Chapter 6
SIX
The warm night air wraps around me as I quietly slide open the window to our bedroom, letting a breeze brush against my skin. Rosalee’s steady breaths fill the room. She’s completely unaware that I’m sneaking out without her for the first time.
I climb onto the windowsill, pausing to steady myself.
Fingers gripping the cold stone ledge, I ease my body over the edge, ready to drop from the first floor.
Just as I let go, strong hands catch my hips and guide me down, causing my breath to hitch.
My back slides against a firm body, and my feet land softly on the ground.
“Hey, Trouble,” Ace whispers, his breath warm against my ear, sending a shock of heat through me.
My breath catches in my throat, and I pause, momentarily frozen by the feel of him behind me. I have to take a second to gather myself before I turn to face him. His ice-blue eyes lock onto mine, that irresistible smirk curving his lips.
“Hi,” I whisper, barely able to contain the smile creeping onto my face.
His hands linger on my hips for just a second longer, then he lets go, the warmth of his touch still burning against my skin. He steps back casually as if he wasn’t just holding me, his leather jacket hugging his lean frame perfectly.
His eyes catch the faint glow of the streetlights, making them appear as if they’re almost glowing in the dark.
“Come on,” he whispers, tipping his head to the street.
We start walking away from the house, and there’s this electricity in the air between us.
I don’t know if he feels it, too, but I sure as hell hope he does.
“Let me see the watch,” I demand, nodding toward his wrist.
I need to see it to believe it.
He throws me a grin, the kind that’s all confidence and mischief, and slowly pulls back the sleeve of his leather jacket. The gold Rolex is as obnoxiously shiny as it is undeniably impressive.
“Oh, this old thing?” he says as if he hasn’t been waiting for this moment to show it off.
I bite back the urge to let out an impressed whistle and shrug instead. “Seen better.”
“Uh-huh. Sure you have.” His smirk deepens, clearly not buying my attempt at indifference. “How’s school been this week?” he asks, shifting gears like he’s not revealing that I’m trying too hard to play it cool.
“Already texted you everything. I hate it there.” I kick a pebble down the sidewalk to distract myself from the fact that I can’t stop sneaking glances at him. We texted the whole week, almost constantly, but today is the first time I’ve seen him again.
“Yeah, that’s why I dropped out.” He chuckles, and the sound sends a tingle down my spine. “Didn’t see the point in wasting my time on something that wasn’t gonna get me anywhere.”
“So, what are you doing now, then?” He still hasn’t told me, and I’m dying to know.
Ace shrugs, his hands still tucked into his jacket pockets. “Learning the family business.”
“What’s the family business?”
He grins a secretive smile that makes me want to lean in closer. “Let’s just say my old man’s good at making people believe things that aren’t real. I’m gonna be better than him, though. The best in Vegas.”
“Why Vegas? Best in Phoenix isn’t good enough?”
“City of sin and magic, Trouble.” His grin widens, and he steps closer, his shoulder brushing against mine. “That place is built on illusions, and I’m kind of an illusionist when you think about it, maybe even a mentalist.”
I laugh, the sound coming out a little breathless. He’s so close I can smell his cologne—something woodsy and dark mixed with a faint hint of smoke. “You mean you’re a con artist.”
He grins, eyes glinting. “Tomato, To-mah-to.”
“You’re so full of shit.” I laugh, shaking my head.
He closes the tiny gap between us, and my breath catches in my throat once again. My pulse is racing so loud I swear he can hear it, and I’m torn between pulling back and leaning into him.
Then, suddenly, he moves so quickly I barely see it. In the blink of an eye, his hand opens, revealing a metal matchbook gleaming in his palm.
It’s my matchbook, the one I always carry in my pocket with the embossed Mustang on the cover.
The one they told me belonged to my father.
“How did you…” I trail off, looking up at him, but the words die on my lips.
I reach for it, trying to snatch it back, but he pulls his hand away and steps back, holding it above my head, barely out of reach, a playful grin on his lips.
“Give it back,” I demand, sharper than I mean it to, but that matchbook is more than a talisman.
It’s the only piece I have from the parents I’ve never known.
“Easy, Trouble,” he teases. “I was only borrowing it.” Ace’s smile softens, and he hands it back, his fingers brushing against mine.
“Take out a match for me.” I’m caught off guard by the sudden shift, but I do as he asks.
I’m about to strike it against the side like I’ve done a thousand times when his hand covers mine.
