“Are you in a wind tunnel?” Breezy yelled back.
“Just walking home from that new chai shop. It’s blowing a gale.”
“Ugh, I know. Wake me when it’s summer. Anyway, do you have plans? I’m at The Watering Hole.” Their favorite dive bar.
“On Valentine’s Day?” Margot frowned. “Why? Don’t tell me that Jed fell asleep on the job?”
Breezy’s fiancé was Jed West, former captain of the Denver Hellions hockey team and all-around sex symbol. And happily, her best friend hadn’t just scored a guy who was nothing but dreamboat eyes, cut abs and delicious scruff, he also happened to be just as gorgeous on the inside. Jed treated Breezy like a queen, which is why it was so out of character that she’d be at The Watering Hole tonight of all nights.
“He has an away game in Washington State.” These days he coached hockey for Denver University.
“Ah, got it. That sucks.” It wasn’t as if Breezy could jump on a plane and travel on a whim. She’d opened a children’s bookshop, Itsy Bitsy Books, which was enjoying a fabulous grand opening, and keeping her as busy as a hamster on a wheel.
“He sent me Godiva truffles, but we’re going to do our celebrating later.” Breezy unleashed an evil giggle.
“Atta girl.” Despite Margot’s mood, and the lousy weather, a genuine grin took root. It was a beautiful thing, seeing her best friend so happy.
“But I had an epiphany in the shower today. It’s half crazy, and half genius. And it happens to involve you.”
“O-kay.” Margot giggled. “Color me scared, but curious.”
“I need to explain in person, otherwise you might say no.”
“Gotta say, for a successful small business owner, you aren’t making the world’s greatest sales pitch.”
“Just hustle over here. Byeeeeee. Okay, awesome! She’s coming—” Breezy sounded like she was talking to someone else as she hung up.
“Wait. Breeze?” Margot knit her brows. “Who else is there?”
But the line was already dead.
Two more texts followed with quick succession. First, a message from Annie:Atticus made you a valentine!
Her ex-stepmom attached a picture of Margot’s kid half-brother holding an origami heart pasted to construction paper that read:Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, my sister should visit and take me to San Diego Zoo (hint, hint).
Margot’s chuckle faded as she clicked on next message. Ew, her ex. What did the douche-mcgouche want?
Hey, Hot Pants:) My place or yours?
“Neither,” she muttered, hitting Delete.
She’d dated Stefan until right after Halloween. He was a tatted-up owner of an MMA gym across the street from her yoga studio. His lickable biceps had made her stupid. Because what had started off as sexy alpha attitude had turned controlling and unpredictable. She didn’t have time for a jealous lover who hated the fact that she’d happened to have a sexual history that predated him. Then he started dirty talking about wanting to plant a baby in her. More than once. Kind of a lot.
Just say no to possessive womb-coating fantasies.
After she broke off the relationship, she hadn’t mustered a single regret except for the fact that she’d wasted all of autumn on such a jerk. Then a few weeks ago, she’d had to get stern after catching him lurking near her car after an evening gentle flow class. It had been maximum creepy and she’d ordered him to leave her alone in no uncertain terms. After the ensuing radio silence she’d thought—at long last—that he’d gotten the memo.
Apparently not.
A chill zinged down her spine as she increased her stride. She normally felt confident walking alone after dark, and hated that he’d stolen that from her.
But at least the neighborhood was busy. Every restaurant she passed was brightly lit and bustling. The cozy bistro tables were filled with couples, leaning in close as they laughed at private jokes between shared bites of dessert.
Whatever. She was fine being single. The wind increased in tempo, whipping thin purple clouds across the cold moon. Better than fine. Yep. She was happy on her own, and it would have to take someone pretty unbelievable to change that. Bad boys had been her weakness; but it seemed impossible to find one who’d be good for her.
She shook her head, dropping her chin to her chest and hurrying on. Guys like that didn’t exist; they were the male equivalent of unicorns.
Chapter Three
