Page 54 of Forever Flirting

The tone towards Mallory was cool, aloof… but to Caleb it was warm, caring, and obviously a father that missed his little boy.

She hit reply immediately.

* * *

Alex,

Thank you for including me on this… I will make sure Caleb hears your words.

I promise.

Everly

* * *

Clickingon the other email from Alex, she couldn’t help but smile as she realized that the ‘tone’ of his email for her was just as warm and caring – and his email was much longer, making her feel a distinct glimmer of happiness.

Her eyes scanned the screen, only looking away for a moment as Megan walked into her office again… carrying a large bouquet of roses. There had to be at least twelve massive buds, each the size of a large egg and just beginning to open.

Everly’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“This just came for you, Dr. Briscoe. Do you want them back here or…”

“Please,” she whispered, stunned.

Leaving the email for a moment, she shakily withdrew the card from the plastic flower pic and breathed deeply the clean, sweet perfume of the large pink blooms that were just starting to unfurl. Closing her office door behind Megan’s departure, Everly opened the card.

I miss our eskimo kiss… Alex

Everly’s heart clenched as tears stung her eyes, staring at the breathtakingly beautiful roses once more, knowing who they came from – and why. She had dreamed of that moment last night, picturing that eskimo kiss… and wishing she’d been bold enough to go against his wishes and truly kiss him.

Clenching the beloved card to her chest, she moved to take a seat and finish reading his email he’d sent her. Her eyes drank in his words, practically hearing his voice in her mind as she read.

She was so touched that Alex included tidbits about Killian – just for her, and explained why his email was a little late. Checking the date, she saw it was sent yesterday but must have gotten trapped in the filters.

Killian had informed her that if you said anything that was picked up by screening there was a delay – or sometimes it wouldn’t go through. Killian told her that he couldn’t talk about his location, details, or other tidbits like that.

… And she couldn’t help but smile as he included details about his meal. That actually tickled her, because they said they would do something so mundane as that just to be able to share with the other person, but the simplicity of his words struck a chord in her.

I miss you already,he’d said – and she melted, looking at the roses once more and reading her card clenched in her hand.

She never expected him to be sweet, emotional, or sappy like this. Sometimes he said things she never expected anyone else to say – things that a normal guy wouldn’t utter aloud to save his life… but Alex didn’t hold back.

It was like he needed to share, needed this transparency between them, and had no problem opening up to her, so long as she was willing to hear him out.

Hitting reply to his email, she drew in an emotional breath and began to type.

* * *

Dear Alex,

The roses were just delivered – and I miss our eskimo kiss, too.

You are doing crazy things to me mentally, and just when I think I know who the real ‘Alex’ is… you go and do something like that – or even this email.

I know what you mean, because I miss holding your hand, too.

I dreamed we were walking along the stream last night with Caleb, talking, and sharing about our day like this was all just the most normal friendship in the world.

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