“No, no. Jesus, sorry. She regretted leaving like that, I mean. Regretted not getting your number or saying goodbye.”
The pain receded fast enough to give me whiplash. “She did?”
“I don’t like talking behind her back,” Adelaide said gently, “but you certainly made an impression. Getting the shop ready to open has distracted her from dwelling on it quite as constantly, but…yeah. She’s not a one-night stand type of gal. To be honest, I was shocked as shit when she told me about it. I think she just freaked out that morning and convinced herself that leaving was the right thing for both of you.”
“It wasn’t,” I said firmly.
“I’m glad you think that, because she’s been beating herself up over it for weeks now.”
“I think she was embarrassed yesterday when she was here, and she ran off before I could smooth things over. I need to talk to her. Alone. Do you think you can help make that happen?”
Adelaide smiled slowly, looking for all the world like her dearest wish had just come true. “Oh, yes. What time are you done with work tonight?”
Chapter Six
Eden
“Addie,you’vebeenweirdall freaking day. What is going on?” I demanded, adjusting the angle of a framed watercolor painting until it finally hung straight.
It was my favorite of the half dozen now decorating the walls. This one echoed the shop colors of lavender and baby blue, depicting sensual curves that mimicked the shape of a woman’s hips. The rest were similar, all in varying shades of blue and purple, but this particular image spoke to me—subtly sensual, just the barest hint of passion hidden within those serene colors.
It was now in a place of honor behind the checkout counter.
“Nothing is going on,” my cousin called, dancing around with a satin bustier clutched to her chest. “I’m just excited for your opening!”
“You’re a liar, that’s what you are,” I grumbled, but I was excited, too.
With the artwork up, the meeting rooms furnished, and the shop’s signage finally unveiled out front, we were ready for action. I’d managed to avoid talking to my cousin about my trip to Dueling Dragons the day before, and she had stayed miraculously silent about her godson’s gift.
Miraculous? Or suspicious?
“Adelaide,” I drawled, “we really should talk about how you played me yesterday.”
Addie hung the bustier back on the rack and blinked wide, innocent eyes in my direction. “Eden, I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re talking about. Besides, I’m famished and I have a client at six, so I have to run! I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow, darling!”
My mouth dropped open as she twirled her way toward the front door, then snapped shut when she held the door open for Milo before locking it with her key and dancing down the sidewalk.
Even surrounded by lacy underwear, he looked completely at ease, smiling at me as he approached the counter. He was wearing what I’d started to think of as his uniform, jeans and a graphic tee depicting a superhero logo, though this time it was underneath a brown canvas jacket with cozy sherpa trim at the collar. In the late afternoon sunlight coming through my now-uncovered front windows, his auburn hair blazed copper, the ends of it curling just below his ears.
For the second time in as many days, I stood frozen in place, trapped by my own insecurities.
Milo didn’t seem to mind, though, as he strolled toward me. “Eden,” he murmured.
“Milo.”
“I believe I have something of yours,” he said, reaching into his pocket.
When he pulled out the hair clip I’d been wearing the day we met, my breath stalled in my chest. I stayed perfectly still as he reached out and carefully clasped the flower into my hair, but the smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes sent the air whooshing back out of my lungs.
“I was saving it as a souvenir, but with you right next door, I think seeing you in person is an even better reminder.”
His voice was a low rumble that made my insides quiver. I tried not to remember the way it raised goosebumps on my skin when he’d used it to coax and praise and urge me on in my exploration of his body.
“But if you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to forget that I came over here to ask you to have dinner with me this evening.”
My head jerked in surprise. “Dinner?”
“Yes, the evening meal. Surely you’ve heard of it?”
