Page 13 of Wilde Flame

My coffee mug paused right before I took a sip. “Did you seriously just ask me that?”

He laughed. “I did.”

“Are you?”

“Hell yeah. I usually get all of my Christmas shopping done the weekend after Thanksgiving.”

I shook my head and whispered, “Pussy.”

Gatlin grinned. “Last chance. She’s leaving.”

Turning my head, I watched as Lilibeth breezed out of the café as quickly as she’d come in. I silently thanked God she hadn’t seen us.

“Caden, explain to me why you dislike Lilibeth so much. She’s beautiful. Always has a smile on her face, and is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Why does she get under your skin?”

“She’s annoying.”

When he didn’t say anything, I finally met his gaze. “Or, you’re attracted to her, and that pisses you off.”

“Why would I be pissed off if I was attracted to someone?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because she’s the first woman since Rachel who’s made you feel something in that cold black heart of yours.”

“Wrong.”

“Am I?”

I nodded.

“You don’t think she’s pretty?”

With a one-shoulder shrug, I replied, “She’s cute.”

“Cute? You think that woman,” he jerked his head toward the door Lilibeth had just walked out of, “is simply cute? Was she cute in her bra and panties a few moments ago?”

I smirked. “Cute isn’t the word I would describe.”

A wide grin appeared on his face. “So she was hot.”

Sighing, I nodded. “Yes, Gatlin, she was hot.”

“And you don’t want to ask her out for what reason exactly, Caden?”

“If you like her so much, why don’t you ask her?”

He leaned back against the bench and nodded, looking thoughtful. “You know what? I might just do that.”

I was stunned, once again, by the intense anger that instantly bubbled up inside of me at the idea of my brother going out with Lilibeth. I ignored it and took another drink of my coffee, hoping like hell my expression was neutral. “Go for it then.”

Gatlin nodded just once this time, firmly. “I think I will. I’ll stop by her store after breakfast and ask.”

“You do that.”

“I will.”

Rolling my eyes, I exhaled. “Can we please change the subject?”

Gatlin held up his hands in surrender. “By all means.”