Page 153 of Burning Ember

She shakes her head. “Don’t sell it.”

“No?”

“The foundation is still good, right? Some of it must be salvageable. You could rebuild it one day . . . when you’re ready.”

“It’ll take a lot of work, babe. More work than just startin’ over somewhere new. I’d have to tear it down and rebuild it.”

“Yeah, but you can’t sell your dream to someone else. That just seems wrong to me. Doesn’t it to you?”

My eyes scan the trees separating us from the Rio Grande. There’s enough land here to build a separate work shed and maybe put in a pool. Enough yard to put an enormous steel swing set and teeter-totter. Have a club family barbeque.

Warmth fills my chest. “You think it’s worth the extra work and time?”

“If it’s what you want and what’ll make you happy, then it doesn’t matter how much time it takes.”

My knees weaken with the temptation to fall to one knee and propose to her. Fucking crazy. I know.Because Jesus . . .

The ring of my cell phone cuts through the air. I pull back and take it from my pocket. I glare at the clubhouse landline number. Clarity hits and I’m thinking I should probably thank the person on the other line for interrupting my train of thought.

As I answer, Ember turns away a little and her eyes flicker back to the blueprints.

I clear my throat a couple of times before I answer. “Yeah,” I rasp and watch Ember slide her fingers under her eyes as she removes more tears.

Bluesy music is in the background and someone shouts for Rigor. Then Edge speaks, “Hey man, where you at?”

“Just runnin’ a few errands. Why? What’s up?”

He muffles the phone, and says, “Give me a sec.” Then a moment later, he comes back on the line. “Star’s a clinger man, why the fuck hasn’t anyone cut her loose?”

“I did,” I laugh. “Brought her back special for you.”

“Well, fuck. Next time don’t do me any favors. The bitch is in my face every time I turn around.”

“Didn’t think you’d find that to be a problem.”

“Yeah, well it is. Fake tits are just not my thing. And fuck, she screams like a goddamn cat in heat when she comes. Bugs the fuck outta me.”

“You call to tell me that, or is there a point to this phone call?”

“Harty har har, fucker. We got church at eight. Afterward, the boys wanna party.”

“When don’t the boys wanna party?”

He chuckles. “Part of the crazy life we lead, man.”

Don’t I know it.“Alright. I’ll be there.”

“You bringin’ your girl?”

“Yeah.”

“Keep her close. GBs are comin’ again tonight. And Taz said Smoke wasn’t lookin’ at Bodie last night, he was watchin’ you with your girl. Said he followed you into the parkin’ lot and watched you two leave.”

A fog of unease slowly rolls over me.

“You do somethin’ to piss him off?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”