"So take it like a man!" Elle demanded, throwing her arms around him in a warm embrace. His faced turned instinctively towards her, which he was hoping she wouldn't notice.

She wrapped her arms around his neck longer than was probably appropriate. She was so overwhelmed by the emotions of the day. The sting of Callahan's disapproval, the heartbreak for innocent Brooke, the cognitive dissonance of what to do with her secret alibi, and now the way it felt to see Emmett's confidence flourish. It was all so much.

She pulled away, leaving her hands on Emmett's face. She leaned in slightly to test the waters, and when he didn't flinch away, she closed the gap and gently pressed her lips

to his. He remained rigid. Not a good sign. Nervously she pulled away again, this time releasing his face.

"I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me. That was completely inappropriate" she bumbled, trying to hide her mortification. She thought for sure her budding feelings were mutual. He was certainly physically attracted to her, that much was obvious every time he looked at her. Still, she was beyond stupid for thinking Emmett was the type for that to be enough for him. He was her superior now, and there was no way he saw her as more than a ditzy intern. His best friend, a shoulder to cry on, his fashion counselor, and a beautiful face to look at, sure, but Emmett would never risk his job for a fling with her. And she knew that's all she would be— a fling. In her emotional outburst she seemed to have forgotten that this brilliant lawyer would never consider a future with her, a walking Barbie doll.

"I'm so sorry" she muttered, turning to walk away.

Emmett grabbed her arm and she turned, meeting his wide eyes. In a flash his lips were on hers, kissing her back with fervor. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, as her hands settled on his shoulders. It'd been a long time since he'd kissed a girl, but he was pretty sure it had never felt like that before. His heart was racing, but he could focus on nothing but the taste of her lips and the way her body fit perfectly against his. He would've happily died right then.

Elle was the one who first remembered they were standing in the middle of a department store and broke the kiss. She cleared her throat and flung the suit bag at Emmett's chest. "Um, we should go." Emmett nodded and followed her brisk pace out the door.

"Elle! Wait!" he called out. He couldn't believe she could go so fast in those ankle-breaking heels.

"I'm sorry Emmett. Seriously, don't even worry about it. It never happened" she said, refusing to slow down.

"What? Why-"

"I don't want to get you into any more trouble. It's just been a really emotional day and I got carried away. Seriously, it was nothing."

"I don't want that to be nothing. That didn't feel like nothing" Emmett muttered.

Elle stopped in her tracks. She turned around to meet his gaze, and his eyes were pleading. He looked so handsome, so nervous. She could tell this admission was quite difficult for him. He was risking a lot.

"It didn't?"

"No. Did that feel like nothing to you?" His voice was shaking. He was terrified.

"No." Elle admitted.

They continued to stare at each other, but at a loss for words.

"I couldn't live with myself if I got you into any trouble, Emmett. You work so hard, I don't want to jeopardize anything." Elle said, tears clouding her eyes.

"Elle, let me make myself abundantly clear." Emmett started, stepping closer to her and holding onto her hands, "I am seriously in love with you. I would risk absolutely everything if it meant I could be with you."

"You would?"

"I would, if that's what you wanted. Is that what you want? To be with me?" His heart's rhythm sled up after every second Elle took without responding. He didn't want to press her, but he had to know. Maybe he had read this wrong. Maybe it was nothing to her.

"Elle?" he tried.

"I mean, yes, I do, but... Emmett." Elle blurted, clearly feeling rushed.

"Is this.. about Warner?" He would understand that. It was naive of him to think those feelings for Warner would be gone now just because she had met him now. He was no comparison to Warner. That was for sure. Still, he thought her motives had really changed. She seemed like she was here to be a lawyer now, and maybe that was the case too, but that certainly didn't mean her dream life included him. Elle completely forgetting about Warner and falling in love with him instead was a silly pipe dream.

Elle still didn't answer. She was wracking her brain to find the best way to let him down, he was sure.

"Hey, that's okay. I get it." He nodded, starting to walk off.

"Oh, Emmett please don't go! That's not what I meant!" she called out.

"You don't owe me an explanation, Elle. I just, well, if you're trying to decide what you want, please throw my hat in the ring, okay?"

"Okay" she breathed, letting him walk away.

She got back to her dorm room and laid on her bed, now with a lot to think about. She knew that if given the choice, she'd choose Emmett over Warner any day. She loved Emmett, and although there was no way he felt as strongly about her as she did him, he had just admitted that he did feel something. She should've been overjoyed. The object of her affections for several months now is was interested in much more than a fling with her. He was willing to risk his job for her.

But she couldn't ask him to do that. That was entirely too selfish.

She decided the best thing to do was to get her hair and nails done. She always thought her best when she looked her best.

She retold the entire story to Paulette, who was probably just as happy as Elle was.

"Elle, honestly, I can't believe you didn't just jump his bones."

"He could lose his job, Paulette!"

"If you got caught. So, for the next like, two weeks, don't get caught. He's always in your room as it is. I'm sure your whole team already thinks you're doing it."

"Paulette!"

"Seriously! The guy wants to risk it all, so let him."

Elle went back to her dorm, planning on giving Emmett a call and asking him to come by. Like magic, he was already standing outside her dorm room door.

"Hi" he blushed.

"Hey, here let me let you in." She turned the key into the lock, and opened the door, gesturing Emmett to go on in.

"I'm sorry for just showing up like this."

"I'm used to it." she teased.

He smiled, thankful for something to ease his nerves. "I'm sorry, I just uh, wanted to apologize."

"Apologize for what?"

"I didn't mean to put you on the spot earlier. I, uh, well, our friendship is something I wouldn't be willing to risk. So, I'm sorry."

"I want to be with you." Elle blurted out.

"You what?"

"You said you'd be willing to risk your job for that if I wanted that. Is that still true?"

"Yes." Emmett said strongly, thick with emotion. There was no doubting he really meant that.

"I don't want to get you into trouble ever. But what if, just until you're done kind of being my boss, we just... kept it a secret? I mean everyone probably thinks we're together anyway, so what's really difference?"

Emmett couldn't believe his ears.

He grabbed her face and kissed her as hard as he could.