Page 3 of Flames of Desire

As I got back into my car, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of hurt at the way Lily had completely brushed me off back there. We had gone from old friends catching up to practical strangers all because of her.

I glanced at Tina, who was seated in the passenger seat right beside me, and I could feel a scowl make its way to my lips. Tina was in no way anyone important to me. She was just a girl I had picked up at a bar a couple of days ago, and now she didn’t want to let me be.

Tina tried to strike up a conversation with me, but I didn’t want any part of it. She pouted, leaning closer. “So, are we headed back to your place?” she asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

I kept my eyes straight ahead. “Nah, I’ve got some things to take care of. I’ll drop you off at your place and call you later.”

She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “But Alex, I thought—”

“Not tonight, Tina.” I cut her off, not interested in hearing her complaints.

I could see the disappointment on her face, but I shrugged. I really didn’t give a fuck. To me, she was just another one of these bimbos— utterly useless.

The drive to her place was silent, except for her occasional attempts to get me to change my mind. I ignored them all. When we pulled up to her driveway, she leaned into the window, clearly about to launch into another protest.

“Alex, can’t we just—”

I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I hit the gas and zoomed off, leaving her standing by the driveway in shock with her mouth open. I glanced in the rearview mirror, watching her figure get smaller until she was out of sight.

As I made my way back to my house, thoughts of Lily kept flooding my memory. Her bright eyes, the way she looked at me— like I was someone worth knowing, not just the town’s bad boy. My knuckles tightened on the wheel in frustration. I needed a way to get close to her again, and going back to the bookstore would just be a futile attempt.

Then it hit me— her bookstore was new. She’d probably be looking for ways to put it on the map. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I haven’t had to in quite a while. After two rings, Rachael picked up.

“Good morning, Master Alex. What can I help you with?” she states. This was the last thing I have wanted to do in a while, call my family’s personal assistant to call in a favor. After spending so much time trying to build myself, trying to make something on my own, but even I know what the power is that I have. The Sinclair name could open doors, even if I hated using it.

“Rachael, I need you to look into a store called Chapter & Verse. Find out if they have any promotional requests.”

There was a pause on the other end. “I’ll have to use your family’s influence for that. I thought you didn’t want to associate yourself with the Sinclair family again.”

I clenched my jaw. “Just get it done, Rachael.”

She sighed but didn’t argue further. “Understood.” I cut the call and threw my phone on the passenger seat.

A little while later, when I got home, my phone buzzed. I picked it up and answered. “Do you have the information I asked for?”

“Yes, Mr. Sinclair. The store is trying to acquire the services of the renowned author Richard L. Ginsberg for a book signing event.”

I felt a surge of satisfaction. “Good work, Rachael. Now, arrange a small meeting with Mr. Ginsberg urgently.”

“Of course. I’ll get right on it.”

I cut the call again, a sly smile spreading across my face. If everything went the way I wanted, I’d have another chance with Lily.

I slumped onto the couch, feeling the weight of the day lift just a little. The snow was beginning to fall outside, the first sign of winter settling in. It reminded me of how quickly things can change. One minute, you’re living your life as usual. The next, everything’s different. I wanted things to be different with Lily. I wanted to know her, to understand what made her tick, what made her smile. I wanted to be more than just her brother’s friend.

As I stared at the falling snow, I couldn’t help but think of how I’d left things with her today. When she saw Tina, the look in Lily’s eyes was like she had seen right through me. She had seen the worst parts of me. But maybe, just maybe, I could show her that there was more to me than what the town believed.

With a deep breath, I stood up and headed to the kitchen, the phone still in my hand. I dialed another number, one I hadn’t called in years. It rang for a while before a familiar voice answered.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Colton. It’s me. We need to talk.”

There was a pause. “About what?”

“About Lily.”

Colton sighed. “What did you do?”

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