I smirked. “It can be whatever routine you want, little flame. I’ll be your prince if that’s what you need, but truly, I think I prefer more of the villain routine.”
Ember shook her head and climbed out of the Jeep while I closed the door behind her, and we walked to the bakery’s front door and into the dark building. She locked the door behind us and led me upstairs. Another lock and key later, I was in her apartment. Finally.
“Well make yourself at home. Being the stalker that you are, I’m sure you already know where everything is,” she said, her tone full of sass, as she started unzipping the back of her dress. I looked around quickly because she was correct. I did already know where everything was and what it looked like.
It was a one bedroom, one bathroom, open concept living room and kitchen that was covered in wood floors, big windows, exposed brick, and darkly accented walls. She loved gold picture frames, plants, and small accented pieces that brought the place together—like her little random disco balls and cat statues in yoga poses. Small things that screamed Ember to anyone who knew her.
However, I wanted to have something smart to say back, ask her how she figured it all out, but words were lost on me as the skimpy piece of silver hit the floor and she stood there in nothing but a sheer white thong.
“Uh, are you…” I stuttered.
“Nope! Questions first, and depending upon your answer, we’ll do something besides chat,” she interrupted.
I swallowed roughly and pulled a chair out from her dining room table. Making myself comfortable, I sat down, straddling the back so I could stare at the goddess that shewas without being able to easily close the distance between us like I desperately wanted to.
“Go ahead, my stunning goddess of a woman.”
It was hard to tell in this light, but I could’ve sworn she was blushing.
“Fine. Favorite color?”
“Perfect first question, Ember,” I purred. “Well, it used to be blue, but now I’m more fond of brown—the pretty kind with flecks of gold in it.”
She shook her head, the disbelief clear on her face. “Favorite food?”
“Sushi. Love it, can’t get enough of it. Finish it off with one of your cinnamon rolls? Man in heaven.”
“For fuck sake, Wyatt,” she muttered. “What did you want to be when you were little?”
“Like dream career as a kid?” She nodded. “Hm, easy. Astronaut.”
She giggled. “Why?”
I smiled. “I’m a boy. Don’t we all want to be astronauts, race car drivers, or firefighters?”
She shook her head. “You’re ridiculous. What made you get into computers?”
“Oh, more complicated. Well, I wouldn’t say Iwantedto get into them. I was a cocky little shit as a teenager, and I enjoyed seeming like the smartest one in the room even if I wasn’t. Cyber security analyst just sounds smart, don’t ya think?” Smirking, I threw her a wink and wondered just how much of that she believed.
“I think you’re full of shit, and I want real answers, Wyatt Carragan.” She leaned against the counter, one foot crossed over the other as she stared me down. “Tell me a secret no one else knows.”
I swallowed and thought for a moment about what Icould say. I didn’t have many secrets, not really. Rowan knew just about everything there was to know about me, so only one thing came to mind. “When I was a kid, my mom bought us a Rubik’s Cube. I solved it in one night, and the next morning, when Mom saw, she started telling everyone I was the smart one in the family, when really I wasn’t. I’d just peeled off all the stickers and put them back in order to make it look like I beat the stupid thing.”
Her eyes widened. “Wyatt, that’s horrible.” She said it was horrible, but she was laughing, so I shrugged.
I shrugged. “Maybe, but it gave me the drive and desire to push and truly become the smartest one in the room. I never wanted to disappoint my Mama. Tech felt like a solid industry to jump into, where I wouldn’t disappoint her and end up as a bum. Down the line, I ended up being good at it too. That’s the real answer to your question, Ms. Brady.”
She stared at me for another moment. “How many serious relationships have you had?” she shot back.
I couldn’t help but smile. “You.”
She bit her lip, but I still saw the corners of her mouth edge up. “We aren’t in a relationship.”
“Oh yes the fuck we are, Ember. The last one we’ll both ever be in. Might as well get that through your gorgeous skull now,” I countered.
She sighed and dropped her head back, but I knew she was hiding a smile beneath all those huffs of air. “Fine, besides me.”
I chuckled. “You, little flame. Just you.”
