Ardent Desires (Ardent Desires #1)

Prologue

E llie

“Just open the damn thing,” Jenna says, exasperated, leaning over my shoulder, her fingers twitching like she’s about to grab the mouse herself.

I sit frozen in front of the ancient laptop we’ve shared since college, staring at the blinking email notification. The subject line reads: Blackwood Enterprises – Job Application Result. My stomach’s flipping like I’m on some never-ending rollercoaster ride. I haven’t breathed in what feels like hours, but it’s really just been a few minutes.

Jenna nudges me again. “You’ve been obsessing over this all week. You finally have the answer, and you’re chickening out? No way. Move. I’ll do it for you.”

She reaches for the mouse, and I slap her hand away. “I’ll do it,” I say, even though my voice wobbles. Damn it.

Jenna flops dramatically onto the couch beside me, pulling her legs up and hugging her knees to her chest. “Okay, okay, but hurry up before I die of suspense.”

I’m procrastinating like a pro. My fingers hover over the trackpad, but I keep glancing out the window at our little town. Westport is small—like, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it small. The streets are quiet today, only a few cars parked along the main road. The diner, with its old neon sign blinking Open , is across from the park where we used to play as kids. It feels like a million years ago, and now here I am, one click away from finding out if I’m about to leave it all behind.

Jenna’s phone buzzes. “Mom says hi,” she says casually, but there’s an edge to her voice. It’s always like that when her mom comes up. My mom died when I was 13, and Jenna’s family took me in without a second thought. I’ve always had a place in her family, but sometimes, it still feels like there’s a gap I’ll never fill. Jenna’s mom does her best, though. She’s good people.

I inhale deeply, willing myself to stop overthinking. “Okay. I’m doing it,” I announce, more to myself than Jenna.

“Finally!” Jenna scoots closer, her face practically glowing with excitement. “This is it, Ellie. You’ve got this.”

The click feels like it echoes in our tiny apartment, and there it is. The email opens, and I scan it so fast the words blur together. I blink. Then read again. Slowly.

We are pleased to inform you…

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

“What? What?!” Jenna’s bouncing on the couch like an over-caffeinated squirrel.

“I got the job.” My voice comes out high-pitched, almost strangled. “I GOT THE JOB!”

Jenna screams, launching herself off the couch, arms flailing, and in less than a second, she’s wrapping me in a hug so tight I can barely breathe. “Holy shit! Ellie, you did it! I knew you would!”

We’re both laughing, maybe crying a little, jumping up and down in the middle of our living room, which is barely big enough to contain all our excitement. The floor creaks beneath us, and I hear Mrs. Hernandez from downstairs thumping her ceiling with a broom, but I don’t care. This moment is ours.

“I’m gonna work for the Marketing Director of Blackwood Enterprises!” I shout, not caring how loud I am. “This is crazy. I’m going to New York!”

Jenna grins at me, eyes shining. “See? I told you. We’re getting out of this place, Ellie. You’re going to be the big-shot marketing genius, and I’m gonna run the bakery. We’re gonna kill it.”

The bakery. I grin back at her. We’ve been planning it for months now. Jenna’s dream is to open a little shop, and I’ve been helping her with the business plan. It’s one of those things that keeps us going, even on the toughest days. The thought of running something together feels like a piece of home we’ll always carry, no matter where we end up.

“So,” Jenna flops back onto the couch, looking way too relaxed now that the suspense is over. “What’s the plan? You know, besides becoming a badass assistant in one of the biggest companies in the world.”

I sink into the chair, trying to wrap my head around what just happened. “I start in two weeks. Gotta find a place to stay in New York, figure out how I’m going to afford rent, and not totally freak out on my first day.”

“You’ll crush it,” Jenna says with a confident nod. “What’s the name of the guy you’re gonna be working for again? Marketing Director…?”

“Uh,” I glance back at the email. “Jameson Reed.”

She snorts. “Sounds like a rich asshole.”

I laugh. “Probably. But if he signs my paychecks, I’ll deal with it.”

“Damn right, you will.”

