Page 44 of Falling

“Thank you.” Her smile lights up her face It makes my heart skip a beat. Is this what it’s like to be a boyfriend? The last real girlfriend I had was in college, and we were never that serious. I wonder what Geneva would say if I asked.

I know I should be beating myself up for even thinking of her as my girlfriend. What happened to all that bullshit about not sleeping with your best friend’s sister? It went up in smoke the second I found her outside, catching snow on her tongue. I saw through the attitude to the woman she deserves to be. One with no fear of the future. I had to claim her as mine.

It’s not fair to hold someone to a promise made years ago when you’re young. Rand made me swear to leave his sister alone the day she started working with us. I was only twenty-two at the time. There were plenty of women in the sea.

Now I’m older and much wiser. I understand that there is no one else like Geneva, no matter how hard I search. Rand is just going to have to get over it or look elsewhere for a best friend.

The first thing we do is stop for breakfast. She nibbles on a pastry while I have the full Southwest American breakfast. It’s similar to the full British one, only the beans are better. She watches me spoon a sizable helping of them into my mouth.

“So much for not farting during sex,” she says. It takes everything I have not to blow beans all over the table.

“I told you it was an impossible requirement.” She rolls her eyes and takes a sip of coffee. I toss my spoon back onto my plate. “Now that’s all I’m going to think about.”

“Did I just ruin sex for you?” she teases.

“Nothing could ruin sex with you, sunshine.”

“Nice cover.” She laughs. “We should probably go before we upset any more serving staff.”

“That wasn’t even our best material.” I toss enough cash on the table to cover our bill and a generous tip, just in case. We walk outside, back into the cold air.

Soon we’re lost among the many art studios around Santa Fe. Geneva has always loved art. Her office was filled with it. Everything is now packed away in boxes as it travels across the country.

“Oooh, I love this,” she says. She’s looking at a stylized piece that can only be described as folk art. I know why she likes it though. The colors are vibrant. They draw you in, the way she does with me. I check the price on the wall next to it. They’re not giving it away, but I can afford it. I motion to the clerk.

“Can you ship this?” I ask when the woman approaches us.

“We’d be happy to.”

“You can’t be serious,” Geneva says.

“Consider it an office warming gift.” She gawks at me. “From your boyfriend?” We’ll see how violent this reaction will be. She mulls it over for a minute. Then, grabbing the front of my shirt, she pulls me in for a kiss.

“I’ll say a proper thank you later,” she mumbles against my lips. A voice clears next to us.

“So, can I start the paperwork on this piece?” the woman asks.

“What do you think?” I ask with my arms still holding Geneva against me.

“Definitely,” she answers. I nod, and the woman scurries off to a desk in the back. “Boyfriend, huh?”

“I was trying it on for size.”

“Does it fit?”

“Pretty damn well, I think.”

“Hmm,” she hums. Her fiery gaze meets mine. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Find out, my ass. I tried it on and found that it fit like a glove. I’m willing to risk everything for this. I won’t fight for my stake in our new business if Rand wants me out. I’ll go, but I’m taking her with me. She takes my hand when we step out of the gallery.

“Boyfriend sounds so teenage,” she says. “I think it needs a better name. Hmm, let me think.” She pulls me inside another gallery. Her voice lowers. “How about boy toy?”

“No.”

“Penis-enhanced arm candy.”

“What? That’s a definite no. I think boyfriend is fine.” We wander through the artwork before stepping back outside. There’s a café across the street that looks perfect for lunch. We’re shown to a table and order before Geneva picks back up our conversation.

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