Straight Flushed (Hot Pursuit #1)(86)

Unfortunately, even after crossing my fingers and toes, Gabe never showed, not that I was really surprised. It was over and it was beyond a shadow of doubt.

Vance and I walked up next to my car. “That was a really beautiful ceremony,” I said, hitting the button to unlock my doors. The Archbishop had done a wonderful job delivering his sermon. We’d laughed, we’d cried, and we’d prayed. It had been a perfect memorial to a great man. Now life would selfishly go on without him.

Vance reached out and opened my car door. “It was.” He wiped a tear that rolled down my cheek with his thumb; seeing the pain in Andrews’s wife’s face brought on a fresh round of tears I hadn’t be able to suppress. I sucked in a quick breath through my nose and plastered a smile on my face. “Today’s not a day for being tough, Di. Cry,” Vance said.

“I’ve cried enough. Anyway.” I rolled my eyes and laughed, blotting my cheek with my sleeve. “Just great. I’m sure I look like a complete train wreck now and I know my scar has to be bright red.”

“I hadn’t noticed. You look beautiful.” He smiled. A soft heat smoldered behind his eyes, and the expression unexpectedly rocked me. It was like he was watching the sun setting over the ocean for the first time, except he was staring at my damaged face. It couldn’t have been as magical as he’d made me feel. A face marred by mistakes, how could that be beautiful?

“You want to go to the reception after the burial?” Vance added.

My heart sank a little as dread settled in my belly. Then a wave of guilt hit me for even daring to feel that way. “Would it be awful of me if I said I don’t want to go?”

He shook his head. “No. It wouldn’t.”

“I just don’t think I can take anymore? I know you don’t think so, but this is my fault. I got sloppy and now look where it’s gotten me.”

“Di…” He tried to soothe me with a sympathetic look.

“Spare me the lecture. I know what you’re going to say.” I stared at the stubble peppering the smooth curves of his neck.

“Do you?” He glared.

I glanced at him over heavy lids. “Yes, I can see it in your puppy dog eyes, cucciolo.”

“Watch it, girl.” He grinned then put one hand on my hip and turned me toward him. He held me for a second in his gaze, and my pulse skittered. There was a deep tenderness in his look—and something I hadn’t seen or noticed before. “Your eyes have a little bit of green in them,” he said.

“What?” I said through a breath.

“When the sun hits them, they’re brown, but right around your iris there are these little flecks of green, like tiny emeralds. I’ve never noticed it before. They’re really pretty.” His chocolate eyes grew darker and more intense.

I fixated on his lips and remembered how they felt pressed against mine, how he tasted. Despite the cool breeze, warmth flooded my cheeks. “Thanks,” I said, thinking I should smile, but I couldn’t.

The slight pressure from his fingertips claimed possession of my hip. Then as if someone flipped a switch, Vance lifted his brows and shot me a wry smile. “What do you see in my eyes?”

I put my hands on his chest and shoved him backward, laughing. “Oh, you! You had me going. Thanks. I needed that.”

The smallest flicker of something unrecognizable glimmered behind his candied smile. “Don’t mention it.” He winked. “I’m going to go get out of my suit then I’ll come over. Want me to bring anything?”

“I still have all the food your mom gave me the other day, and this.” I motioned to the pumpkin bread under my arm. “But I’m low on alcohol.” I wasn’t ready to stop anesthetizing my pain. “I’m going to need lots of it. Beer?” Oddly enough, I’d lost my taste for wine.

“You got it. See you in a few.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek before walking away, leaving behind the leathery smell of his aftershave blowing in the breeze.

I slid into my seat and closed my door, shutting a little bit of his scent in with me. I inhaled deeply, not consciously arriving at the decision to do so; it was a reflex. Comfort and warmth embraced my soul, but my pulse was still racing and butterflies were fluttering in my belly.

I’d heard of people having odd reactions to grief, clearly this was mine. One deep look and a compliment, and I got carried away. I was emotional and Vance was convenient, I rationalized. Our accidental kiss would be my secret—forever. I breathed in a steady rhythm to get ahold of myself.

When I felt I was ready, I put my key in the ignition, but someone rapped lightly on my window before the engine turned over. Avery stood next to my door in a long, gray cashmere coat.

I smiled. “Avery,” I said, exiting my car, “I didn’t see you in there. How are you?” I hugged him, because he wasn’t just a client anymore, he was my friend.

“I’m well. How have you been?” he said.

“Hanging in there.” I shrugged. “Have you gotten back to work?”

“I have slowly delved back in, although to be honest, I think my retirement days might be upon me. I’ve lost some of the fire in my belly.”

“Oh yeah? I hear there’s this great stretch of beach in Florida you should visit.”

He laughed. “That beach is sounding better and better every day.” He looked up to the sky, taking a moment to absorb its beauty. The air was crisp, but the sky was clear and blue.