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She eyes me skeptically and then takes a drink of her juice. I don't like that she doubts my intentions, but I can understand. A beautiful, full-figured woman like her probably gets hit on all the time by jerks and users. The thought has my jaw tensing, but I breathe through the anger and focus on Ember.
“To answer your question, yes, I’m the big boss man,” I chuckle, using her same phrasing. “I started Green Earth Properties about ten years ago. It was slow going at first. My focus was on purchasing old properties and updating them to be environmentally sustainable. It was expensive and not a lot of people at the time were willing to pay the extra money for sustainable, green housing. I kept at it though. Going green became popular and I was able to make a few big purchases and turn them around for a profit. Then I got a contract for a completely sustainable housing development. From there, things took off.”
“Wow, that’s incredible,” Ember says, the genuine awe shining through her bright green eyes. “You’re doing so much good in the world. That’s really admirable.”
I don’t typically care about what others think. Flattery does nothing for me. But I find I desperately want her approval. I want her to be proud of me. The look she’s giving me settles deep in my heart. I’m overcome with a rush of emotions I’ve never felt before.
“I’m glad you think so.” I reach out and cover her thigh with my hand, giving it a light squeeze. Her leg twitches at my touch, and I hear a soft tinkling of bells. “Are you jingling?” I chuckle, not moving my hand from her thigh.
"Yeah," she laughs softly. I love the sound. Ember wiggles her cute little feet and the bells jingle again. My angel has bells on her toes. Fucking perfect. "If you couldn't tell, I didn't quite get the memo about the dress code," she rolls her eyes but smiles the whole time.
“I love it. I wish more people got on board with the ugly sweater theme.” I realize I may have insulted her. “Not that your sweater is ugly,” I quickly say, trying to cover my tracks. “It looks great on you. I mean, you fill it out well.” Jesus, what is wrong with me? Being in her presence for all of fifteen minutes has totally fried my brain.
Ember takes pity on me and giggles, letting me know she’s not offended. “It’s supposed to be ugly,” she grins.
“Where did you find it?”
“It was my mom’s,” she says, her whole demeanor changing. I must have hit on a sensitive subject, though I don’t know exactly why. She seems to snap out of it soon enough, however. “I guess I went a little overboard,” she grins, which makes me smile in return.
“I think you’re perfect,” I say, leaning in to kiss her temple. It’s such an intimate gesture, one I don’t think I’ve ever shared with anyone before.
“Yeah right,” she snorts before covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh my god, I just can’t even right now, apparently.”
“Can’t even what?”
“Just, can’teven," she says again like I should know what that means. When she registers my confusion, she giggles again. "It's a thing people say. Like when it's all too much and they just can't deal. It's supposed to be funny. Self-deprecating and whatnot."
“Ah. Kids these days.”
“You say that as if you’re an old man”.
"Believe me, at thirty-five, I feel like an old man. Especially around you whippersnappers," I wink at her.
"Who are you calling a whippersnapper?" She asks, one eyebrow raised. Too fucking cute. I didn't think about our age difference before. She's over a decade younger than me. I hope that's not a problem for her.
"You," I say, emphasizing my point by slinging an arm around her shoulders and squeezing lightly, pulling her closer to me. I trail my fingers over her shoulder, following a path across the soft skin of her neck. My thumb brushes back and forth over her pulse point in feather-light touches. She shivers, her breathing becoming shallow. She's so fucking sensitive and responsive and it's driving me wild.
“How are you doing that?” She whispers, almost too quietly for me to hear.
“Doing what?” I ask, my voice low and gravelly.
“I’ve never felt like this. So…so…” Ember closes her eyes and draws in a shaky breath while I rub circles around the sensitive spot behind her ear.
“So what, angel?”
Before she gets a chance to answer, Taylor plops down in the seat across from us. I glare at him, wishing I could burn him alive with my stare for interrupting us.
“Hi there,” Taylor says enthusiastically. “I’m Taylor, I don’t think I’ve seen you around the office.”
“Oh, I don’t work for the company. I came here with Casey.”
Taylor nods, and we fall into an easy conversation. Casey joins us a few minutes later, which is actually kind of nice. She is able to draw her friend into the conversation as well as brag about her and offer information I have the feeling Ember might not have revealed on her own.
I discover that my angel is fresh out of college and works as an editor at a women’s magazine. She doesn’t like being the center of attention and doesn’t take compliments well, but I plan on changing that.
Ember is quirky and tenderhearted and witty. Her laugh comes easily, as do her jokes. Everything she does hypnotizes me; from the way her nose scrunches up right before she laughs to the way she leans into me and lets me tuck her into my side.
I don’t know how long we’ve been here, but Casey yawns and checks her phone. “Oh god, it’s like ten-thirty!”
