A Taste of Spring novel Chapter 36

Dez stopped typing. He rubbed the back of his neck then peered out of his office window. A bird flew by. He let out the gust of air then said, "No, Silicone Blur was on me. You told me to rewrite it, that it wasn't ready. I should have listened."

Fallon fell silent for several seconds. So much had changed in the five years they discussed the terms of their friendship/business relationship and decided that it was best for Dez to use someone else at The Hub Agency versus his best friend. They were older and wiser now.

"No, man, what you should have done is listen to me when I told you to stay away from Bernadette's taco dip during last year's Halloween Party. I bet your ass knows now."

Dez also knew that fun loving Fallon hated when things got too serious. His friend was the turn tail and run from serious shit kind of guy. Always had been, probably always will be. "Pun intended, huh."

"I'd say you punned all damn night," Fallon laughed. "That's enough pun for anyone."

Dez held his cell away from his ear as Fallon's boisterous laugh blared from it. "Ha-ha-ha, look funny guy, I have to go while I'm still in the groove. I'll be there tonight-wait, I'm supposed to be meeting Spring tonight."

"Can't you meet up with her another night? The last two months, you've bailed on me three times for Spring."

Dez got to his feet. "Sorry, but she's flying out to California for a photo shoot. This is the only night I'll be able to see her for the next two weeks." He moved through his loft and into the kitchen. "Maybe I'll see if she wants to come to Muri's instead of dinner at Bastian's."

"Hell no. I don't want to hang out with you two...kissing and shit the entire night."

"We won't be kissing. We haven't even touched each other in these past two months. I'm taking it slow. You know, being as we kind of rushed things on that first night. I want her to know I am serious about getting to know her and that this isn't just sex for me. Besides, you owe me for standing me up that night she and I met." He refilled his coffee mug

"Maybe I shouldn't have," Fallon said low and under his breath.

Dez poured in a ton of creamer but paused after only one teaspoon of sugar. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Whatever," Fallon said. "I'll see the both of you at Muri's. Tonight."

"Tonight then." Dez hung up the cell and placed it on the countertop. He shook his head at Fallon's comment. It was odd that his friend hadn't warmed up to the idea of his dating Spring. Yeah, he swore off having a steady girl a few years back and never showed any real interest in a woman beyond a few rolls in the sheets. But Spring was nothing like his ex.

Spring was different. He felt it the moment he kissed her cheek in Muri's that first night.

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SPRING

Summer moved through the doorway, her hips seductively swaying, her chest out, her back arched; it was her signature "come hither" walk. Spring followed her sister inside the bar. She tried to keep her face expressionless as she rushed through the door. She glanced at the young man who held the door and whose gaze was still fixed on her sister's ass.

"Thank you," she told him.

The young man looked at Spring. He did a double take then whispered, "Damn, twins?"

Sometimes Spring forgot how much she and Summer looked alike. "Not quite," she smiled but kept her pace.

"So," Summer asked as she slowed, "why do I have to tag along?"

Spring elbowed Summer's arm. "Could you at least pretend to be a nice person?"

Summer raised a brow. "I don't like him. If you have advice for me on how to treat people you don't like, please...share."

Spring scanned the bar. She saw Dez waving at her from the same booth they shared when they met. She looped her arm around Summer's. Pulling her sister with her, she whispered, "Well, I don't know many people so you are stuck playing sidekick tonight. So, suck it up, Queen Bee."

Summer pouted but actually smiled when they arrived at the booth. "Hello, Dezmond. And look, it's Fallon, I was hoping you'd be here," she said with way too much saccharine.

Fallon glared at Dezmond, who was kissing Spring on the cheek. "Summer, the fun time girl in the flesh!" He gave her a nod. "...and her partner in crime." He regarded Spring by holding his glass of beer in the air as if toasting her.

"Don't mind him," Dez said as he moved out of the booth to allow Spring to sit. Once she scooted in, he slid in beside her. "He's having a bad day."