Page 87 of Cornered

THREE

“YOU LOOK GORGEOUS.”Daphne Crawford crossed the parking lot, her brown hair swishing behind her in a ponytail. “And that dress is the perfect color.”

Lahela looked down at the yellow sundress she’d finally selected after an hour of going through everything in her closet. October in Texas was still warm enough for a sundress but also cool enough she needed a jacket, so she’d paired her favorite dress with a denim jacket.

The decision only took fifteen minutes, but the other forty-five minutes she’d sat in said pile of clothing talking herself into coming out tonight, trying not to panic that the person behind the random phone calls haunting her life was back.

“Hello?” Daphne met her halfway in the parking lot of Juana’s. The touch of her hand on her shoulder was enough to bring Lahela’s attention to the present. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Her cell phone felt like a brick in her purse. After blocking the number, she hadn’t received any more calls. Maybe it was a mistake.

“Lahela, girl, you’re worrying me.” Daphne tipped her head so that she was looking right into Lahela’s eyes. Her expression shifted from concern to amusement. “Wait, you aren’t nervous, are you?”

Briggs.

“When he sees you”—Daphne stepped back, giving her a once-over—“I bet he doesn’t waste a second asking you out.”

“Well, look at these beauties just standing in the parking lot.” The voice and a wolf whistle turned them to find Nash Martin walking toward them. “I appreciate Juana’s new marketing choice to lure customers in.”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “Is flirting in your DNA?”

Nash wrapped an arm around Daphne’s shoulder. “My grandmother doesn’t seem to think so since I’m”—he placed a hand on his chest and looked up into the sky—“woefully single.” He dropped his voice and his gaze to meet theirs. “Her words, not mine.”

“You’re terrible.” Daphne slapped her hand playfully against Nash’s chest. “Happy birthday.”

Lahela studied her two friends and wondered again that if Nash wasn’t Daphne’s brothers’ best friend,theirfriendship might cross into romantic territory someday.

“Happy birthday, Nash.” Lahela handed him her gift bag. “You don’t look a day over twenty.”

“I’m cursed by good genes.” Nash accepted the gift and gave Lahela a hug. “Though it would be nice to have your naturally tan skin tone so I wouldn’t burn in the summer.”

“Aww.” Daphne pinched Nash’s cheek. “I think lobster red really brings out the gold flecks in your brown eyes.”

“Gold flecks?” Nash sent Lahela a look before turning an impish smile on Daphne. “So, you’re checking out my eyes?”

Daphne recoiled, her face twisting into playful disgust as she shoved Nash. It didn’t even move him an inch, a testament to the time he put in at the gym to stay physically fit for his job in the FBI.

“Ew. No. I mean ... I just ...” Daphne stumbled over her words before relief flashed across her face. “Hey, Briggs!”

And just like that, the world seemed to shift on its axis.Lahela turned and her pulse picked up at the sight of Briggs in his signature jeans, boots, and T-shirt with the Mounted SAR emblem on it. If sexy-casual was a thing, he nailed it.

Add the baseball cap he tugged over brown hair just long enough to brush the tops of his ears and collar, and she’d be lying if she said that the first time they met there wasn’t a tiny moment of appreciation. But it was his easy friendship coupled with the countless ways he’d shown up for her over the last ten months that had her taking Daphne’s words to heart.

Briggs strode toward them in a casual swagger, the setting sun highlighting his form. His gaze snagged on her and held. Her shyness kicked in, pressuring her to break eye contact, but she ignored it. If she hadn’t, she would’ve missed the appreciative glint in his expression as he took her in, the slight uptick of his lips in a smile that seemed only for her.

Heat blossomed everywhere across her body, and she dipped her chin, not wanting anyone to catch the blush warming her cheeks.

“Y’all weren’t waiting on me, were you?”

“No. Daph just admitted she’s been checking out my eyes,” Nash said. “Tell me again how pretty the golden flecks are.”

“You’re so annoying. I have no idea why my brothers like you.”

“For my gold—”

“Stop.” Daphne waved her hands in the air. “I regret so many things,” she mumbled, reaching for Lahela. “Let’s go inside and eat.” Looking at Briggs, she said, “You’re welcome to join us.” And to Nash, “You’re one second away from me taking back my birthday gift.”

“Aw, Daph, your compliment about my glittering eyes is gift enough.”

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