It was true, she’d spent the better part of the last five years avoiding any semblance of a serious relationship at all costs. Oh, there was the occasional date, but it never went beyond that, thanks to Alex’s carefully constructed walls.
No strings meant no pain, and until recently, that had been enough. Lately, however, she found herself wondering what it would like to have more.
You won’t find it sitting alone in your car and staring out the damn window.
She wouldn’t find it inside, either. And since she couldn’t stay out here all night?—
Alex unbuckled her seatbelt and reached over the console to grab her purse and two bottles of wine from the passenger seat. She climbed out, shutting her door with her hip before making her way up the driveway.
Her slightly heeled boots sounded soft against the asphalt as her mind worked through the plan.
Quick and painless. That’s how she’d do it. Like yanking a band-aid from her skin. When she saw Colt, she’d smile, say hi, and move on. After that, Alex planned to avoid him like the freaking plague until it was time to go home.
She reached the front door, not bothering to knock before pulling it open and walking inside. Muted voices could be heard from the back of the house, in the direction of the kitchen.
Before she rounded the corner, Alex sucked in a long, deep breath and reminded herself that tonight wasn’t about her. This was about Avery and Garrett, and the exciting news they planned to share.
You can do this. Just go in there and act as if nothing in your life has changed.
Alex rounded the corner, and with a feigned smile on her face, she asked, “Did I hear somebody say wine?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Coulter stood near the grill, taking a sip of his ice-cold beer and doing his damnedest not to look to his right. If he did, he’d see Alex through the sliding glass door. And if he caught sight of her gorgeous face again, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to control the expression on his.
“How’s work?”
His carefully controlled gaze turned to his left as Garrett flipped another burger with ease. “It’s good.” He shrugged. “You know . . . it’s work.”
Two weeks of prepping and planning with your boss, his daughter, and a handful of people in the CIA.
An eruption of laughter drew Coulter’s attention to the far end of the paved patio where the rest of Garrett’s team were sitting. From what he could see from here, it appeared as though Beckett Stone and Ethan McAllister—aka, Bones and Apollo, respectively—were laughing at something Digger—aka Slade Garrison—had just said.
“How long are you home this time?” Garrett continued eyeing the steaming patties of beef.
“Depends.” Coulter took another sip with a shrug. “This next deal should go through soon, but it’s local, so I’ll be here for the next few days, at least.”
And by “deal” he meant the fictitious sale of the equally fictitious Brittney Owens, which would hopefully result in the arrest and prosecution of one Gordan Fitzgerald Crawford.
“Good.” Garrett nodded.
He sent a set of overly exaggerated puppy dog eyes his brother’s way. “Aww . . . you reallydolove me, don’t you?”
“Didn’t say that.” The other man smirked. “But it is a lot more fun when you’re here.”
“No shit, it’s more fun. Helloooo. . .” Coulter spread his arms out wide. “What could be more fun than this?”
A bark of deep laughter shook his brother’s broad shoulders as Garrett rolled his eyes with a grin. “You really are an idiot.”
“Hey, don’t be jealous. It’s not my fault I got all the good genes.”
“Whatever, dick.” Garrett started transferring the burgers from the grill to a nearby platter. “If you’re so much better lookin’ than me, how is it I’m the one who ended up with Avery?”
Coulter smiled, remembering when he and his brother first met the sweet woman while on a cruise ship to the Bahamas.
“Don’t fool yourself, bro,” he continued teasing, “If I’d wanted Avery back then, I totally could’ve had her.”
They both knew it was a lie. From the second they’d said hello, Avery’s eyes had only ever been for Garrett.
