Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 47

EVA.

My eyes go wide as I look around us in a frantic state. "Where?" I crease my brows when I find the man nowhere in sight and Emerson laughs from his seat.

Realising the prank he just pulled on me, I frown as I look back at him. "You're fucking insane. "

"I was hoping you would dodge your head to hide so you would end up with your face in my pants. " He confesses as he starts to drive and I say, "You could have said you want me to suck your dick, Ford. "

"Never going to be straightforward with you, Carson. " He responds as he drops his other hand to the radio and tunes up the volume of the music blaring through the speaker.

"I could do that. Only if you can control your hold. " I tell him and Emerson looks away from the road to take one glance at me before looking back to his front and I watch the bob in his throat shift from a gulp.

"Would rather have that for later. " He says, dismissing the idea and I let out a chuckle. "Coward. " I mumble under my breath.

"So what do you know about flowers?" Emerson asks, changing the topic.

"Do I have to know something about them to love them?" I throw back and he gives a small shake of his head. "No, but I know you know something. "

"How do you know that?" I challenge him and he says, "Because you're the type of girl who tries to learn everything about something she's intrigued with. " His words are the opposite of what I was expecting and I look away from him shyly at how detailed his theories about me seem to be at times.

"I know average. " I say with a clear of my throat. "I didn't study much on it, but I do know different types when I see them. "

"And which type is your favourite?" He asks, giving me another side glance and I smile as the memory of me standing in the garden flows through my mind. "Butterfly bush. They can be in different colours and they attract butterflies the most, which I find astonishing. "

"Butterflies are pretty. " Emerson says from his side and I lift my gaze to him before I nod in confirmation. "They are. "

"I love caladiums. " He says, surprising me and I stare at him with amused eyes. "And that's a lot coming from someone who knows shit about flowers. Where did you catch that name? A book you read?"

"How do you know I know shit about them?" He scoffs and I say, "I can easily tell, Ford. "

"My mom loved flowers. " He says, the words giving a rise to the change in the air between us and I swallow down my throat before I say, "I didn't realize that. "

"I'm sure there are a lot of things you didn't realize, Carson. It's only fair because I never mentioned them. " He mutters in a small voice and I hum, "So you love caladiums because they're her favourites?"

"No, actually. Allium is her favourite. She said she loved them better because they bloom into a bulb. " I take notice of the small smile that tugs at the corners of his lips as he speaks about her.

"She has good sight. Allium is one of those I love. " I tell him, and I pause for a second before I continue, "Why do you love caladium?"

"The shape. " He says. "It's heart-shaped and I find that cute. " He explains and I stare at his side, fascinated by the similarities I never knew we have.

When Emerson notices my stare on him, he turns his head to smile at me before he returns his attention to the path in front of him and I twist my head to the side, leaning it against the window before I lift my hand to my chest to feel how wild it's banging.

More damage than good, Eva.

We say no word to each other as Emerson drives further away, leaving us in the presence of each other with the soft music blaring from the radio echoing around us.

~

When Emerson stops the car, I turn my face to the side to catch the sight of the botanical garden a few steps away from where we're parked.

"So I thought you would want to come to the general one since it's larger?" Emerson says, bringing my attention back to him.

"I love this place! I've only ever been here once. " I beam excitedly and Emerson unfastens his seatbelt, nodding his head as a gesture for me to move out of the car as he climbs out from his side.

I lose the belt and drape my bag over my shoulder after hurling my hat inside before I move out, standing beside Emerson as I shut the car door.

"Lead the way. " He says, and I meet his eyes with a bright smile before moving ahead towards the glasshouse that's filled and surrounded with beautiful, attractive flowers while Emerson trails behind me.

Emerson walks us past the security and the smell of fresh flowers refreshes the air around us as we step inside where I consider the home of beauty.

"Look at how they complement each other so fucking well. " I tell Emerson as my gaze moves across the colours of purple, pink, white and red before I move away from his side to take a closer look.

When I hear a click, I lean away from the flower and turn back to see Emerson standing behind me with a camera in hand– one I didn't notice until now.