“Sounds cozy.”
We slowly walked down the aisle, Trevor leaning on the cart. “She’s pretty serious about Austin and I wouldn’t be surprised if he popped the question on her. They’re having a housewarming party.”
“Should we bring a gift?”
Crap, I hadn’t thought about that. “Maybe a bottle of wine? I know Lexi loves red wine.”
“Go pick out a cheap bottle and I’ll get the rest of the stuff,” he said. “You talked some sense into me and I’m putting the steak back. We’re having Trevor Taco Delight for dinner.” Trevor swaggered off in his signature denim and button-up shirt ensemble. He never tucked in his shirts, so it made him look casual and put together at the same time.
It was so wonderful having him around again. Trevor could be a little odd at times, but I loved him unconditionally. He often started up fights with other guys over petty things, and sometimes the verbal exchanges between them were weird and made no sense. In fact, news flash—men in general made no sense to me.
I hurried down the aisle and made my way to the back of the store where the cheap bottles were lined up on the shelves.
Guilt weighed heavily on my conscience from pinching the money out of the company account, and I’d come to a decision. It wasn’t worth the risk. Maybe I’d get away with it, but I’d never be able to live with myself. The best way to handle it was to take out a loan from Maddox and immediately deposit all the money I’d stolen back into the business account. After I took care of Sanchez, that is. I didn’t want to owe anything to that finger-chomping maniac.
Jeez, too many choices, I thought, staring at the display of wine. I narrowed them down by the catchiest names that were under ten dollars. My fingers touched the caps on the bottles as I held my hand indecisively over the top shelf. I recognized a familiar brand on the second shelf—I’d seen it at a few parties. When I pulled my arm back, my bracelet snagged the neck of a Merlot.
Three bottles toppled over and smashed on the floor.
Glass exploded and red wine splashed across my legs. I covered my head with my arms and squeezed my eyes shut. When I dared to open them, I glanced down at the mess. Red wine pooled across the floor and saturated my sneakers. The bottles had cracked in large chunks and shards of glass were scattered everywhere.
Nice job, sweetheart, my inner voice mocked. Will you be paying by cash or credit?
The sound of shoes crunching over broken glass came from my right and I cringed, expecting to see a store employee with a mop in hand and a frown on their face.
Reno stalked toward me wearing mirrored shades, a formfitting black shirt, and boots with a thick tread.
Without a word, he hooked his strong arm around my lower waist and lifted me off the ground with a whoosh. I draped my arms over his shoulders, uncertain of what to do as he swiveled and walked me out of danger. I was in the middle of deciding whether I wanted to tell him to put me down or succumb to hero syndrome.
He stopped in front of the freezer of beer with me still in his arms. I marveled at how easily he held me, as if I weighed nothing.
“Hi,” I said, staring at my reflection in his glasses. Then I began to get my first close-up look at Reno.
There was something mysteriously sexy about his lips even though they weren’t expressive like Denver’s. A tiny scar on his bottom lip caught my eye.
“Are you cut?” he asked, still not putting me down.
I was having a little trouble focusing when my entire front was pressed tightly against his, and tingles were awakening from a long slumber. My God, his cologne was intoxicating and clouding all rational thought. My mantastic episode was on the verge of becoming epic.
“Put me down and I’ll check.”
“There could be glass on your shoes,” he said matter-of-factly.
A grin curved up my face and I lifted the aviators off his nose and glanced into a set of coffee-brown eyes. They were so molten that I found my mouth operating without a license. “Well then, I guess you could just hold me in the imported-beer aisle for the rest of our lives.” My best attempt at flirting was about to crash and burn.
Reno set me down and towered over me. I was average height, but he must have been over six feet.
“I remember you,” I said stupidly, straightening my blouse. “I ran into your brother. He said you’d gone missing. You probably don’t remember who I am.” I stepped back and bent over, wiping the wine from my lower legs.
“April Frost.”
I straightened up and looked at him, wide-eyed. “How do you know my name?”
“Lexi introduced us and I don’t forget a name.” Then he knelt down and ran his hand down my strong calves and around the edge of my shoes.