“No.” Hot on his heels, she followed right behind. “Well, I’m sure she would if you asked for a reading, but that’s not what I’m trying to tell you.”
Nash skid to a halt. “What can be so intimidating about your mom that you have to warn me about her…gift?”
“It’s not like she’s a mind reader or a fortune teller, she utilizes strong empathetic abilities to focus on what others are thinking and feeling.”
Tossing her a wink, he reached for the door. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll attempt to keep the visions from last night out of my head.”
“One more thing. My mom’s very—” Ember caught his hand, tangling her petite fingers with his. “—beautiful.”
“Seriously, Ember?” Humor jumped in his chest. Nash shook his head, features twisting into an appalled knot. “I’m fairly certain I can handle your mother, good looks, mind reading capabilities, and all.”
“That’s not what I meant.” A small note of apology shined in the hues of honey surrounding her irises. “She is beautiful inside and out, but I was going to add that she may come across as flirtatious, even by Texas standards. Seriously, she’s even more touchy feely than me. Some people confuse her endearments with flirting.”
“I can hardly imagine.” Giving a slight jiggle to her fingers, the smirk teasing his lips tripped to concern. “You all right?”
“Sorry, I’m just a little nervous. She can be a little intimidating. Not that you’d be intimidated by her, but in the past—”
“Sweetheart, it’s okay. And as much as I’m dying to know where you come from and what makes that gorgeous brain and heart of yours work so hard, I can wait to meet your mom, if you’re going to be this nervous.”
Did I just say I want to meet her mom?
Yes, you fucking did.
Ember wrapped her arms around herself, mindlessly rubbing the chill from her upper arms. The frenzy in her eyes diminished leaving nothing but sweet honey. “It’s not you, Nash. It’s just…I haven’t introduced anyone I’ve dated to my mom since high school. I’ve been in California the last few years and before that I opted not to. My mom is amazing, and I value her opinion, but sometimes I think it’s better if I figure things out for myself, no matter the repercussions.”
“This is unchartered territory for me too. It’s not like meeting a woman’s mother is high up there on my bucket list. It’s not. Ever. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to find out what makes you so—” His gaze softened, coasting over her features fully intrigued. “—extraordinary.”
A beautiful pink glow kissed the bridge of her nose. Ember pushed to her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Just know that if you’re vague or try to hide behind a façade, she’ll focus more on what’s underneath.”
Slipping a curled index finger beneath her jaw, he gently pinched her chin with his thumb. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I don’t hide behind a mask.”
Looking up, she draped her arms around his neck, eyes searching for some sort of hidden hesitation to come forward.
“All right.” Her soft exhale floated across his mouth. “Let’s do this.”
Nash sifted his fingers through her hair retrieving a stray piece of grass. “No need to leave this as a first impression.”
“It won’t matter. She’ll take one look at me and know we had sex all night.”
“As long as she knows it was phenomenal sex,” he joked, giving a quick double tap to the end of her nose before reaching for the door handle. Catching a whiff of a distinct earthy, pungent aroma, Nash tipped his head toward Ember. “Do I smell—"
“Yes, you smell weed.” Lifting her nose, Ember took a sniff. “And sage.”
Ember cringed shaking her head, eyes rolling back to half-staff. Any apprehension left in her shoulders, now abandoned to the crescendo of embarrassment raising the hair on her flesh to sharp points.
Nash sucked in his fourth or fifth large breath, filling his lungs with the herbal aroma.
“If you keep doing that, you’re either going to pass out or catch a buzz.”
“It’s been a long time, but I’m sure I could manage.” His eyes darted around the kitchen as if searching for a pillar of white smoke. “What’s with the sage?”
“It’s for smudging.” Taking note of his blank stare, she continued. “It’s a way of cleansing a space of negative or stagnant energy.”
Though he gave it a small attempt, there was no way to hide the confusion taking up residence in the deep groove notched between his eyes. “I don’t get it.”
“If you’re feeling down or in a rut or have drama in your life, or if you’re moving into a new place, lighting a sage stick helps purify a living space and dispel negative energy. It’s also a way to invite positive energy into your space.”
A frown stretched across his brow. “Do you smudge?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“All this woo woo shit is beyond me.”
“It can also be good for insomnia and anxiety.” Ember meandered toward the kitchen, calling out, “Hello! Mom?”
“Is that my girl?” June’s balmy voice carried through the house like a lone dandelion seed parachuting through a summer’s breeze.
June glided into the kitchen wearing an aura of relaxation, a warm smile, and a pair linen overalls. Her sea green eyes, filled with brilliant vitality, immediately locked on Nash.
“Oh, hello there.” June’s bright eyes filled with surprise. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
“Funny, me either,” Ember riddled, wrapping her mom in a loving embrace. “You should’ve called so I could’ve been here.”
Eyes never faltering from Nash’s, June tucked an unruly wisp of dark chocolate layers behind her ear. “You’ve been on my mind, so I decided it was time to visit.”
“You mean you didn’t call because you didn’t want me to tell you not to come?”
“That too,” June confirmed. The smile touching her eyes turned more concerning, reaching for his hand. “I’m June…and you must be Nash.”
Taking hold of her delicate hand, Nash couldn’t help but notice the family similarities. Dark wavy hair, big white smile, oval face, and an equal amount of unmeasurable allure dancing in their eyes. Except for a few additional inches in height, honey-brown eyes, and her father’s dimples, Ember was a carbon copy of her mother.
“I’m Nash Harris. It’s nice to meet you, June.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Nash noticed Ember balk. Her typically calm and collected demeanor gained an edge of alertness.
“How did you know his name?”
June rolled a small shoulder, humor dancing in her sea-green eyes. Her sweet laughter drifted through the quiet house. “Bee answered the door this morning. We had a wonderful conversation over a cup of tea. She’s a doll, that one. She even offered to make me breakfast.”
Ember’s fingertips scrubbed circles over her eyelids. “Please tell me you didn’t smoke in front of Bee.”