Ember: Color?
Me: Dark Ivy Green.
Ember: That’s so cool! I’d love to see it sometime.
Me: I can arrange it—dinner pickup? Where are you staying—well, once they let you go tomorrow, with Nic & Rhett?
Ember: That is a requirement now! You must show off your car, Lady Ivy.
I laugh. She’s nicknamed my car—that until now I’ve only called Beast, because the rebuild was, as Uncle Jimmy said, an absolute beast physically and mentally. I see the typing bubble finish and learn she’s staying at the B & B in town, The Azalea Inn, for the next two weeks and helping Nic with event planning.
Me: Okay, it’s your turn. Share something personal about yourself.
Ember: I’m an event planner because I love creating experiences that bring people together. Also, I am an amateur photographer—but that’s more of a passion project lately.
Me: Event planning and photography? You must have an eye for detail.
Ember: Guilty as charged! It’s all about capturing moments, you know? Like today, meeting you. That felt like one of those moments worth capturing.
Something in what she says makes my heart constrict, leaving me thrilled and nervous all at once.
Me: Meeting you was a moment for me too. Hey, what’s one type of event you’ve always wanted to plan and where?
Ember: Oh, easy! A masquerade ball in Venice during Carnival. Imagine the masks, the mystery, the intrigue...
Her passion is infectious. I find myself picturing it—her in an elaborate gown hugging her body, her long bright golden red hair twisted up off her neck, blending seamlessly with the opulence of Venice.
Me: That sounds incredible. Maybe someday you’ll get to do it.
A brief pause before her next message pops up.
Ember: One can dream! Okay, what’s one thing on your bucket list?
I pause to think about it before typing back.
Me: I’ve always wanted to go with my brothers to Montana to fly fish in the pristine waters of rivers the Madison or Yellowstone. Sounds kinda dull compared to Venice, I’m sure.
Ember: Sounds peaceful and beautiful. Surprise fact about me—I’ve been fly fishing in Bristol Bay, Alaska with my Granddad before he passed two years ago. He was quite the travel adventure type.
I nearly choke on my beer. A woman who appreciates both luxury events and fly fishing? My heart races faster.
Me: Bristol Bay? That’s serious fishing. What did you catch?
Ember: Mostly sockeye salmon. Though I caught this massive rainbow trout and my Granddad swore was the biggest he’d seen in 40 years of fishing. He had this thing about never taking pictures of catches—said the memory was sweeter that way. But I do have a great picture of us together on the river that day.
I find myself grinning at my phone like an idiot. Most women I’ve dated don’t want to step outside city limits, let alone wade into cold water at dawn. Damn, my cock twitches at the thought of her. I adjust myself and text back.
Me: That’s incredible! My brothers and I have talked about Alaska, but Montana seemed more doable. Though now you’re making me rethink our plans. When Cody returns from duty overseas, I will have to make it happen.
Ember: Montana’s gorgeous too! The Madison River’s on my list. Granddad always said it was the perfect mix of challenging and rewarding.
Me: You really know your stuff. Color me impressed.
Ember: What can I say? I contain multitudes. Venice one day, waders the next. Also, how many brothers do you have?
Me: Two, Blake and Cody. Cody is the youngest; I’m the oldest.
I sink deeper into my chair, unable to wipe the smile off my face. There’s so much more to her than meets the eye, though I can’t pinpoint what I imagined, but I’m hooked and seeing her in person can’t get here fast enough.
