Page 22 of Fanning the Flames

“Okay.” He set another demographic analysis down. “We have this, then.”

Sadie glanced at the info about a different neighborhood she once lived in that she’d dubbed The Bad Place. “I have crappy memories there. I got dumped on Valentine’s Day in the middle of a crowded Italian bistro.”

“Was it bad enough to not consider?”

“Well, he did pay for dinner.” She shook her head. “But no, I’m not vibing with it.”

“Are youvibingwith anything?”

“It sounds silly, but I think I’ll know it when I see it.”

Perry gave her the vaguely annoyed look he usually cast at Joan and Mark. He was trying to help. Why wasn’t she more excited?

“I appreciate you doing all this research,” Sadie said. “I really do. I’ll take a look at everything.”

“I’m seeking investment opportunities. You have a solid idea, and you’ve done a lot for Hot and Cold.”

“But we’re nowhere near a point with Hot and Cold for me to step away.”

Perry drummed his fingers on the papers. “Is there a reason you’re making so many excuses?”

“I’m not—” she started to debate. “I mean, I just don’t think the food truck is totally stable. Are you gonna be the one who draws customers in?”

“Joan and Mark have charisma. The truck has gathered a steady repeat customer base.”

“You mean Joan, whose eyes glow red when she’s overly emotional? She has to hide in the truck when there’s an annoying customer.”

“Mark is good with difficult people.”

Ugh, why was Perry so logical? And…and…right about everything? Where were those tapas so she could occupy her mouth with food?

Two streaks of movement flew past the windows—navy blue and red. “Catch is on patrol with Flight,” Sadie said, leaning against the glass to watch them fly above the street.

Perry turned back to his papers.

“I wonder if Catch has to hold on to him to maintain flying powers. How long does her absorption ability last?”

“Not long,” Perry said. “It depends on how much she takes in first.”

Sadie looked around to see if they were alone enough to talk about the Supers and Smash—er,TheSmash. Two well-dressed older white women were trying to catch Perry’s eye, so no.

“Those ladies are totally checking you out,” she told him.

Perry sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Will you stop changing the subject?”

“No, for real. You’re a catch, Perry. Do you have a social life we don’t know about? Are you meeting someone here?”

“I come here for the quiet.”

“And the tapas?” Sadie waggled her eyebrows. “You know tapas are meant to be shared. When was the last time you went on a date? Unless that’s not your thing, which is completely valid.”

“Did Joanie teach you how to avoid conversations you don’t want to have?”

“No, I’ve been doing that my whole life.”

A real interruption came from the server with coffee and wine. Sadie’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. She grinned at the photo of a Cost Club receipt from Joan.

We did it! Stayed under budget!

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