Page 15 of Singled Out
“Piper, how you doing?”
“I’m fine. I bet you need flowers for Harper.”
Christ. Zero secrets in this town. There was an upside to that though. “Do you know what she likes?”
“She loves bright colors. You can’t go wrong.” My former student walked over to the cooler of premade arrangements and took out one with large flowers in a range of pinks, from bright to pale. “How about these dahlias?”
“Perfect.” I met her at the counter and held out my card. “I appreciate your help. And that you’re still open.”
“We get our share of people going on dates on Saturdays,” Piper said. She wrapped the flowers in a damp cloth, then in kraft paper.
“Nice. Thanks, Piper.”
“Have fun tonight, Coach.”
“You do the same,” public Max said.
Private Max was thinking the odds of tonight being fun were not in my favor.
I hurried to the car, set the bouquet on the seat, then started the map app again. I hadn’t realized how far off the beaten path Harper lived and hadn’t left myself enough time.
Flying over the country roads, I arrived two minutes after I’d told her I would pick her up. The driveway was long and winding and led to a two-story yellow farmhouse with a big front porch and outbuildings surrounding it. One had a mural that spanned the entire side and a sign that said The Art Community.
I’d heard about Naomi’s studio space, but I’d never been out here. The land was lush and green with lots of trees and flower beds. I made my way from the gravel driveway to the front door.
After ringing the doorbell, I turned to gawk at the porch, full of flowers in whiskey barrels and hanging from crooks. I turned around at the sound of the door opening. Whatever I was prepared to say fell right out of my brain at the sight of Harper.
“Hi, Max,” she said, but I barely heard her.
She was dressed in a deep purple asymmetrical gown with a wide strap over one shoulder. My eyes were drawn to the opposite side of the dress, which consisted of cutouts from neckline to hip, with three silver straps holding the fabric together. Her lightly tanned skin was exposed more than covered on that side, and damn, did she make one hell of a vision.
“Are those for me?” she asked, nodding toward the bouquet.
I swung my gaze to her face. “Um…”
I’d never seen this Harper before. Her hair was piled on her head in tousled but controlled waves. Multiple strands hung to her bare shoulders, framing her gorgeous face. Her lips were an understated pink, drawing my attention with their subtle color and sheen.
“Max?”
Fuck, I was an idiot. “Yes. Hello. Sorry. These are for you,” I stuttered out.
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, straightening and getting my shit together just slightly. “You look incredible.”
She let out a laugh that sounded nervous around the edges, not like the bold girl who’d bid five big ones for me to go with her tonight. “Thanks. Let me put these in water and then we can go.”
“Good idea.”
Yep, I was still in half-idiot mode. I stepped inside and waited in the small entry, working to regain my composure, while she went into the kitchen.
I told myself again that tonight was no big deal, but with Harper looking irresistible, with my mind fixating on those lips and the soft-looking skin revealed by that dress…
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry.
Tonight was going to be an entirely different kind of tricky than I’d expected.
Chapter Six