Page 12 of The Snowflake Effect
I shake my head and Sawyer glares, but he doesn’t break our code.
Lily focuses on our ski jackets. “You guys are from Vancouver, right?”
“Are you suddenly clairvoyant?” Raven asks.
Lily tips her chin to our jackets. “All their stuff is Moondog. There are three stores in Van, and I think they’re planning on opening one in Toronto this summer. Until then, BC is the only place to buy it, aside from online. But I don’t think I’ve seen that blue jacket offered.”
Lily is on the loveseat, Sawyer kitty-corner on the couch, and he inches forward. “Good call on Vancouver. But how do you know Moondog?”
I try to catch his eye, but he won’t look my way. Bastard. He better not go there.
She shrugs. “They’re kind of the hottest thing in outdoor wear these days.”
Sawyer drags a hand through his hair. “What do you think of this year’s winter line? Of the women’s jackets?”
If he didn’t ask the question, I probably would have. You can’t pay for this type of honest, unbiased feedback. As long as they don’t know who we are, I’m all for the intel.
Lily, however, is in no rush to offer her opinion. She picks at a rip in her jeans, then she says, “I don’t know. I mean, it’s clever—fashion-forward. But they don’t have the pulse on what women want. They design what men want women to want, if that makes sense.” She cocks her head and studies Sawyer. “Are you in fashion or something?”
I smack the counter and laugh before the dude can screw us over. Last time we told a random woman we owned Moondog, Nico almost had to get involved; the texts and calls neared stalker level.
“Sawyer?” I laugh harder. “The guy’s in insurance. He just likes to dress nice to impress the ladies.”
Nico snorts, but Sawyer seethes. If looks could kill, I’d be riddled with bullets. He plasters on a smile. “Yeah, well, we can’t all be fancy hairstylists like you, can we?”
Point and game. Fucker. “No, you can’t,” I say, my grin as forced as his.
“What about you?” Raven asks Nico. “Esthetician?”
He chuckles. “Not in this lifetime. I’m a cop.”
They’re next to each other, on the opposite end of the couch from Sawyer, and she inches closer to Nico. “That I can handle.”
He hangs his arm over the back cushion, his huge hand coming to rest on her shoulder. He whispers in her ear, and her hand moves to his thigh. Definitely a connection there, and I smile for my friend.
“So, hairdresser, huh?” Shay’s leaning on the kitchen counter, her hazel eyes no longer stormy.
“Can’t deny the passion when it comes calling.” I am going to kill Sawyer.
“Guess not. And you do have good hair.” Her gaze lingers on my ponytail, then drags down my long-underwear top and settles on the area around my belt buckle. “Good hair,” she murmurs again.
Her eyes flick up to meet mine, and damn—that look. Lids lowered, lips parted.
The Bitch is flirting.
Maybe today won’t be a total fail, after all. Maybe I don’t have to wait until tomorrow to break my dry spell. If her quick temper is any indication, Shay is likely a tiger in the sack.
CHAPTER 6
KOLTON
I glance over at our friends. Nico and Raven are touching any way they can, Lily and Sawyer leaning in close and talking fashion. Sawyer may not be getting any, but I haven’t seen him this interested in talking to a woman in forever. They’re all going with the flow. I deserve this night as much as they do. Probably more.
Shay may have a short fuse, but she’s absolutely gorgeous.
I sip my bourbon and step closer to her, but I can’t think of a thing to say. I shift on my feet, gripping my glass tighter by the second, my neck prickly and warm. Am I this far off my game? Have I lost the ability to flirt?
“What do you do?” I finally ask.
