Page 70 of The Image of You

“Did I tell you Emma called?”

“Oh?”

“She’s in town, so we’re going to have lunch. You want to join us?”

“How about I drop you off and have coffee, then leave you to it?”

“Are you sure?”

I dropped a kiss on her head. “You haven’t seen her in a while. You two need to catch up. I’m not overly interested in girl talk.”

She laughed. “Okay, but I know she wants to meet you. She’s heard lots about you.”

I grinned. “Bragging, are you? How sexy I am, how good in bed, my incredible looks?”

She huffed, the air drifting over my skin. “More like how bossy you are, the fact that you can’t find the laundry basket, and you have no idea what a towel rack is for.”

Laughter rumbled through my chest, and I pressed a kiss to her head. “Whatever, Ally. You know you can’t resist me.”

“Just keeping it real.”

“That’s my girl. Now, go to sleep.”

“See? Bossy,” she mumbled sleepily.

I grinned against her head. She was right.

* * *

Emma Jones was tall with intelligent dark eyes, and her fondness for my girl was evident. We sized each other up, both cautious, then she smiled.

“Nice to finally meet you, Adam.”

“Same here,” I replied, shaking her hand.

“Ally said you were hot.”

I grinned, leaning back. “Did she now?”

Ally groaned. “Not you too. Elena already fills his head with compliments.”

I bent close to her ear. “Already talking about my filled head, Ally? You’re making me blush.”

Emma burst out laughing, and I had to chuckle. Ally tried to ignore me.

“I have some news,” Emma announced. “I’m selling my stores.”

“Why?” gasped Ally.

“The offer is too good to pass up. They’ll still carry my clothes, but they’ll run them, and I can concentrate on my designs. With Alan’s new job, he’s traveling a lot, I’m traveling—we never see each other. This is a good compromise.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Life is too short to be apart that much.”

I felt Ally tense beside me. I knew she was already thinking of the next time I would be called away and dreading it. I hadn’t told her Sean had texted while she was in the shower, warning me about a massive weather system being tracked. If it continued inland, I’d be leaving tonight. I needed to check with him, then break the news to my girl.

I stood. “Ladies, I’m going to go do some errands and leave you to catch up.”

Ally frowned. “You don’t have to go. You could eat with us.”

I leaned down, kissing her forehead. “But I do. I saw the girly shit on the menu for lunch. No tofu for me.” At her chuckle, I brushed a finger down her cheek. “Besides, I know you’re dying to brag more about my, ah, head.” I winked. “Have some time with your friend.”