She peeked at the picture again, and another message from Brindle popped up. Amber, that could be your baby in your man’s arms! He came looking for you after you left yesterday.
A little thrill darted through her. She loved helping Brindle with snacks during Trace’s practices, and she’d thought she could get a peek at Dash without him noticing she was there, but he’d caught her gawking at him, like all the other women had been, and she’d hightailed it out of there.
Amber thumbed out a response. I’m not into harems.
A text from Lindsay rolled in. He can be my baby daddy. She added a heart-eyed emoji. Another message popped up from Brindle with a peach emoji, immediately followed by a picture of Dash taken from the back, huddled with the boys he was coaching. Amber peeked through the glass into the store again, then quickly saved the picture to her Hidden Dreams folder on her phone. A girl had to have some inspiration.
Another message from Brindle popped up. Amber, did he come see you again? Amber wasn’t about to admit that she’d spent far too much time looking out the front window, hoping he would come by and then immediately hoping he wouldn’t. Why did he, of all people, have to have that effect on her? She thumbed out, No. I told you I sent him away. What guy in his right mind would come back after that?
Her phone vibrated with a text from Trixie. Nick said you should stay away from him because he’s a player. I told him to look in the mirror. Old dogs CAN change. I say go for it!
Another picture of Dash popped up from Brindle, also taken yesterday. He stood with his hands on his hips, his movie-star smile radiating off the screen. She really liked his smile. It wasn’t toddlerish at all. It was gorgeous, the kind of smile that said he had nothing to hide. Her gaze drifted lower, to the bulge in his sweatpants. You couldn’t hide that even if you wanted to. She bit her lower lip. It’d been a long time since she’d been with a man. She didn’t usually think about sex, but from the moment she’d first seen pictures of Dash online, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. He practically oozed testosterone, and after the things he’d said yesterday, she was sure he knew exactly what he was doing between the sheets. Not that she had the experience to match. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She had loads of sexy fictional experience, thanks to her book club, and one day, with the right man, maybe she’d get to try out those skills.
She glanced over her shoulder again and shamelessly saved the picture.
An eggplant emoji and heart-eyed emoji popped up from Lindsay, followed by Dash has quite a fan club. I heard several ladies went walking with him this morning. Several SINGLE ladies.
Better move fast, Amber, Trixie texted. Lots of competition!
Another message from Brindle rolled in. Mom and Mrs. Jericho were there, too! Amber is probably the ONLY female around who doesn’t want him.
Amber groaned, thumbing out, I didn’t say I don’t WANT him. I said he’s too much man for me. You know I like low-key guys.
“That’s the last of the boxes.”
Amber startled and spun around at the sound of Phoenix’s voice.
Phoenix’s eyes widened. “Whoa. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I caught you sexting. Are you okay? Your face is really red.”
“What? Yes. Fine. I’m just hot.” She shoved her phone into her pocket, feeling it vibrate with more messages as she grabbed the basket and headed out of her office with Reno on her heels.
“If you say so.” Phoenix was a freshman at the local community college, studying music and English. She looked rebellious with her dark eyeliner, short black hair highlighted with streaks of vibrant blue, and penchant for black jeans, rock-and-roll T-shirts, and black leather lace-up boots. But she was sweet, smart, and responsible, and Amber felt lucky to have her helping at the store.
Amber set the basket on the coffee table by the couches, hoping Phoenix would let it go. Thankfully, her phone had finally stopped vibrating. She needed to focus on the work she had to do tonight, not get anxious over Dash Pennington’s hotness.
Reno lay down by the couch as Amber surveyed the boxes of books she needed to package for mailing. “Thanks for bringing these out from the stockroom.”
“No problem. I put the labels and bookmarks on the supply cart. Thanks for letting me leave a little early. Are you sure you don’t want me to come back after practice and help you get them ready to ship?”
“No, thanks. You know I love doing this.”
“Yeah, you’re weird like that,” Phoenix teased. “See you tomorrow at Lyrics and Lattes?”
“I’ll be there.” Lyrics and Lattes was a coffeehouse in Wishing Creek, a neighboring town. Phoenix was a talented musician. She played several instruments and had recently begun playing at local cafés and pubs to make extra money. It had been a big step for her to play in public, and Amber tried to go to support her every chance she got.
After Phoenix left, Amber began looking through the basket of greeting cards, choosing a few to mail out to customers for birthdays and anniversaries, as she did every month. She heard the bell chime over the front door as she plucked out another card.
“We’re closing in ten minut—” She turned, her words lost at the sight of Dash striding toward her in faded jeans and a gray sweater.
“Then my timing is perfect.” He flashed that knee-weakening grin. “How’s it going, beautiful?”
Chapter Four
AMBER COULDN’T BELIEVE he’d come back, but she refused to let him fluster her again. “Hi, I…What are you doing here?” The question came out too breathy. So much for not being flustered.
“You didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?”
“I wasn’t trying to get rid of you. I was just trying to keep you from wasting your time.”
He stepped closer, his masculine scent taunting her. “Spending time with you is anything but a waste.”
Oh boy, there went those butterflies in her belly again. He was too charming, and his eyes were beginning to look too honest, which meant she was losing her ability to think rationally. She needed to nip this in the bud. “Dash, I…We…”
“You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
“I’m not flustered,” she said too fast.
His eyes twinkled with a tease. “Sorry. Nervous.”
“You must think an awful lot about yourself if you think you make me nervous.”
He arched a brow.
She laughed softly. “Okay, you make me nervous. Is that such a big deal?”
“Yeah, it is to me. I like that you look at me like you want me, but you blush when I get too close.”
“You’re not helping.”
“You’re a big deal, Amber.” He held up a beautiful bouquet, which he must have had behind his back. It was bursting with all of her favorite fall flowers—orange spray roses and gerberas, white alstroemeria, golden craspedia, miniature maroon carnations, grevillea, and a touch of blue thistle.
“Dash…?” Her eyes flicked up to his as he handed her the vase.
“Have dinner with me tonight. Let me put your fictional heroes to shame.”
Yes, please. Oh no. What am I thinking? No. There would be no hero shaming. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re lovely. Gorgeous. But I can’t have dinner with you. I really am busy tonight.”