“Copy that, sis.”
Alex’s lips twitched as she watched Avery leave.
“Well.” Colt sighed. “That wasn’t how I envisioned our first date starting out.”
She barked out a half-scoff, half-chuckle. “Not at all, but . . . is it weird that part of me is glad she knows?”
He walked over to where she was standing. Reaching up, Colt brushed the back of his knuckles along hercheekbone. “It’s not weird. She’s your sister and your best friend. It’s only natural to want to share the good things in your life with her.”
“Who says you’re a good thing?” Alex teased.
Naturally the man touching her didn’t miss so much as a beat.
“You did,” he reminded her. “Last night, as a matter of fact. A couple of times, if memory serves me correctly.”
“Very funny.” She swatted his hand away with a soft laugh.
“I thought so.”
Alex turned and started walking toward the back. “I’m going to go put these in some water.”
“Need some help?”
“Pretty sure I can handle putting flowers into a vase,” she quipped back. But then she sent him a smile from over her shoulder and a softer, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t take too long. We’ll end up missing our reservations.”
“I won’t.” She waved a hand in the air, rushing to the small kitchen area she’d had updated before the gallery’s opening a few years back.
The task of arranging the flowers in the vase and filling it with water gave her a moment of solitude she desperately needed. It was true, what she’d said to Colt. Part of her was relieved knowing Avery knew. But the other part filled her insides with knots because telling her sister made it real.
Real was scary. Real was messy. Most of all, real pain hurt like a bitch.
Avery dried her hands on a towel before wiping down the outside of the vase. She looked at the finished arrangement and had to admit, it was sweet of him to bring her flowers.
I hope you know what you’re doing.
Her sister’s whispered words rolled through her head once more. Alex had assured her she did, when in reality, she had no idea what she was doing.
All she knew was the way Colt made her feel when they were together. Like she was the only other person in the world. She felt cared for. Protected. Occasionally annoyed, but also safe.
When he looked at her, though, it was as if he thought she held the answers to life’s great secrets. And as she picked up the vase and carried it back out to where he waited, Alex found herself looking at him with the same sort of reverence and longing.
I’m in big trouble.
So much trouble. And his name was Coulter Morgan.
“You ready?”
She flashed him a smile while setting the pretty flowers on one end of her desk. Leaning down, she opened the bottom left drawer, grabbed her purse, and gently kicked the drawer shut.
“I am now.”
“Ladies first.” Colt motioned toward the door with an outstretched hand and a grin.
Damn.
He truly was, without a doubt, the sexiest man she’d ever known.
