Flakes (Licking Thicket 0.50)

I nodded. “Well, she took daisies to the senior home after church and made sure my grandmother had yellow ones since those were her favorite. Miss Joyce would sit and talk to her for a long time, so she was usually still there when I came by after lunch. Grandmother Bell talked about her daisies for hours.”

“You’re one of the Bell boys?”

I shook my head. “Not really. The people of Licking Thicket think of my cousins when they think of the Bell boys. I was more like the black sheep who wanted to grow up knowing how to boost cars.”

It was kind of a joke, but kind of not. Thanks to some intervention by the head of my MC when I was only eighteen, I’d turned out okay. He’d found me a good job working construction, and I’d busted my ass to work my way up ever since.

He seemed to put two and two together. “That’s how you know about Greensong Pharmacy. You’re Randi Bell’s nephew.”

I nodded. “She was my mom’s sister.”

He must have heard the story or noticed my use of past tense. His hand came up to caress my cheek. “I’m sorry about your loss. I know your grandmother was crushed when she died.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, turning to nuzzle into his palm. “She was one of the good ones.”

“But… did you…” I could see the wheels turning in his head. “Did you get me that job offer?”

“No,” I said emphatically, having known the question was coming. “Absolutely not. I only recommended you. By then, I knew your reputation and I’d worked with you enough to know you were completely trustworthy. But my aunt and uncle would have never tried to hire you if they personally hadn’t vetted you.”

“Thank you. I don’t know what to say. I was honored to be considered for it.”

It made no sense. “But you didn’t want it.”

His jaw tightened and I could feel his body tense. “Not true.”

I leaned in and kissed him again. “Shh. It’s okay. We don’t need to talk about it.” Besides, I already had a pretty good idea of why he’d done what he had.

Kissing him again and again seemed to be a good distraction from the heavy topics. I loved everything about holding him and kissing him. The fire popped and cracked behind him. The falling snow muted any sounds from outside. And I imagined having him all to myself through the night.

“This is incredible,” I murmured into his mouth. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long, long time.” I knew I’d said it already, but I couldn’t stop thinking I’d waited too long. I was relieved it wasn’t too late.

Colin pulled back suddenly and shook his head as if trying to clear it. “Truth or shot?”

If I kept taking shots, I wouldn’t remember kissing him in the morning, and I’d be damned if I was going to risk that.

“Truth.”

He looked hesitant but finally asked his question. “Why did you recommend me for the Greensong job?”

Colin looked genuinely confused and curious. I reached for his hand and held it between both of mine. The smooth, dry skin felt perfect in my grip.

“First of all, please don’t be mad.” Before he could interrupt me with more questions, I hurried to continue. “You left your sketchbook at the Windswept Pines job one day.”

His eyebrows shot up. “That was at least three years ago!”

I nodded. “I know. And I knew you’d freak out if you lost track of it. At first I thought it was sketches for the Windswept job, but then it fell open on my truck seat and I saw what was inside.”

Colin’s jaw worked as he realized I’d seen his private design sketches. “Then how did I get it back? I don’t remember losing it.”

“I followed you to the Tavern and snuck it into your messenger bag while you were inside.” My face was hot, and I wondered if it was embarrassment or the fire. “I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t want you to be upset with me or think I took it. I promise I didn’t. But I didn’t leave it on the jobsite because that was when we were having some appliance theft overnight, remember?”

He nodded absently. “So, you saw my designs…”

When he tried to pull his hand away, I held it tighter. “You’re incredibly talented, Colin,” I said softly. “Your work is amazing.”

He looked at me out of the corner of his eyes, as if unsure of whether or not to trust me. “You think so?”

I’d never seen him look so insecure, and I hated it. “I was blown away.”

Within seconds, I had a lap full of Colin Kearns, warm from the fire and so incredibly sexy in my denim shirt. His skin color, which was usually a rich tawny brown, had reddened to a deep, coppery bronze with his blush. I freaking loved seeing his reaction to my touch. Gone was the tidy, put-together designer who fussed around a jobsite with his massive to-do list. In his place was a glassy-eyed sweetheart whose mouth tasted like the promise of a tempting future.