We sit there for a second, both of us grinning like idiots. This is it. The start of something new. Something big. I’ve been dreaming about working in marketing ever since college, and now I finally have my shot. No more answering phones for sleazy insurance agents or running errands for ungrateful bosses. This is the real deal.

“Ellie Sanders, Marketing Assistant for Blackwood Enterprises,” I say aloud, testing the words out, letting them sink in. “Holy shit.”

Jenna raises an imaginary glass. “To new beginnings. And to you kicking ass in New York.”

I grab the remote, turning on some music, and the two of us dance around the living room like we used to when we were kids. It feels good, this carefree energy. For once, I’m not thinking about what could go wrong. It’s all about what’s ahead.

After a few minutes, we collapse back onto the couch, breathless and laughing. Jenna’s head drops onto my shoulder. “You know, you’re gonna miss me like crazy when you’re off in the big city, right?”

“I’ll miss you more,” I say, nudging her with my elbow. “But you’ll have the bakery to keep you busy. And I’ll be back all the time.”

“Damn straight you will,” she says, sitting up. “Who else is gonna eat all the cupcakes we can’t sell?”

We both laugh, but there’s a hint of seriousness underneath. Jenna’s put everything into this bakery, and I’m so proud of her for making it happen. But I know it hasn’t been easy, especially with us living in this tiny apartment and scraping together every penny. The bakery’s been a dream since we were teenagers, baking cookies in her mom’s kitchen, and now it’s finally happening.

“Speaking of the bakery,” I say, changing the subject. “When’s the grand opening again?”

“Three weeks from today.” Jenna’s eyes light up. “And you better be there, job in New York or not. I’m not doing this without you.”

I give her a mock salute. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The sun’s setting outside, casting a soft orange glow over the apartment. It’s small, yeah, and maybe a little rundown, but it’s home. And now everything’s about to change. A new job. A new city. It’s all so overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

“You nervous?” Jenna asks, pulling her knees up to her chest again. “About, you know, everything?”

“Hell yeah, I’m nervous,” I admit. “I’ve never even been to New York. And now I’m supposed to work at Blackwood Enterprises like it’s no big deal?”

“You’ll be fine,” she says, her voice soft but sure. “You always are. Plus, you’re, like, the smartest person I know.”

“Yeah, but have you seen the people in New York? They’re like models. I’m gonna look like an idiot.”

Jenna rolls her eyes. “Please. You’re gorgeous, and you know it. You’re gonna walk in there and own it.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You think?”

“I know ,” she says with a grin. “And if they don’t realize how amazing you are right away, I’ll come to New York and kick their asses myself.”

I chuckle. “Deal.”

We sit in silence for a while, just soaking it all in. This moment feels big, like the start of something neither of us can fully grasp yet. Jenna’s right—I’m nervous as hell. But there’s also excitement bubbling underneath it all. The thought of getting out of Westport, starting fresh in a city like New York, is thrilling. And terrifying.

“You’re gonna do great things,” Jenna says suddenly, her voice quiet but certain. “I just know it.”

I glance over at her, and for a second, I’m choked up. She’s been there for me through everything—the good, the bad, the ugly. And now, even though things are about to change, I know she’ll always be in my corner.

“Thanks, Jenna,” I say, my voice a little shaky. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I can see the emotion in her eyes. “You won’t have to find out. You’re stuck with me.”

“Good.”

We spend the rest of the evening making plans, talking about the bakery and the job, and how we’re going to make it all work. It’s easy, the way we fall into these conversations like we’ve been doing it forever. And maybe we have. Jenna and I have been through so much together, and now we’re both on the brink of something new.

As the night gets darker, I can’t help but think about my mom. She would’ve been proud. She always believed I’d do something big, something important. I wish she were here to see this, to celebrate with me. But in a way, she’s always with me. Every step of the way.

“Tomorrow,” I say, glancing over at Jenna. “Let’s go celebrate.”

She grins. “Damn right. I’ll buy the champagne. We’ll toast to you becoming a New York City badass.”

“And to your bakery taking over the world.”

We clink imaginary glasses again, laughing, but deep down, I know we’re both serious. We’re both about to take on the world, in our own ways. And no matter what happens, we’ll do it together.