Trouble (Dogwood Lane #3)(35)

“And that means . . .”

“It means she’s creative and inspired and intelligent.” Meredith glances at Matt. “You’re very blue. Very cool, calm, and collected.”

“That’s me. Mr. Reliable,” Matt says.

Avery clears her throat. We all look at her as she smoothens her features. “So,” she begins. “What’s Penn’s aura?”

“Orange.” The answer is out of Meredith’s mouth quickly, as if she’s already considered the question.

“And that means . . .” Avery raises a brow.

Meredith grins. “I’ll just say this: it’s associated with one’s reproductive organs.”

“Really?” Matt responds immediately. “Did he pay you to say that?” He looks at me. “You did, didn’t you?”

“I did no such thing,” I say, quite pleased with this bit of information. “I can’t help it that my aura shows my prowess.”

Meredith laughs. “Just be careful. People with orange auras have a hard time holding on to them.” She fires a grin my way before pulling out her phone again. “Trevor is out front. Would one of you come with me and talk construction with him so I don’t relay things incorrectly?”

Matt side-eyes me. “I’ll go. I don’t want to be punched.”

“Perfect. If you two could take a look around and see if you get inspired by anything, I’d love that.” Meredith smiles wide. “This is going to be great. I know it.”

“Yeah, great,” Matt mumbles as he follows her to the door. “Gonna be splendid.”

Once they’re out of earshot, I turn to Avery. She’s toying with the hem of her shirt.

“Guess that leaves us all alone,” I say. “You and my orange aura.”

“Lord help me.” She shakes her head, and then her ass as she walks away.

I watch her study the mural wall as if she already envisions something there. She bites her bottom lip as she takes it all in from different angles. I want to ask her what she sees or what she’s thinking, but I don’t.

“Inspired already?” I ask.

“Actually, yes. I am.”

“It’s my aura, huh?”

She looks at me over her shoulder and rolls her eyes. “Yeah. Definitely your aura. How did you ever guess?”

The sarcasm is thick and plentiful, but the look on her face makes it so worth it. The light comes in the window and highlights her cheekbones and the copper highlights in her hair. I’ll take her mockery if it gives me a view like this.

She turns back to the wall. I imagine a paintbrush in her hand and find myself curious about a lot of things. How talented is she? What else does she like to do? What is she good at?

Is she the ultimate package? I don’t know. But I’d sure as fuck like to give her mine.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN

AVERY

I don’t turn around to see if Penn follows me. Even if I couldn’t hear his footsteps against the floor or smell his cologne teasing me as he pursues me from behind, I’d still feel the overwhelming sensation of having him this close.

I’m an adult, and I have control over what I say and think and do. Acknowledging I have a problem, a super slight, possible crush, is the first step to recovery.

I look over my shoulder.

Lord have mercy.

He’s leaning against the wall, a dimple nestled in his cheek. The glimmer in his eyes tells me that he knows exactly what I’m thinking, what I’m struggling with over here, and he’s ready to counterattack.

“If this wall were bright, it’d really lighten up this whole space.” I press my hand against a crack in the drywall. “I think we need a repair here first, though.”

“I can do that.”

I wait for the sexual innuendo, for the comment that has nothing to do with construction at all. Nothing comes.

“What’s back here?” I ask.

Walking away from Penn, I continue through the building. A hallway extends off the main room. There’s a bathroom and a meeting room across from a small office. At the end of the hallway is a closed door. I pop it open and peek inside.

Oversize bay windows are centered on a long wall. The area is bright and spacious with only a table that’s been shoved into a corner.

“I love this,” I say as I take in the antique molding around the ceiling. “What kind of thing is Meredith doing here?”

“Something about kids and animals.” His voice envelops me, wrapping around me like a warm sweater. “That’s all I got.”

“Kids and animals, huh? That’s super specific.”

I turn around to see him watching me.

He grins. “Kids and animals aren’t my specialty. I tuned out when I heard that.”

“Funny. I had you pegged to be someone that would love kids and animals.”

He shrugs. “I probably like animals better than kids, but I’m not really a fan of either.”

“No pets, then?”

“I had a goldfish once,” he says. “I won him at Dogwood Day. His name was Floater, and he committed the fish version of hara-kiri by diving onto the floor of the kitchen. I figured that was some kind of sign. What about you?”

“None at the moment.” I hop onto the table by the wall. “Maybe someday.”