warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with the fire. He stood, stretching. "I appreciate you did that and I'm sorry I screwed things up with my thoughtless actions. How about I try to make up for my stupid mouth and do a little something to thank you for saving me."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
"I'm making dinner," Drew announced, heading toward the kitchen.
Emma stared after him, half-amused, half-skeptical. "Do you even know how to cook?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Drew called over his shoulder, making her laugh.
An hour later, Emma sat at the small dining table, staring at chicken alfredo, garlic bread, and a fresh salad. She was genuinely surprised at what he had made and how good it smelled.
"You definitely just surprised me," she admitted, taking a bite of the pasta. "It's really good. I didn't expect you could cook like this."
Drew grinned, sitting across from her. "You don't survive years on the road without learning a thing or two."
Emma shook her head, a genuine smile curving her lips. "Alright, McIntyre. You've officially earned your keep for the night."
Drew chuckled, but he felt a quiet satisfaction at seeing her smile. For the first time since arriving, the tension between them seemed to ease, replaced by something warmer and more comfortable. They talked over dinner then they watched tv till Emma called it a night heading to her room to get some sleep. Drew laid on the couch for a while thinking of ways to make Emma feel more comfortable around him.
