That was two hours ago, and while I’d replied eager and ready, I was anxious over what to expect now that I knew who she was. This felt like a catalyst that cracked me wide open; emotions on raw display for anyone passing by to see in all their bloody glory.
I had to know. I couldn’t assume Aspen was right and they were one in the same—Ember andmyPoison Ivy.My little flame.The woman I’d thrown caution to the wind for and kissed a week ago. Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe there weretwoPoison Ivys at the party. Was it unlikely? Especially given they both would’ve been redheads? Of course, but it didn’t stop me from trying to concoct any sort of reasoning in my head that would enforce it making sense.
I’d logged into the app on my laptop and immediately went into the back-end of the program where everyone’s personal information was stored. Would Julian kill me for doing this? Possibly. Was I willing to risk it? Clearly. I wasted no time typing in ‘Ember Brady’, and there she was. Her fullprofile, the one I couldn’t see because we’d chosen anonymity, and it was her. Her bright golden brown eyes, her freckles, and her long red hair.
Ember Rae Brady.
The username was the same, the bio was the same, the only difference was that this one also had a photo of her smiling at the camera. Her hair was long and slung over one shoulder, and she was wearing a pair of jean cut-offs with an emerald green t-shirt that hung off her left shoulder.
She was a vision, pure and simple, and I had to have her. Ember Rae Brady was the full package, and everything about her called to me.
Which brought me to now, sitting at my desk in a pair of low-slung baggy sweats and a cropped workout tank, staring at her photo. Her smiling face staring back at me on the screen.
I wasn’t sure how to proceed. Did I want to see her again? Absolutely. But I wanted to see her asme.I had a feeling that just coming out and telling her who I was and that we’d been having incredible sex for the last month and a half wouldn’t go well. She’d told me as much herself—she was married to her job, her business.
So I did what any normal and intelligent man would do, I called my mom. She answered before the second ring, and I’d never been more thankful for a dedicated parent in my life.
“I need your help,” I said the moment the phone stopped ringing.
“Well hello to you too my darling. Are you calling to tell me why you missed Sunday dinner tonight?” Her tone was casual and never angry or agitated when it came to my mind being anywhere but off my job. My mother truly was an angel sent from the heavens above, and none of us deserved her, but I was thankful I’d just called instead of video callingas I ran my hands over my face and set her up on speaker phone.
“I know, I’m sorry, Mom. It’s a shit excuse, but I got caught up in my work and today sort of got away from me.” Mom had decided recently that we needed more family time, so she’d started hosting Sunday evening family dinners where the entire family was expected to come. Normally, this was great, but today I just couldn’t face my brothers until I had answers about my girl.
Had they all texted me with questions about how I missed the obvious? Yes. No one but Rowan knew the entirety of the story, but they’d gotten the gist of me seeing someone and not connecting the dots. So much for being the brains of the family.
“You and that job. You know, Wyatt, there is more to life than just your career, and while I know it’s important to you, I wish you’d…I don’t know, live a bit more.” She let out a sigh. “I’m sorry darling, I know you didn’t call me to hear me lecture you on how you choose to live your life. I’m proud of you, honestly I am. You’ve gone out into the world and created something you’re proud of. I just worry, as is a mother’s right. Letting it go now. What did you need my help with?”
I smiled despite myself. We’d had the conversation over my workaholic ways countless times, but her concern was never that I worked too much, and always on me missing out on life. I loved her for it, because one came from a place of trying to change who I was, while the other was just a place of motherly love.
“I think I met someone,” I said to break the lingering silence as I got lost in my own thoughts.
“Youthinkyou met someone? Who is she? How’d you meet? Tell me everything! And most of all, what do you needmy help with? You’re a charming, smart, handsome young man.” I couldn’t help the chuckle that erupted from my mouth. My mother never mentioned my job as a perk of being with me. She raised us to view a career or job outside of the one who worked it, truly emphasizing that what was inside mattered more than any amount of money you may bring home.
“Mom, I’m a workaholic who’s happily married to his job, and I’ve never had a serious girlfriend in my entire twenty-six years of life.”
She scoffed. “Well, yes, but you’re my son. Your father was also quite the workaholic, and he was still a lovable, charming young man back in his youth.”
I shook my head, unable to help the smile that was now stretched across my face. Mom never failed to sound wistful, but in a happy, nostalgic sort of way, when she talked about Dad. It had taken her a long time to get there, for the thought of Beau Carragan to not bring tears to her eyes when one of us brought him up. But it’d been almost fifteen years since we’d lost him, and while we were all still sad about it, she was able to find joy in the memories she had with him. Memories she was always happy to share with us. Somewhere, deep down, I wanted that.
“I know, Mom. I’m thankful I inherited even half of his charm. But back to the topic. It’s complicated to say the least. We met under less…ideal circumstances, and I’m convinced she hates me.”
“Hating you is impossible, my darling, don’t be ridiculous.”
I decided to give Mom half the story. Leaving out the sex app would be vital for her mental well-being, but I could tell her the rest. So I did. I told her about Aspen texting me, me making a fool of myself when Ember and Imet, trying to help her with her identity theft issues, all of it—again, minus the sex app. “Which leads us into me going in a few days ago to tell her that I’m pretty sure it’s her father doing it all, which you can imagine she didn’t take well.”
“Oh my, and this is the girl you have to have? You never did like taking the easy route, Wyatt,” she said plainly. I laughed, I couldn’t help it. She wasn’t wrong. I’d always done and picked the hardest route possible, it seemed. “Well, I will say, you’ve never been one to shy away from hard work, so I’m not sure why this should be any different. I will also say, her father was a piece of work while we were growing up, and truly, I didn’t realize she was his daughter, but that’s of no relevance. Go woo the girl, Wyatt. She owns the bakery, and from what I’ve heard, she runs it alone, so you two have that in common already. Do something to make her life easier.”
I stared at my phone for a moment, a laundry list of things coming to mind that would make her life easier, but none of which could be done with my mother on the phone.
“Mom, you’re a genius. I love you. I owe you for missing dinner tonight, but I’ll come see you this week,” I said quickly.
“Damn right you will. I love you, darling. We’ll chat later, and Wyatt?”
“Yeah?”
“Good luck. I can’t wait to officially meet her.” I smiled and we said our goodbyes. When I hung up, I stared at her photo for a few more moments before I pulled out a pad and paper, jotting down what was bouncing around my mind—none of which would be seen as tame and ordinary, but I was fine with that.
I had a woman to woo.
