Due to the warmer weather, she wore cut-offs, which showed off those endless legs, and a fitted long-sleeved T-shirt in pale blue that showed off all her curves. Curves he’d run his hands and mouth over.
Hot as fuck still, Jay thought, moving closer. Walking by without saying anything would be wrong, so he’d say hello first.
“Hey, Blue.”
She spun from talking to her father, and her eyes widened briefly, but her expression held nothing but a polite smile. Definitely tired, he thought. It was written in every line of her face.
“Oh, hey, Jay.”
Her eyes didn’t meet his, which was completely understandable considering what they had shared in New York. The only issue he had with that was, Blue never backed away from anything or anyone. She met everything head-on.
“How are you?” he asked, watching her closely.
“Good. You?” Her eyes flicked to his and then away again.
“Good. Just heading into the house to make a coffee. You need anything?”
He got two more coffee orders, and neither of them were from Blue.
“I’ll be back soon,” he added.
“I’m heading home, seeing as I only just arrived and I’m tired. See you around town, Jay.”
“Sure. See you, Blue.”
Jay exhaled slowly. At least they’d seen each other, and for now, that was enough. But something was off with her, and he had no idea how to find out what.
They might have slept with each other, but that gave him no rights to the woman, and the hell of it was, seeing her again made him realize he wanted some.
Chapter 5
Blue had seen Jay. He looked good in those worn shorts and a T-shirt, like the Jay Haddon she knew and not the hot-suit guy she’d slept with in New York. But there was a little something more when she looked at him now. A sizzle between them that had not been there before. Neither of them had acknowledged it, but it was there.
You didn’t have a night like they’d shared and walk away unaffected.
In the three months since she’d followed him into the hotel and hadn’t left until the sun was rising, Blue’s life had been flipped on its head.
She’d been ill, which was still lingering, and spent time with her brother Lynx, who was in a band and touring around America. Blue had gone to see one of his shows. One had led to two, and she ended up spending a week with her brother before moving on again. She had visited places she’d read about but not seen.
For the first time in years, Blue had drifted and understood what her parents had been telling their offspring for years. That stability was not always the best option. That stepping out ofyour life for a while was a good thing. It gave you perspective and made you reevaluate.
She’d sunk everything she had into her career. The studying, the long nights, and for what? Blue wasn’t even sure she could work in New York again.
Of course, there was also the money factor, and she knew she couldn’t float around for too much longer, but she wasn’t ready to face reality yet.
Her boss, other employees, and that shitweasel Sebastian Cavanagh had called her several times, and their demands that she return with her drawings had become more threatening. Blue had ignored them.
Cavanagh West would be scrambling without her, but no one was irreplaceable. Someone else would step in to save the day.
One of Blue’s biggest failings was forgiveness. If you wronged her, she walked away—unless the wrongdoer apologized and offered a good reason for what they’d done. No one had done that to date.
She’d sent Shannon’s last call to voicemail, having no wish to speak to her again. The panic had been clear in the woman’s voice. They needed her designs, and they needed them now.Come back at once, Blue, she had demanded.
But still, no apology. So she hadn’t bothered answering.
Looking around her as the late afternoon sun settled, Blue saw things she hadn’t in a while. Saw the beauty of her hometown. There was a hint of winter still lingering in the air, even though spring was officially here. It felt crisp, clean, and quiet. She passed the houses of some of the Dukes. Four on this road, and the others had settled not far away.
Unlike McAllisters, Dukes had put down roots in Lyntacky, and those who had left had all come home, but only Birdie, Blue’s youngest sister, lived here, with Sawyer.
