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The smaller one with the short hair gave me an assessing look. “I’m going to go find Kinleigh before we get out of here.”

“Is she all right?” The question was instinctive. It wasn’t like my girl to leave people on their own in her place.

The sprite-sized blond stuck her hand out. “I’m Kinleigh’s new assistant, Luna Hastings.”

I shook her hand and my eyebrows shot up when the jolt of something warm hit me. Not attraction—that seemed to be solely for Kinleigh these days. But something else. A little intense. I couldn’t put my finger on it. “August Beck.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets.

A little smile tilted up her lips. “Hmm.” She glanced to the dark-haired woman wearing all black. “Be right back.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m just going to go…over there.”

Gabby grabbed her jeans off the desk. “Running, Beck?”

“Yes,” I said without shame.

I was instantly drawn to one of the skinny tables draped in scarves. Discreet tags hung from the corners, but resting on top was a long, carved bowl full of wooden toys. A truck, a star, and a moon. I tucked the bowl into the crook of my arm.

I wasn’t exactly a this is a sign kind of guy, but that seemed like it should go in the window display. I picked out a few more items. Sturdy trays and a few large vases meant to group around a living room design would do well with the rocking chair I’d set aside for the window.

I kept checking near the storeroom where the women had congregated. They seemed to be discussing something a little deeper than when the next meeting of the minds would be. Finally, they waved and left.

Kinleigh seemed lost in thought so I didn’t approach her, but finally, she seemed to shake it off. She went back into the storeroom, and then returned with a box. “Hey.”

I set my current find down, little wind chimes that reminded me of her. Dragonflies in a soft blue stained glass the same color as her eyes.

Jesus, I was turning into a sap.

I’d almost put them back when she took them from me and set them in the box. “That’s perfect. Exactly what your window needs.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded.

Her blue eyes were sad. Dry and red like they hurt. I stroked the back of my knuckles down her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“Been a long day.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

She swallowed tightly. “I don’t really want to go into it.”

I sighed.

She pressed a hand to my chest. “Only because I need to do some damage control first.”

“Ivy?” Maybe she’d finally started talking to her about us.

Dream on, Beck.

“I hurt her feelings. I just have to fix it.”

Disappointment stabbed me deep in the gut, but I wasn’t used to her being so down. And only one thing made Kinleigh happy. Someday I hoped more than my dick would be in that list. “Giving my store a makeover should cheer you up.”

A smile curved her lips. “Anything I want?”

I was probably going to regret it, but I nodded. “Carte blanche.”

She did a little wiggle and the silver chains she wore tinkled and scraped against the box. “You’re going to need a few more trips then. I have a bunch of stuff in the back.”

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