“Wait.” He takes the match from me with a deft flick of his wrist and holds it up between us. “Blow on it.”
“Why?”
“Trust me,” he presses, his voice a gentle challenge. “Give me your fire, Trouble.”
I roll my eyes but blow on the match, and it bursts into flame out of nowhere, flickering brightly between us, bathing his face in an orange light.
Holy. Shit.
Ace flips his hand, and the match is gone, replaced by a playing card—the ace of hearts. The corner of the card catches fire, burning slowly in his hand, and I stare, completely flabbergasted.
“How did you do that?”
“It’s called magic, Trouble,” he murmurs with a grin, flicking his wrist again.
This time, the ace of hearts splits in two, each half dissolving into a cascade of glowing embers that float briefly in the air before vanishing altogether.
His hand is empty as if nothing was ever there.
“And maybe,” he adds, winking as the last ember fades into the dark.
“If you stick around, I’ll teach you a thing or two. ”
His words make my heart pound even harder. I’m not sure what I’m feeling, but I know I want more of it.
More of him.
I’ve never felt this way around anyone, and it scares me as much as it excites me. I’m not sure what I’ve gotten myself into, but I don’t care.
“Wanna play a game, Trouble?”
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “What kind of game?”
“Truth or dare.”
“Really?” I chuckle, rolling my eyes. “Isn’t that a bit… middle school?”
“Not the way I play it.” He leans in closer, lowering his voice like he’s about to share a secret. “I dare you to ring that doorbell.” He nods toward a house on the corner, the lights off, the windows dark.
I glance at the house, then back at him, feeling the adrenaline start to pump through my veins again. “You think that’s gonna scare me?”
“Let’s find out.” He smirks, crossing his arms over his chest.
I jog over to the house, my heart pounding as I slam my finger onto the doorbell and hold it down, listening to the loud chime echo inside.
There’s a brief, tense moment of silence before I turn and sprint back to Ace, who’s laughing as we duck behind a bush, but nothing happens.
No light goes on, and no one comes to answer the door, so we straighten back up.
“That was easy.” I grin. “Your turn. I dare you to steal that gigantic garden gnome…” I point to the flowerbed at the house across the street, “… and put it on the other side of the road.”
“You’re on.” He laughs, shooting me a look as if to say, that’s all you’ve got?
Oh, you wait…
“And put your underwear on top of his head,” I quickly add.
“My underwear, huh?” he questions, that familiar mischievous glint lighting up his eyes. “You’re upping the stakes, Trouble.”
“Unless you’re scared,” I challenge, crossing my arms.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Scared? Not even close.”
Then, he turns his back to me and starts undoing his jeans. With one swift motion, he pulls them down with his underwear, revealing his perfectly toned ass as he slips both of them off. I bite my lip, my heart skipping a beat as I get an unintended but very nice view.
As if he can sense my gaze, Ace glances over his shoulder, catching me mid-checkout.
His lips curl into a smug grin. He winks at me before pulling his jeans back up and casually stuffing his boxers into his pocket.
He turns back to me like it’s no big deal.
My cheeks flush, and I have to work hard to stifle a laugh.
“Enjoy the view?” he teases, clearly loving every second of this.
“Get moving, show-off.”
With a laugh, Ace darts across the street, moving quickly but stealthily.
I watch, still biting my lip to keep from laughing, as he crouches next to the gigantic garden gnome, easily lifting it from the flowerbed like it weighs nothing.
The sheer size of the thing is ridiculous—it’s at least three feet tall with a goofy grin plastered on its ceramic face.
Just as he’s about to complete the dare, the front door of the house I just rang the doorbell on swings open, and a light flickers on inside.
My breath catches, adrenaline spiking as Ace glances back at me.
Without missing a beat, he jams his underwear on top of the gnome’s head and plops the gnome right in the middle of the sidewalk before sprinting back toward me, his laughter filling the quiet night. By the time he slides in next to me behind the bush, we’re both breathless, grinning like idiots.
“You actually did it!” I struggle to hold back my laughter as we peek over the bush at the confused homeowner standing on the porch in his pajamas, staring out at the gnome in pure bewilderment.
“Told you I wasn’t scared.”
“All right, fine.” I laugh, my heart still racing. “You win this round, but I’m not done with you yet.”
He grins, leaning even closer, his breath warm against my cheek. “I sure hope not.”
When the homeowner goes back inside, Ace stands, and I follow suit.
“Your turn,” I challenge, ready to do the next reckless thing. “Let’s see what you got.”