Page 7 of Sultry Summer

But she looks at me and nods her head heavily. She walks closer and holds out an elegant hand. “I’m Fiona. Fee to my friends.” She glances over at Aspen and grins. “Or my cousins.”

Ah. The older cousin that owns the flower shop. I’ve looked into Aspen and her family.

I’m fucked up and I know it. I don’t know what’s going on here. But I know that I’m a little too fascinated with the curvy little goddess with the ocean eyes.

Eyes that are wide and locked on her cousin. Fiona smiles at her and pats her arm. “Why don’t you take the day off and spend some time with your new friend?”

I stiffen. I don’t like the friend comment. But I’m going to let it slide if she manages to do what I haven’t been able to…which is get Aspen to go somewhere with me.

Aspen sighs. “Don’t we have that big order coming in for the wedding this next weekend?”

“Harper and I can handle it. She’s feeling a little better since she went to the doctor.”

I cock my head. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She hasn’t announced it yet but I think she’s pregnant. Not too surprising since she and Darius go at it like bunnies all the damn time. It’s embarrassing. I’ve walked in on them having sex in the shop several times this month.”

Aspen laughs out loud. “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what she would say about you and Monroe here.”

My eyes dart back to the other man who’s watching me with a smirk that makes me want to punch him. He knew what I thought and he just let me think it.

Even though it looks like he’s with Fi0na and not Aspen. Huffing angrily, I settle back, leaning against the counter.

He just chuckles lightly and Fiona shoots him a dark look. Yeah, she knows what he was doing. Hopefully she makes him pay for it later. Not that he looks bothered by it in the slightest.

“Aspen? You wanna go for a hike with me?” I don’t know what else to do around here but I want more than anything to be alone with her. I’ll probably have a damn heart attack because I can’t remember the last time I went for a hike willingly.

I use the treadmill to run because you need to be in good shape for what I do.

But it’s not like I like it.

“A hike? I’m not sure that’s such a good idea…”

But Aspen grins at her. “I don’t want to hike. But I know something we can do if you want to go hit some trails.”

I grin. “I absolutely want to go somewhere alone with you, sparkles.”

Fiona chokes and then busts out laughing. “Sparkles? Really?”

Aspen moves closer to me and her pointer finger pokes me right in the chest. “I don’t like that name, Hunt. Not at all.”

Smirking at her, I lean down and whisper in her ear, enjoying the shiver that she can’t hide. “I can’t help it. Your eyes sparkle like the sun on the Aegean Sea.”

She gasps, “you’ve seen it in person?”

Fiona shoots Monroe a worried look but he pats her arm lightly and whispers something in her ear.

“I have. I-I was traveling for work.” True. But not completely honest.

“Do you have pictures on your phone?”

I do but my hair is longer and I’ve got my work clothes on. There’s no way she won’t recognize me unless she’s been hiding under a rock for the last ten years.

So I shake my head sadly. “No. I never had time to get pictures.”

Her narrow shoulders slump. “Oh. That’s a shame. I bet it’s something to see.”

“You could go see it.”