Page 42 of For the Record
“You didn’t?” Now Bree was joining in the laughter, acting so comfortable around her and Sloane, it was like they’d known each other forever. “Twin switching actually works?”
“It did until Coy forgot whose exam she was writing and aced all the math equations.”
Coy felt the low blush begin to heat her cheeks, and she darted her gaze to Sawyer, who was watching her with an indiscernible look in her smokey gaze. Coy gulped, heat flaring low in her belly, and just like that, she was wishing they were alone again. As much as she enjoyed getting to know Bree more, nothing made her happier these days than the few precious moments she spent trying to disarm Sawyer’s defenses.
“Sloane, I’m Sawyer,” Sawyer announced, her knowing glance on Coy a second longer before she held her hand out for Sloaneto shake. Her greeting could have been friendlier, but Coy was counting the entire visit a win in her books.
“So you’re the one living rent free in Coy’s head these days. Nice to finally meet you,” Sloane said, as if she hadn’t just bet against Coy’s future with the older woman. Coy ground her molars, watching as Sloane jutted her hand out to receive Sawyer’s greeting.
“Sloane,” she protested.
“McCoy has been working hard on rebuilding my late husband’s car.” Sawyer’s response was cool, her face devoid of emotion as she tried her best to derail Sloane’s idea. “I believe the supercar is what’s stealing all her focus, I’m afraid.”
“Uh-huh.” Sloane didn’t sound at all convinced but thankfully let it go. They took seats around the island, and as Bree whipped up two more sandwiches, she filled the silence with more questions directed at Sloane. There was an ease between them that shouldn’t have surprised Coy, but it did. Sloane had a way with people; perhaps it was one of the reasons she was a bartender. She could literally strike up a conversation with anyone. Normally, it came easy enough for Coy as well, but sitting so close to Sawyer had her on high alert, and she struggled with finding something to say.
Sensing her unease, Sawyer finally cleared her throat and asked, “How is the car coming along? Are you finding all the parts easily enough?”
The question lacked its usual bite, and Coy took a moment to savor that husky voice. She was close enough that their thighs were almost touching, close enough she could smell the faint floral fragrance of Sawyer’s shampoo and the sugar rub lotion she’d spread over her skin. Lightheadedness engulfed her as she inhaled, and she forced herself to meet Sawyer’s gaze. “Most of the parts are coming from Europe, so sometimes, it’s a waiting game. But it’s going well. Out with the old and in with the new, asthey say.” She barked a laugh, aware of her pulse rushing to her ears now. Damn, what she’d give not to humiliate herself around Sawyer.
Her foot was bouncing erratically on the floor like a junkie anxious for a fix, her stomach twisting and bottoming out from the nerves. She couldn’t grasp why she responded to Sawyer the way she did, and it was frustrating that the feelings hadn’t subsided in the last month.
“I don’t know much about cars, but it looks like you’re doing a great job.” Sawyer’s gaze dropped to Coy’s leg.
“Lunch is served,” Bree said, a sly smirk on her face as she placed a plate of soup and sandwich in front of first Coy, and then Sawyer. “Bon appétit.”
“Thanks, love,” Sawyer replied, and Coy watched as she sent her daughter a grateful smile. A genuine smile, and it was so captivating it stole Coy’s breath. Sawyer was a completely different woman around Bree. Softer, more nurturing. Even her eyes had warmed up watching her daughter work in the kitchen, the pride evident on her face. Honestly, Coy couldn’t decide which side of Sawyer was more intoxicating. Every snippet into Sawyer’s private life felt like the greatest gift imaginable, and Coy was hungry for more time with her.
Sawyer’s hand landed on her thigh, bringing Coy’s bouncing to an abrupt halt. In a whoosh, all the air left her lungs, the heat from that hand searing the skin underneath her cargos. She was frozen, too cowardly to lift her gaze from her plate in case her face gave her away. It wasn’t until Sawyer gently squeezed that she stammered out a thank you for Bree.
“I-it looks delish. When, um …” Coy swallowed, her gaze flickering to the lean hand still touching her.Fuck, even her hands are sexy. “When we were your age, we lived off KD, so I’m impressed. Homemade soup?”
“I grew up in the kitchen.Mamantaught me everything I know.”
Coy shifted her gaze in time to see Bree and Sawyer sharing a fond look across the island. A slight pang settled in her chest as she witnessed the obvious love between them. She’d wondered her whole life what it would have been like to have her mom by her side. Her father had done his best filling the role of both parents, but she’d always felt the absence in the house.
“You’re fortunate to have each other,” Sloane spoke, her gaze on Coy as she bit into her chicken sandwich.
“We are.” Coy felt Sawyer stiffen a little, and then she was retracting her hand from Coy’s thigh. The loss was immediate, but Coy shrugged the feeling off. “Where does your nana live?”
The subject change was welcome, and Coy rushed in with a reply. “About an hour’s drive, in the country. She’s lived alone since we lost our grandpa a few years ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Sawyer spooned some of her soup in, swallowing before asking, almost as an afterthought, “Are you close with her?”
That brought a smile to Coy’s lips, but Sloane answered before she had a chance. “Yeah, Nana is a force to be reckoned with. She’s kind of like our mom in some ways, and she legit has a soft spot for Coy. We’re headed over to help her navigate the new stairlift Coy bought her.”
“Wow, I can’t imagine those are cheap. Is that why you agreed to work for my mom?” Bree canted her head to the side as she observed Coy. It made her nervous all over again.
For what seemed like the tenth time that hour, heat crept up Coy’s throat to splotch her cheeks. She ducked her head to her barely touched food. “One of the reasons,” she admitted, pleased with the casual tone in her voice. “Ever since Nana broke her hip last fall, it’s been harder to get around. So I’ve been doing what I can to make it easier.”
“Yeah, she refuses to move into community care,” Sloane said with a roll of her eyes, but Coy knew how much they both loved their nana.
“Change is scary, right,Maman?”
Sawyer gave a slow nod, her gaze full of something Coy couldn’t begin to decipher, but damn if she wouldn’t gladly take the rest of the day and night to try. “I don’t know if I’d use the word scary,” she said, staring directly at Coy as she spoke. It felt like she could literally get lost in those deep pools. Her foot bounce resumed, and once again, Sawyer reached out to stop the distracting motion. “Change is hard because it takes a while before you know if it was worth it or not. The unknown is what’s terrifying.”
Chapter 21
McCoy