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“I plan to.” She smiles. “Oh, and if Jake comes by for his order, don’t tell him I’m in here. I’m getting supplies to make him something special and I don’t want him to know.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Thanks, Jim.”
Walking to the back of the store, there’s a whole section dedicated to art supplies. “Wow, this is more than I expected,” I tell Ally.
“I know,” she says. “Jim’s wife was an artist, so she had him stock the good stuff for her and her students. She passed away a few years ago.”
“That’s so sad. He seems like such a nice man.”
“He is.” She nods, crouching down to look at the tubes of paint on the bottom shelf.
“So why all the secrecy with Jake?” I ask, curious.
“Oh, nothing,” she says, waving her hand in the air to dismiss my query.
“Uh, okay.” Yeah, I definitely don’t want to know then. It’s probably some weird sex thing, and I don’t need those images in my head.
Leaning against the shelf of wood stains and primers, I let Ally be Ally, and give her a few minutes of peace while she decides what paints she needs.
Standing here, my mind wanders to Ryan. Of course it does. Give me two seconds to think, and it’ll go there on its own. I can’t help it.
I hear the door to the shop open, and it brings in a voice that’s all too familiar. “Hey, Jim,” I hear Jake say, making Ally jump, and then fall on her ass.
My hand flies to my mouth, and I bite back my laughter, shaking silently.
When a cramp hits, I bend forward, one hand gripping my side, and the other on my mouth as Ally rolls on the floor, silently laughing her ass off too.
“Jake, Ryan, how are you two? It’s always good to see you boys together,” Jim greets.
Oh my God, no. Ryan is here too?
“I’m good, Jim,” Jake replies.
“Me too,” Ryan’s deep voice follows, and my stomach takes flight. “How did you manage through the storm?”
“Oh, I was fine. Just missed a couple days of work, but I was due.”
“You deserve some time off. When was the last time you went fishing?”
“It’s been a while,” Jim says, a longing in his voice.
“Next time Jake and I go, you’re coming with us.”
“Deal.” And just like that, Ryan stole another little piece of my heart. That damn man.
I hear their boots against the concrete floor, and I duck even farther down with Ally. I don’t know why we have to hide, but Ally shuffles herself over to sit next to me, linking her arm with mine.
“So man, Ash is staying with you?” Jake asks Ryan, and I immediately go stock still, holding my breath so I don’t miss what he says.
“Yeah, and?”
“What do you mean ‘and?’Andwhat’s going on with you two? You’re not exactly known for taking women in.”
That makes me breathe a little sigh of relief, but my heart still pounds in my chest.
“Well, she was stranded. What was I supposed to do, leave her out there alone?”
