Page 18 of Burned By Fire

I leave her at the parking lot and get ready.

* * *

The horn sounds and I make my way to her car. She taps her hand on the steering wheel while dipping her head to the rhythm of the music. I open the car door and Taylor Swift’s music bursts out. Without a greeting, I climb inside and she sets off.

We make small talk on the way, although I feel like we’re avoiding a bigger topic.

She drives to the Valdosta Mall and parks up.

“Do we need to have a conversation about yesterday?” I ask.

“Not unless you have a question.” She looks down at her feet, avoiding my eye contact.

When I don’t answer straight away, she gets out of the car, leaving me to look at her ass once more. I scramble to follow and she locks her car the second I slam the door. “Where are we going first?”

“I thought you said you had an errand to take care of?”

“Don’t you want me to see your dress?” I ask, avoiding telling her the truth.

“It’ll spoil the surprise, and I want to have the most impact I can on you.” She blushes, and I smile. It’s the first time she’s flirted with me since we had sex, and I hadn’t realized how much I needed it. If this morning had started with a kiss, would it have been less awkward? What would it mean for us if we started doing things like that? Would one of us end up getting hurt?

“You’re a beautiful woman. It doesn’t matter what you wear, you’ll look exquisite.” Maybe I overdid it, but I need to make it clear I don’t regret sleeping with her.

“I think that’s the first time you’ve given me a compliment.”

She’s probably right. Unless it’s work-related, I don’t give out much praise. The urge to kiss her is strong, but I look away instead. “Let’s go find your outfit and maybe a matching tie for me.”

She nods before leading the way. “Come on.”

* * *

Four shops and two hours later, I’m ready for a coffee. “Remind me why finding the right dress is so important to you?”

“Most of my school friends are already settled down with their long-term boyfriends or their own families. I didn’t date much in high school, and I want my friends to think I’m not all about my career.” She browses a few store windows.

“You’re ambitious and focused. That’s not a bad thing.” I shrug, not understanding the problem.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want a family. It’s just my personal life might take longer to develop than some of my friends’.” She grabs my arm, pulling me inside a fancy boutique.

“Have you given Chief Lloyd’s proposition any more thought?”

The dresses in this store are more like wedding outfits, but they’re also more expensive. Ember runs her fingers over the silky and lacy fabrics. “Prescott sounds like a good opportunity, but I’m still not sure.”

She begins to rummage through the sizes. “What’s holding you back?”

Instead of answering my question, she throws one back at me. “When are you going to start looking for a job?”

“Why do you presume I haven’t been looking?”

She pulls out a dress she likes and holds it up against her. “Because I know you better than you think.”

“I’m taking small steps. Financially, I need to start my search, but mentally, I’m not ready.”

She disappears into the changing room and I take a seat. “Did you ever want to be anything else?”

“Other than a scuba diving instructor?” I joke, hoping she’ll take the hint and drop the subject.

“Eventually you’ll have to get serious about finding something.”

She moves around in the changing room. After a few minutes, she pulls back the curtain to reveal a tightly fitted red dress. “Wow,” I say. She looks great, and my dick stirs. Until yesterday, I hadn’t had a problem keeping my hands to myself, but today is a different story. She looks good enough to ravish.

“Do you like it?” She turns around to show it off.

I’d like to see it on the floor at the end of the night and her naked.

I need to get a grip.She’s turned me into a lustful mess.

“This is the one,” I say.

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