“I mean, it’s more than just this one date, though.” Colt shrugged casually when both women turned his way. “What? I’m just saying . . .”
“Coulter.”
Avery sent her knowing glance Alex’s way. “Wait a second. You said you’ve been seeing someone for a couple of weeks. A man you met here, who lives here but is gone a lot for his work . . .” Clarity filled the woman’s pretty stare. “Holy shit. You two have been sneaking around for the past two weeks?”
“Okay, one, we haven’t been sneaking,” Alex clarified. “And two, I said ‘give or take’. And three, this really is our first official date.”
“But how? I mean, last I knew, you two could hardly be in the same room with each other without the threat of starting World War III.”
“Believe me,” Colt intervened. “This wasn’t something either of us planned.”
“Two weeks . . .” Avery muttered low before bringing her focus back to Alex. “You were at that one guy’s gallery showing then. The one out in L.A. Andyou.” She sent a pointed finger Colt’s way. “At the cookout yesterday, you mentioned how you were just in L.A. on business a couple of weeks ago.”
“Did I say that?” He looked to Alex as if he were following her lead.
Given that this was her sister, she felt compelled to let the guy off the hook. “Fine. Yes. Things between usstarted out there. But what he said was the truth. We didn’t plan it. It was by pure happenstance that we even ran into each other in the first place.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner.” Avery shifted her stance to face Alex more fully. “No wonder you two looked so guilty when I interrupted you in the kitchen. I assumed you’d been bickering, because that’s what you do. But now . . .” Her sister blew out a breath. “Man. This is . . .”
“Crazy,” Colt finished for her with a grin before his breathtaking gaze slid to Alex. “Yeah, we know. But it’s also been pretty damn cool so far.”
The penetrating stare she sent his way preceded an emphasized, “So far.”
But the crazy man simply winked with a playful smirk that made her suddenly wish they were all alone.
Not in front of Avery.
Avery. Right. Her sister was still here. And from the look on her face, she was still mentally absorbing the shocking news.
“Um . . . okay, then. Wow.” The other woman’s long lashes fluttered with a few succinct blinks. “I should probably go so you two can have your first official date or whatever. Good seeing you again, Colt.” She went in for a quick, though slightly awkward hug.
“You, too, Aves. And thanks for keeping our secret.”
“You have until tomorrow to tell Garrett.” Avery pulled back. “After that, the deal’s off.”
“Understood.”
Alex waited with bated breath for her sister to turn her way. When she did, she half-expected Avery toshoot her a look of disappointment or possibly even a glare. Not because her sister didn’t like Colt. On the contrary, the woman was constantly trying to convince Alex to like him more.
Careful what you wish for, sis.
But Avery didn’t glare, and disappointment was nowhere to be found. Instead, her sister pulled her into a tight hug.
Whispering low, so only Alex could hear, she said, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Me, too.
“I do.” She hugged her back.
“This doesn’t mean you’re off the hook, you know? I expect details.”
Her shoulders shook with a laugh. “First chance we get.”
“Good.” Avery stepped back and took Alex’s hands. “I love you, sis. No matter what.”
“Love you, too, Aves.” She gave her sister’s hands a comforting squeeze.
“Twenty-four hours, Coulter.” The other woman shot him a look as she walked past on her way to the door. “And don’t think I won’t be keeping an eye on the clock.”
