Page 39 of Beautiful Dreamer

“I’ll deliver the message.” Devyn tried not to appear astraumatized as she felt.

“Bye, Charlie,” Elizabeth said, knowingly, and pulled Devyn away.

Still on a high from the fun they’d had, Devyn walked back to thetruck with a smile on her face, chucking her second beer into the trash as theywalked. “That was a surprisingly good time for a parking lot.”

“I told you. You don’t give the Bay enough credit.”

Devyn kicked at the rocks on the ground next to the truck andsquinted. “Well, technically, you could find a game of cornhole a lot ofplaces.”

Elizabeth scoffed. “Not in the parking lot in front of Mr. Pittswith your friends and neighbors cheering you on while you have a couple ofbrewskis.”

“You don’t seem the type to use the word ‘brewskis.’” Or drive apickup or have a ridiculous competitive streak, she filled in. But Elizabethwas all of those things in one.

“Well, I do. It’s a fun word if you think about it. I like the wayit feels on my lips.”

Devyn swallowed and took a moment with that one. “Your lipsdeserve some fun now and then. I can agree.”

Elizabeth leaned back against the truck with a side smile thatshowcased that hint of a dimple. “Are you flirting with me again?”

“No,” Devyn said automatically, like a fifth grader incapable ofhonest communication. She glanced at the ground in mortification of her ownbehavior because this time there was so much behind it.

Elizabeth dipped her head and caught Devyn’s gaze. “Because therehave been several moments where I felt like we were flirting.”

Devyn placed her hands on top of her head. She met Elizabeth’seyes. “Well, you just put it right out there, don’t you?”

“Is that bad?” Elizabeth asked, seeming to not know one way or theother.

“No. I just thought we would play it cool. Let it unravel.”

Elizabeth nodded. “We could. Or I could use the two beers I justhad to tell you that you’re a smoke show.” Elizabeth didn’t wait for aresponse. Instead, she pushed off the truck and headed down the sidewalk withher hair blowing in the evening breeze.

“Where are you going?” Devyn called with a laugh. “You can’t saythat and then walk away, you weirdo.”

“Yes, I can,” Elizabeth called over her shoulder. “And I’m walkingnow. Had two beers. Shouldn’t drive.” She paused and turned back. “Coming?”

Like she had any choice now. Elizabeth and the great time she’dalready shown her had Devyn’s mood light and her interest piqued. Don’t get herstarted on her libido and how much exercise it was raking in. She hurried toclose the distance between them on the sidewalk. “Where are we going?”

“My place. My backyard.”

“What for?”

“You’ll see. Follow me.”

In that moment, she likely would have followed Elizabeth Draper anywhere.“So mysterious.” She grinned and her phone buzzed in her pocket.

“I find things are most exciting with a little mystery tacked on,”Elizabeth said back. “Don’t you?”

“I’m not opposed to it.” Devyn finally caught up and pulled outher phone. It was Paul calling, the top broker on her team, likely with updateson Twenty-Four Walker.

“Do you need to take that, Ms. Wheeler-Dealer?”

Devyn stared at the phone and back at Elizabeth. “No. I’m good.”She declined the call and felt strangely okay about that. The stars werepeeking out from above and the ocean air caressed her face. “It’s a very prettynight.”

Elizabeth smiled and it made the night even better. “Isn’t it?”Her gaze never left Devyn’s face. “I can’t get over the view.”

* * *

Elizabeth had goose bumps on her arms. Devyn Winters had giventhem to her with the long looks she’d cast her way all night. She rubbed her armsnow as she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror of her home.

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