Page 78 of Deceit

See…Emmy and I, we don’t work well together.

I guess we never have.

I truly came outside to mind my own business and answer a phone call to not wake up the whole house while I did. Alexander and I have been talking on and off all week. He’s been super busy with work, and I’ve been trying to sort out things here by taking care of Bishop’s personal issues as a group.

So when he called, I got a little excited, promptly dipping outside to speak with him.

“Hey, stranger.”

“Hey,” he greets back in his self-assured tone that normally I would find unattractive, but on him, I don’t know, it just fits his appeal. “Miss me?”

I roll my eyes with a lift of my lips. “Oh, God, here he goes.”

“What?” I can hear the smirk in his voice. “I miss you.”

“You’re too busy to miss anyone.”

“I do have breaks, Emmy. I am the CEO, it gives me time to plan our next date.”

“I don’t know,” I drawl, stepping down off the porch. “I’m starting to think—“

“Don’t you dare,” he carps out. “I’m taking you out, and you’re going to be swept off your feet.”

“Are we going dancing?”

“No.”

“Skydiving?”

“No.”

“Water skiing?”

“Nope.”

“Bike riding?”

“No.”

“This date sounds lame already.”

“Just wait…I have some things up my sleeve.”

I shrug. “The only other thing I can think of is you throwing me off the top of a building.”

“Wow, you’re undoubtedly morbid, Emmy Lou.”

“I watch a lot of crime shows.”

“I’d love to watch some with you, but I’d be scared to touch you in dread of what you’d do to me.”

A mirthless chuckle rumbles off my chest. “Need to keep the fear instilled.”

“Oh, Emmy.” I hear him sigh on the other line like he’s entirely and utterly smitten. “You make me only want you more.”

“You’re demented.”

“And you obviously like it. When are you free?”

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