Page 23 of From the Embers

I place a hand over my heart. “You do my ego the world of good.”

We stop outside her apartment, and she looks down at her feet. “Well, thanks, D. You know you don’t have to keep walking me home.”

“You don’t like it?”

“No, I love it… I mean, I don’t love it, I like it. You’re fun to talk to.”

I chuckle. “I don’t think any of the guys would say that about me at work. I keep to myself.”

“So you’re a cinnamon roll, but only to me?”

I blink. “I have no idea what the heck that means, but I like cinnamon rolls.”

She smirks. “Clearly you don’t read romance books.”

“Nope, not a chance.”

She leans up, pecking me on the cheek, and I close my eyes. Her scent, it’s intoxicating.

“Good night, D.”

“Night,” I say. “Sleep tight.”

She turns, blowing me a kiss, and I feel a yearning burning deep in my chest.

This is exactly what I don’t need to happen: falling for my best friend’s little sister.

When I get home I know Abby has been to check on Bodhi because the lamp in the hallway is on, and the one in my living room. A soft glow leads me to Bodhi, who’s quite comfortable on the far side of the couch with his warm cat bed and blanket. He purrs on cue and extends his legs out, taking a big and slow full-body stretch.

“Bodhi, boo-boo,” I coo. “Daddy missed you.” I reach him in a few strides and scoop him up into my arms into a cradle. “Did you miss me, too?” I smother him in kisses and hold him to my chest, and doesn’t he just lap it up. “What have you been doin’ all day, little bud?”

It’s not like he can rightly answer, but I know he does very little at all. I have a pet cam so I can check in on him through my shifts if I need to, or feel the urge to see what he’s doing. He’s usually curled up in his favorite spot on the couch, or sometimes in the warmth of the sun on the window ledge. “Did Aunty Abby come see you?” I kiss and cuddle him some more, like I haven’t seen him in a week, when really it was just this morning. “She did, huh? And she gave you some of those little biscuits you like?”

If anyone could hear me now… Though really, I don’t care all that much. Bodhi and I are kindred spirits. You gotta get along with my cat, otherwise the deal is off, hence Hannah. Bodhi hated her.

I shake off the thought of my ex as I place Bodhi back in his spot and kick off my boots. What a fucking night that was tonight. And kudos to Adelaide for going along with the whole me and her charade… though I have to pinch myself a little because that kiss outside Sinner and Saints caught me off guard—but in the best way.

Her taking charge like that, pulling out all stops, made my heart race, palms sweat, and my cock harden. I’ve been trying to extinguish my attraction to her these last three weeks, but showing up at the bar hasn’t helped my cause. How am I supposed to do that when her charisma consumes me like one of the infernos I’m so used to fighting. With her, I don’t want to fight it. I want to embrace it. And I’ve no fucking clue what Daryl would say about my growing infatuation with his sister. It’s not something that’s ever been a discussion or even on my mind. Not until now. I mean, Daryl is a level-headed guy, maybe he would be okay with it. With it? What the heck am I even saying? With what exactly?

My inner being says I’m into her, really into her. In the short space of time that I’ve seen her at the bar, she’s made more than an impression. I can’t get enough. But reality says I need to back the fuck off. I can’t have these thoughts. I’ve known her family forever…

Even the thought of crossing the line with her isn’t enough to put me off. It only spurs me further, and that’s dangerous.

I’m also a man who lives life to the full, I always have. I’ve seen enough destruction and loss in my line of work to last me a lifetime. The bigger part of me says what the hell, take a chance.

That kiss. There was more passion in that impromptu moment than I had the entire relationship with Hannah. None of it was fake for me.

The warmth of her soft, plush lips. The way she grabbed me by the jacket and reached up onto her toes. I never wanted it to end. Fucking hell. I’m fucked.

What was better than the look on Hannah’s face when she saw us? Adelaide’s. She was triumphant.

It was like a cold bucket of water had been thrown on the three of them.

I’ve never quite encountered anything like that before, and I hope to hell I don’t run into Hannah again. I’ve already deleted and blocked her number from my cell.

When I shrug out of my jacket, I let it fall to the couch, and in one second flat I’m dropping my body onto the plush, soft fabric. With a sigh, I let my head fall back on the cushions as Bodhi climbs on top of my chest and rests his head on my heart. His warm body presses into my torso. I lift my hand to stroke him, and it’s then I feel the full extent of my week. I’m tired. Really fucking tired. I’ve no plans to do much on my days off. Catch up on sleep and do some grocery shopping.

My mind flicks to Adi and my body stirs. “Fuck,” I mutter. It only takes her name to get a reaction. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have her all to myself. To have her at all.