Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Hey, Callie. Late lunch today?”
“Yeah. Donny and I are swamped over at the office. I just came to pick up a few sandwiches. I called them in earlier.”
“Yeah, let me see. Luke just took a quick break.” I turn my gaze to the shelf where we keep the takeout orders. I grab the bag with Callie’s name on it. “Here you go. Looks like it’s all paid for.”
“Yeah. Should be. Thanks, Ava.” She turns but then looks over her shoulder. “You look different today. Did you do something with your hair?”
“I don’t think so.” I absently touch the hairnet on my head. How can she even tell what it looks like? “Oh, I did have it colored a few days ago. The first time with Willow. The color came out slightly different.”
“I like it. It’s…warmer.”
“I like it too. Raine said she left the formula with Willow, but it didn’t turn out exactly the same.”
“Willow may use a different product than Raine. Apparently all the products are a little bit distinctive.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I remember Raine telling me that. Back when she and Rory were together.”
“Oh? I like it.” I fidget with the hairnet again. “I honestly didn’t think I’d ever let anyone touch my hair except Raine, but Willow is quite good.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Callie says, “because I have an appointment with her next week.”
“You don’t color your hair, do you?”
“I just highlight it a little,” Callie says. “I like a little depth to it. My hair is kind of a plain mousy color. It’s not that deep brown like Rory and Maddie have.”
“I think your hair is gorgeous,” I say in truth.
“Well, thank you.” She looks at me again. “Except…it’s not your hair that’s different, Ava. You’re a little…flushed.”
“It’s warm back in the bakery.”
“That must be it. Unless…”
“Unless what?
“Is there something new in your life? Like…a guy maybe?”
Now I know I’m blushing. The warmth hits my cheeks with a blast. “I have a date tonight.”
“Oh? With who?”
“You’re not going believe this, but—”
“Brendan Murphy,” she says.
I drop my jaw. “How did you know?”
“Ava, everyone knows he’s been crushing on you for months.”
I drop my mouth open again.
“So…I assume that means you didn’t know.”
“I was completely clueless. He’s so much older than I am. I never really gave him a thought. But he is very good-looking.”
“Right? Put a kilt on the man and—”
“Oh my God.” Tingles scoot across my flesh. “Brendan Murphy in a kilt.”
That spark I’ve been trying to feel?
It just landed between my legs.
Yeah. He’d look like he walked straight out from the Highlands.
“Except I think he’s Irish, not Scottish,” I say.
“Same difference.” Callie smiles.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date with anyone.”
“You’ll have fun. Brendan’s a great guy.”
“How well do you know him?”
“Not that well, but I talk to him a lot when I go to the bar. That’s how I know he’s got the hots for you.”
My skin is on fire. “Am I seriously the only one who doesn’t know this?”
“I know, and Rory knows. But that’s probably it.”
“So none of the guys know.”
“Oh, God, no. Men are clueless.”
I laugh at that. “Hey, you’re engaged to one of my favorite cousins.”
“You have a favorite?”
“Yeah, all of them. That’s why I said one of my favorites.” I give her a smile.
She laughs. “Oh.”
“Anyway, I have no idea what I’m doing. But he’s picking me up tonight at seven.”
“Just be yourself. He already likes you.”
There goes that flush to my cheeks again. I feel like I’m on fire.
“I better head back to the office.” Callie grabs the bag of sandwiches. “Donny and I are swamped now.”
“Hey, did anything ever materialize on Brendan’s case? About who broke in?”
Callie shakes her head. “I think Hardy’s going to close the case. There’s nothing.”
“That’s a shame,” I say.
“I know. At least Brendan’s insurance paid up.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Right. Bye, Callie.”
Callie walks out the door, the bell ringing once more.
And only then do I realize my heart is pounding.
At the thought of Brendan Murphy.
In a kilt.
And nothing else.
CHAPTER SIX
BRENDAN
“Where are you going?” Mom asks.
“To see some friends,” I say.
“Okay. I thought you were working tonight.”
“Laney asked if she could take my shift. Said she needs some extra cash.”
“Everything okay with her?”
“Yeah. Just expenses, you know. The economy and all.”
“Okay. Have a good time.”
I leave the house.
Man, am I ever ready to get back to my own place.
My mom wants to know where I’m going all the time, and I can’t say anything because I’m living here for free while my place gets rebuilt.
If things go well tonight… It’s not like I can bring Ava back to my place.
But there’s always her place above the bakery.
“No,” I say aloud.
I’m getting way ahead of myself.
Ava Steel is not the kind of person to jump into bed on the first date. That’s part of what I like about her.