Chapter 18 #2
The expression on her face tells me this isn’t the answer she was expecting. “What?”
“Don’t act so shocked,” I mutter.
“Is it serious or casual?” she asks.
I think about that question.
“She could be the woman I marry,” I say matter-of-factly with a soft smile, the one that touches my lips anytime I think about Scarlett.
As I look at Sara, I think about the sleepless nights when I dreamed about her coming back to me.
This feels like a test from the universe, one I know I passed with flying colors.
“Well,” I say, signaling the conversation is finished. “It was great to see you. Enjoy the cinnabuns. Take care of yourself.”
“You too, Ezra,” she whispers, her gaze lingering just a moment longer before I walk back into the shop.
The door closes behind me with a gentle chime, leaving a silence filled not with regret, but relief.
I’ve closed that chapter, and I’m moving forward without glancing back.
I turn and watch Sara disappear down the street, and I exhale.
Millie moves toward me, her hand settling on my shoulder and steadying me.
“She wanted you back after what she did. You handled that better than I would have,” Millie says dryly, eyes narrowed toward the sidewalk.
I laugh. “Today has been strange, hasn’t it?”
She pats my back. “Every day is strange.” She returns to her dough, and I realize she’s making apple turnovers. “I’m proud of you, Ezra. It takes strength to close a door like that, especially when someone tries to wedge it back open.”
“That door’s closed for good and double locked. I’m where I want to be,” I admit.
She squeezes my arm, smiling. “With someone who deserves you. You’re a good partner. Will make someone really happy one day.”
“Yep,” I mutter, smiling wider as I think about Scarlett. “I sure will.”
“Now, let me get you what you came here for,” she says, moving to the back. A minute later, she walks toward me with a white pie box. I take it from her hands, feeling that the bottom is still warm.
“Scarlett is going to fall in love with you after eatin’ that pie,” Millie says.
“Did you make it with a love potion?” I ask, and she gives me a wink.
“Oh, hang on.” She pulls out a slip of paper and an envelope. She clicks the pen and scribbles something onto the card, shoves it into the envelope, and licks it closed. “That’s for Scarlett.”
“What does it say?” I ask.
She shoots me a stern glare, even if it’s still playful. “That’s none of your business. It’s strictly between Scarlett and me. Woman to woman.”
I laugh, raising my hands in surrender. “All right, all right. I’m going to ask her, though.”
“She won’t tell you.” Millie sets it on top of the box. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
“Okay,” I say, holding the pie like it’s precious cargo. “You’re not playing matchmaker, are you?”
Millie chuckles, a tender gleam in her eyes. “Worry about yourself.”
“Thank you. I appreciate this,” I say, lifting the box.
“Of course, sweetie. And Ezra?”
I pause, looking back at her. “Yeah?”
She meets my gaze with a softness she reserves only for me. “Keep Scarlett. She brings out your best. Your mom would be tickled.”
I feel the truth in her words and grin.
“I plan on it.”
Millie’s expression brightens, satisfied, as she shoos me toward the door. “Now go on, don’t keep that girl waiting.”
I carry the box to my truck with Millie’s sealed note on top. My curiosity tempts me to take a quick peek, but I respect my aunt too much. I trust Millie and know she wouldn’t do anything to sabotage me.
The drive home passes in a blur, trees and familiar landmarks drifting by without my notice. As I turn into the driveway, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Once I park, I check the message.
Scarlett
I finished my two thousand words! WOOHOO!
A grin tugs at the corner of my lips, and I reply.
Ezra
CONGRATS! Meet me upstairs in ten minutes. Second door on the right.
Scarlett
Intriguing. Should I bring anything?
I chuckle, tapping out a quick response before grabbing the pie box.
Ezra
Just yourself.
Stepping inside, I set the pie on the kitchen counter, my mind already racing ahead.
With anticipation fueling me, I take the stairs two at a time, eager to reward her.
I step into the main bathroom, turning on the water and adjusting it to just the right temperature.
Steam rises, fogging up the mirror, and I pour in a splash of bubble gum-scented bubble bath Aunt Millie gifted me for Christmas a few years ago.
I’d told her I’d never use it, and she said I’d be surprised.
Touché.
The room smells like sugar and summer.
As the tub fills, I grab a few candles and arrange them around the room.
I strike a match, the gentle flicker of each flame casting a soft glow that dances across the walls.
I dim the overhead lights, leaving the space warm and inviting.
I want her to understand she’s special, cherished, and deserves every bit of care.
Just as I turn off the faucet, there’s a gentle knock at the door.
“Come in,” I call.
The door creaks open, and Scarlett steps inside, her eyes widening as she takes in the candles, the bubbles, and me standing near the tub with a satisfied smirk.
She gasps. “No way.”
“Yes way.” I cross the short distance between us, reaching out to grab the hem of her shirt and lift it over her head. Her hair tumbles around her shoulders, messy from hours spent hunched over her keyboard. Her beautiful breasts are on full display, nipples peaked.
“Damn,” I say. “Fucking gorgeous.” I slide my fingers under the waistband of her leggings, slowly peeling them down her hips.
I kneel to help her step out of them, pressing a lingering kiss to her bare stomach on my way back up.
Her skin flushes pink in the candlelight, eyes locked on to mine, anticipation shimmering in their depths.
Scarlett reaches for me, fingers curling into my shirt.
I let her tug it off, dropping it onto the floor beside us. Her eyes roam over my bare chest.
