“That definitely sounds like a little win worth celebrating.”
“What about you? What was the last thing you celebrated?”
His green eyes turn stormy at my question. The tip of his tongue pokes out and flicks over the ring looped through his bottom lip. I’m so transfixed by the sight, I almost miss his answer.
He shrugs as he turns away, taking a sip of his drink.
“Come on, it can be anything.” I nudge his shoulder with mine. “Beaten any personal records? Planned a holiday? I don’t know what Caleb’s celebrating lately, but he seems to be rewarding himself with a lot of new suits and ties. Particularly if it’s red.”
“I think it’s that redhead he met recently. He’s obsessed, and I’m not entirely convinced it’s in a healthy way.”
My hand reaches out before I have time to think the action through, landing on his thick forearm. I can feel the muscles tense beneath my fingertips. I shake my head free of the fog before speaking. “Did he go to the bakery?”
Gage’s head tilts with curiosity. “You’re the colleague who told him about that place?”
“What?”
“Caleb said a colleague told him to try the coffee there. You were right, it was really good.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I haven’t been there. I told him to go there cos he was hoping to run into the owner of the beauty salon over the road.”
“Why wouldn’t he just go into the beauty salon?”
“Because he was in stealth mode. He’s trying to see where he stands with her best friend.”
“Not the redhead?”
“I think it’s the same girl.”
Gage’s eyebrows fly up as his eyes widen. “Fuck,” he says with an amused huff. “What the hell is going on with my brother?”
I laugh into my palm, my body with a mind of its own as it turns into Gage, my head falling onto his huge, rounded bicep. My breath hitches as I straighten, giving him an awkward smile before my eyes look nowhere but at the bartop in front of us.
Gage clears his throat. “So, what flowers did you buy yourself?”
Oh shit.On the occasions when I buy myself flowers, I usually go for sunflowers, hydrangeas, or sweet peas, depending on what’s in season. I love ruffled petals and pastel colours, especially yellow. When I passed the flower stand walking home from my parents’ house the other day, I couldn’t look away from a particular bouquet.
I look back at the crowded room, ready to find an escape so Gage doesn’t ask more questions after what I’m about to confess.
“Buttercups,” I say, then turn away, letting myself be pulled into the crowd.
My lips roll together, trying to hide the evidence of how much that little exchange affected me. I was totally flirting with Gage. Is he watching me now? If he is, would I even do anything about it? Would he?
“Izzy.”
“Yes!” I squeak when Caleb startles me.
“Are you alright?” He frowns.
“Oh, yes. What do you think?” I ask, glancing around the room. “I haven’t seen Dylan and his sister yet, but I’m sure they won’t be long.”
Caleb waves a hand. “That’s fine. I’m taking your advice.”
“My advice?”
“About Lex.” He smiles. Ah, the redhead he met recently and hasn’t stopped thinking about. “I’ve been stalking the bakery for weeks, trying to catch her friend, Claire.”Stalking? Did I suggest that?“So I’m just going to put myself out there. Tomorrow, I’m sending flowers to her house with my number to call me. If she’s interested.”
I sigh in relief. Caleb hasn’t dated anyone in the time I’ve known him. With Beth’s inside knowledge, plus endless articles online pinning him as one of Heart City’s most sought-after bachelors, I wasn’t sure what I was dealing with. Turns out he was experiencing his first crush. I might need to have a word with him about the stalking, though. “I’m proud of you for taking a chance on something real.”
