Was this who Dallas was talking about?
Had I just kissed the woman I’d heard Dallas talking about at lunch?She had to be.Unless Avery had another best friend that was short with tattoos and—holy shit.
No wonder he was still halfway in love with her.
June ran her manicured nails through her pink hair, cheeks still flushed.
“Avery, right?” I asked. “She’s your best friend and Dallas’s sister?”
She nodded eagerly. “Yep. And you’re the artist for the residency?”
“I am. I’m excited to meet her.” I needed to put a face to the chaotic warmth she radiated.
The two of us smiled.
“How are you liking Whynot so far?” June asked.
“I love it. It’s so much different from being in a city. And well, the bugs scare the shit out of me. Dallas rescued me from a scorpion earlier.”
A shiver rolled through her. “I do hate those.”
“They’re terrifying.”
June tilted her head, studying me closely. “This may be rude, but you’re tall enough, I could climb you like a tree.”
That image worked its way into my mind and my heart raced. “Anytime you want.”
Oh god. Here I was again, flirting with a stranger. A stranger I was certain Dallas had feelings for.
But, this felt different. I was really flirting? With a beautiful woman? After kissing her? And not fainting?
What had gotten into me?
I loved the way she laughed. It shook her petite frame, a full body sound that echoed around us in a way that was contagious. The way she smiled quieted the loudest, most anxious parts of me.
My fingers pressed to my lips for a moment, lingering.
I thought coming here would be a complete disaster, but maybe it was the exact kind of shake-up I needed.
Here’s to the new Madi.
I wanted to kiss her again. And again. And again until the two of us were panting and needingmore.
As June crossed her arms, I memorized every single one of her tattoos, my desire to draw her making my throat tighten.
“If you want someone to get a drink with or lunch with or do anything with, let me know. I’ll probably be at my shop all week, night and day, until I make it through this month. It's mum season.”
My brows raised. “Momseason?”
“No,” she snickered. “M-U-M. Mum. Do you know what they are?”
I thought about it for a moment, but still had no idea what she was talking about. “Can't say that I do. Is it a flower?”
“You're not that far off. It is a Texas-sized corsage that boys traditionally give to girls for homecoming every year. It is my jobto make sure I am supplying the entire town of Whynot with all of their mum needs.”
“Oh, that makes sense. I think homecoming is when we’ll be showing my animation . . . Mums sound serious. How big is the town again?”
“I’m sure you’ve realized how small it is, but I’m a one-woman show running the only floral shop in town. I’ll be up to my tits in ribbons, tape, and trinkets for the next few weeks. Plus, I’ve had some new online orders today.”
