Page 29 of Unmasking Mr. Crown

Eyes closed, he forced every detail into memory. Her heart-shaped face. Full lips. Wide-set hazel eyes. Creamy skin dotted with delicious cinnamon-colored freckles that matched her hair. Oh, that hair.

Lock it all in, son, because it’s all you’ve got. She’ll never be as clear in your mind as she is at this moment.

Damn, Amelia. I would have given you everything … and more.

His phone lit up with a text.

Colt: Hate to interrupt, but I forgot my laptop. Could you run it down to the desk? I’ll swing by to pick it up.

Dash called him right back.

“Hey, if now isn’t a good time,” Colt answered.

“No, it’s fine. Tonight’s not happening.”

“Don’t tell me she’s allergic to gardenias.”

“She’s not coming. Well, she did and I missed her.”

“How do you know?”

“She left a note.”

But she took my heart. And my hopes for a future with her in it.

“Sonofabitch,” Colt muttered.

“My first thought exactly. You might as well come on back.”

“You couldn’t have missed her by much though. You should ask Peter to check the security cameras.”

The cameras! Yes! Why the hell didn’t I think of that?

Dash sat bolt upright. “Colt, you’re a genius.”

“I know. Our company makes a lot of money. And it's not because of your looks.”

“Are you saying if I shared your blood, I’d be prettier?”

“I’m saying that when people meet stepbrothers like us, they refer to me as the hot one.”

This made Dash laugh. “Whatever you say, Mr. Hendricks.”

"Seriously, sorry that tonight’s a bust."

"Yeah, well, it was a stupid idea. She was firm this morning that she was leaving. It’s just… after last night …"

"Even Babe Ruth struck out sometimes."

Dash sighed. "It’s deeper than that."

“Damn. She really got to you. What about the stopwatch? Your one-night-only rule?”

“Naw, this woman’s nothing like Alexa.”

Forget the rule. That was strictly damage control after Alexa’s betrayal.

I’d give Amelia all my nights.