“After you,” I say, guiding her toward the tub.
She steps into the bubbles, sighing with pleasure as the warm water surrounds her. She sinks down, relaxing, tilting her head back against the edge of the tub. I watch her, captivated by the soft curve of her neck and the way her lashes brush against her cheeks.
“Are you joining me?” she teases.
“Do you want me to?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says without hesitation.
Scarlett watches me as I remove the rest of my clothes, her gaze tracking every movement. I ease into the tub behind her, water spilling over the sides, warm waves rushing to accommodate me. The smooth porcelain presses cool against my back as I draw her against my chest.
She relaxes against me, releasing a sigh that washes over me. I wrap my arms around her waist, settling her deeper into me. Leaning in, I skim my lips along the tender curve of her ear. “This feels good.”
“Really good.” She laughs. It’s a gentle, breathy sound.
My smile touches her neck in a lingering kiss, the taste of her tempting me deeper into distraction.
Scarlett’s fingertips glide along my forearm beneath the water, creating a tingling of goose bumps that spreads across my body.
Instinctively, my arms draw tighter around her, holding her closer, molding us together in this stolen moment.
She turns slightly, her cheek brushing mine as her voice comes quiet and vulnerable. “I’ve never had anyone take care of me.”
“That changes now,” I promise against the softness of her neck.
The flickering candlelight dances over her skin, illuminating every subtle emotion. My hand moves upward, fingers skimming the sensitive curve of her hip before slipping between her thighs. She gasps, back arching as I begin to touch her, teasing just enough to leave her desperate.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” I admit. “I want you to remember how good it feels to accomplish what you set out to do.”
Scarlett moans, head dropping back against my shoulder. “Only when you’re my reward.”
“Yes, I am.” I increase the pressure of my fingers, earning another gasp.
Her breathing grows ragged as her body responds to my touch. My free hand drifts upward, cupping her breast, thumb teasing her nipple until she’s trembling against me, caught between pleasure and anticipation.
“Ezra.” Her voice strains. “Please don’t stop.”
“Enjoy it, sweetheart,” I say, lips and scruff brushing her neck.
Scarlett’s hips rock to meet each stroke of my fingers. My grasp tightens possessively around her breast, thumb circling her nipple, loving the feel of how it’s pebbled beneath my touch. When she whispers my name, it’s both a plea and a promise.
Her fingers grip my thigh, steadying herself as her body tenses, hovering right on the edge. My fingertips work steady circles over her sensitive flesh. I’m relentless and allow the orgasm to build at a slow, agonizing pace. Her moans break the silence, and I work her until she crumbles.
“Ezra,” she whispers as her climax rushes through her. Her muscles tighten, and her thighs tremble beneath the water as she rides the wave of her pleasure.
I hold her against me, kissing along her shoulder as she comes down from the high. Her body relaxes in my arms, a soft sigh slipping from her lips, satisfaction clear on her face.
“Mm,” I hum, lips brushing the tender skin below her ear. “Sexy.”
She laughs, turning her body to capture my mouth in a kiss. Her fingers rest on my cheek, holding me close, saying everything without speaking.
When we break apart, she speaks. “I want to do this all night.”
“Hmm.” I chuckle, squeezing her. “Finish your book, and I’ll make it happen.”
Scarlett giggles, the sound effortless, as she stands from the tub. Bubbles and water slide along her curves, the candlelight highlighting every glistening inch of her. I stand, too, reaching for a fluffy towel, using the soft fabric to dry her skin.
She leans into my touch, eyes closed, her body language full of trust. I can’t stop staring, and that vision, the one where we spend forever together, overcomes me. Scarlett’s eyes flutter open. “What? Something wrong?”
“Not at all,” I say, but something has undeniably shifted. “Just enjoying being with you.”
I rub circles down her back, moving lower, lingering on the curve of her hips. I bend, pressing a kiss to her shoulder before wrapping the towel around her.
“How do you feel?” I ask, guiding her into the bedroom. She sits on the edge of my bed, eyes watching me as I kneel in front of her. I take her foot into my hands, massaging the arch, thumbs pressing in deep, slow circles. She sighs, tilting her head back on her shoulders.
“Where have you been all my life?” she asks.
“Waiting for you,” I tease, moving up her calf, easing the tension from her muscles.
She looks at me like she sees the same future that I do.
“I was serious about you staying. I don’t want you to leave until we know if there is something real between us.”
“I’m staying,” she confirms. “I’ve already made arrangements. I have credit for my flight and can rebook when I need to.”
Scarlett falls forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and capturing my lips. Her hair falls around my face as we get lost in the moment.
“I’ve never met anyone like you,” I admit.
Scarlett holds my gaze for a moment, and the teasing in her expression softens into something more thoughtful. Her fingers trail down my jaw, coming to rest against my chest. “Same. I think that’s why you intrigue me so much. It’s different.”
“Good, different?” I question as she rubs her nose against mine.
“Wonderful,” she whispers. “Because I know you’re not faking it.”
She quickly searches my face, as if looking for cracks, for something to doubt, but finds nothing. Her mouth curves into a devious smile. “If you hurt me, the entire world will know.”
“If I hurt you, I’ll happily take what comes with that. The risk is worth the reward,” I tell her truthfully, studying her pretty face. “I’m not afraid to fall, Scarlett.”
She runs her fingers through my hair before meeting my eyes. “I’m not, either. It’s the landing that always frightens me.”