“It was so you. Why the change after five years?”
She shrugged. “My natural auburn presents a more professional image.”
Britt noticed Gina avoided both her and Jayne’s eyes. “Jackson say that?”
Jackson Brady was the hot-shot computer programmer Gina had started dating a couple months ago. Britt hadn’t met him yet, but a few things had given her pause. Little things, so as long as Gina was happy, she kept quiet. Besides, after Daniel, who was she to give advice?
“Well, he’s right,” Gina replied. “And GAllen Designs is still new. Until I’ve built up my portfolio, anything that gives a prospective client one less reason to say no is a good thing.”
Across the parking lot, Britt watched a group of guests entering the resort bar. Turning back to Gina, she said, “Tell you what, if I go back to Chicago, you can come decorate my office.”
“If?”
The wide-eyed question came from both her friends, echoing her own surprise once she realized what she’d said. It started her heart pounding so fast she quickly amended, “I mean when. When I go back.” She couldn’t help but laugh. “Can you imagine? After six years of school, my dad would really freak if I didn’t.”
“But is that what you want to do?”
Gina would be the one to ask. She’d gone against her parents’ wishes to start her own business in Colorado instead of returning to Michigan.
“Of course,” she stated, as much for herself as them. “I’m only here to help Mark out until Eve has the baby. I mean, sure, distance from Daniel right now is a bonus, but after that, you bet I’m going back to show the jerk exactly what he threw away.”
“That’s our girl,” Jayne quipped.
She smiled again, then changed the subject to something more fun, like when were Casey and Jayne going to have a baby? As they talked and teased each other, it was as if the past nine months had flown by in a blink. She’d missed them, especially through the last month of upheaval in her life, and savored their warm, unconditional friendship.
So why then, in the occasional moments of silence, did she find her thoughts focused on a certain dark-haired ranger?
Because ever since Casey asked how far she’d made Joel walk, she dreaded the thought of meeting up with him again. Just like Jayne had said. Taking his horse had been childish and petty, and all because she was angry at herself for letting him kiss her, and even more annoyed she’d enjoyed it so much.
Eyelids closed, she pictured his gold-flecked eyes, fringed with those dark lashes. She remembered the feel of his muscled length against her, felt his lips caress—
“Britt? Hello? You still with us?”
She snapped her eyes open, embarrassed at the direction her thoughts had traveled. “Yep. What?”
“Gina asked how your camping weekend went,” Jayne informed her, her tone sweet and innocent.
Her cheeks warmed, and she hoped they’d attribute it to the steam rising from the hot tub. “It was fine. Uneventful.”
Jayne let loose a snort of laughter and Britt shot her a glare. Gina glanced between them with a confused frown. “What’s so funny?”
Britt sighed and glanced toward the bar again. “I ran into one of the—” She stopped abruptly as the object of her previous thoughts paused alongside his truck, gave a sweeping glance in their direction, then started up the stairs to the bar.
“Shit.”
“What?” Jayne swung around to see what held her attention.
Her pulse raced. Drawing a full breath became difficult with her heart lodged in her throat. “He’s here.”
“Who’s here?”
“Joel Morgan. Hurry—switch places with me.”
Jayne’s concern disintegrated into laughter. Britt threw her an indignant look and pushed her to the other side of the hot tub. “It’s not funny!”
Her laughter subsided to a grin. “If you could see your face right now.”
“Who’s Joel Morgan?” Gina craned her neck toward the bar.