She expected the same hearty applause but everyone just stared at her.
At least, Aspen clapped with enthusiasm. “Finally! Bringing an animal into your house will be so good for you. It’s a perfect time to open your life to someone.”
Lacey snorted. “I’d rather have a naked male animal in my bed, but what the hell. Cats are cool.”
“Are you going to the rescue shelter?” Maleficent asked. “My friend works there—I’ll tell her you’re coming.”
“Yes, that will be great. I know exactly what I want. A sweet, smaller sized rescue with a chill personality. Maybe a kitten so we can immediately imprint on one another? I’d love to bring her into the shop so she could become Flirt’s mascot.”
The group warmed up to that idea, offering help and saying how great it would be for marketing. “Maybe you can even put the cat on your graphics,” Aspen suggested. “Marco has seen some great growth for his store. Bet he’ll have some ideas or help out.”
Sierra lifted a brow. “He’s doing marketing now? Marco’s come a long way, huh?”
Aspen grinned. “From the pot-smoking, carefree, hippie type to a real business person? Yep. It’s amazing, right, Maleficent?”
Sierra watched Mal freeze up, staring back at them with a touch of defensiveness. “Why are you asking me? I don’t know Marco that well.”
Aspen hadn’t seemed to catch on to Maleficent’s unease. A laugh escaped her sister’s lips. “Marco thinks you’re the smartest businesswoman and is always talking about you. Poor Brick is a bit jealous, I think. He likes being a mentor to Marco.”
Maleficent picked up her bold Cabernet and sipped. She took her time with her answer. “Marco’s a nice kid but I keep telling him he’s better off learning from Brick. Or Sierra—you both own a shop. Maybe you can reach out and give him a few tips. I’m really too busy to play mentor.”
“Sure. I can reach out.” Something felt off about her friend, but Aspen interrupted.
“Marco’s harmless. I just think he’s got a crush. Who can blame him? You’re a smoke show,” Aspen said.
Maleficent’s cheeks flushed. Fascinating. Sierra had never seen the woman crack under any type of compliment, bawdy suggestion, or challenge. Was there something else going on Sierra didn’t know about?
She would have liked to dig deeper but Bethanny’s comment made her fingers clench around her wine glass. “Anyone know who’s dating Kane?”
Lacey’s head whipped around. “No! My friend saw him at Sunfish alone and tried to hook up but he said he was busy. Bought her drink, though. Think he’s with someone but trying to keep it a secret?”
Sierra’s gut clenched. She hated sitting quietly while her friends all discussed Kane on a revolving weekly basis. She didn’t blame them for being obsessed. He was the hottest man in Corolla and charmed everyone he met.
“Who would keep him a secret?” Bethanny scoffed. “I can’t figure out why he’s not dating anyone.”
Riley cut in. “Is there someone back in New York no one knows about?”
Aspen sighed. “No, I can confirm he’s fully single. Brick said he suddenly pulled back and said he only wants to focus on work. But it’s weird to me, too. It’s been months and he hasn’t dated anyone.”
Sierra refused to allow herself to blush while her mind scrambled to make sense of her sister’s statement. Was it possible Kane had been holding back because of her? It was a damn long time for a man to remain celibate when they’d barely saw each other, let alone promised anything. But the idea gave her a rush of satisfaction that made her almost as tipsy as one lousy glass of wine.
Aspen shook her head. “He’s like the male Sierra. Too bad you both never clicked. Maybe you would’ve balanced each other out,” she joked.
Oh, God.
Sierra felt the culmination of female stares. “Yeah, I think Sierra is the only one who doesn’t go on and on about Kane,” Lacey said.
“Well, I’d be whatever that man wants,” Bethanny said with a laugh. “I bet one night with him would be enough to live on for a lifetime.”
Sierra choked on her wine, which thankfully broke up the conversation. The topic turned to the best lip stain for kissing without smearing and before long, it was time to go.
Aspen walked out beside her and linked arms. “Hey, you know I don’t mean to give you a hard time about dating, right?” she asked, a slight frown creasing her brow.
“Yep.”
Aspen shot her an exasperated look. “I’m serious. I don’t want to be one of those awful sisters who’s pushing love and joy on you just because I’m getting married. That’s horrible.”
“You were always horrible. I’m used to it.”
