Chapter Ten

"I thought we were going to talk last night."

Aspen winced as she poured coffee and slid onto the stool. Her sister looked beautiful in a floral summer dress, white strappy sandals, and a fashionable straw hat. Another big difference between them—Aspen despised mornings and could barely form words. Also, she looked like a grumpy, messy teen with her crazy-ass hair, sweat shorts, and oversized T-shirt. "Sorry, I thought you were asleep."

Sierra grunted. "How was your date?"

Aspen sipped the hot brew. "Great. He gave me four orgasms last night. Now, he's waiting for you to beat the hell out of him as promised."

Her sister gave her a hard glare over her coffee mug. "Hysterical. You're really fun in the morning. As usual."

Aspen threw her head back and met her stare head-on. "Sorry, but you pissed me off. I'm clear about what I want with him, and you embarrassed me. This thing with Brick will be a game changer for my book."

Sierra slammed the mug onto the counter. Liquid sloshed over and dribbled onto the floor. "I don't care about the stupid book, Aspen. Do you know how it felt watching you go through that crap with Ryan? There were times I was terrified you were falling apart, alone and locked in that apartment for a year while you wrote. I cannot go through that again. I will not let Brick destroy you for fun because you're chasing a bestseller."

Anger morphed into frustration. She understood her sister's concern, but she had to pursue this alone. "You can't protect me from everything," she said. "I wasn't able to save you from a nasty divorce or from being cheated on. I worry about you, too. That you keep thinking you're not enough because of your stupid ex."

Surprise flickered across Sierra's features, but her voice still held a stubborn tone. "That was different. I can demand that Brick stay away from you, and he will. With a few well-placed words, I'd make sure the whole town knew about this deal and stop you both."

Aspen jumped from the stool. "I need this!" she yelled. "I don't need someone to protect me anymore. All I want is for you to support my choice so I can finally feel something. God, it's been too long since my real life was more exciting than my imaginary one." Her shoulders slumped as the fight went out of her. "Just be my sister, okay? Trust me to navigate this on my own."

A few moments ticked by in silence. Finally, Sierra let out a string of colorful and impressive curses. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking pissed. "Fine. I hate this whole thing, but I don't want to ruin our summer. I just hope you know what you're getting into."

It was the closest she'd get to an approval, and Aspen was grateful. She crossed the room and hugged Sierra, which started off stiff but then softened. "Thanks. I hate fighting."

"Me, too."

"You still coming to my book signing?"

"Of course. It'll be great." She paused. "Will Brick be there?"

"No, but I'm heading to the tour place later. Are you going to be nice to him next time?"

Sierra gave her a half laugh. "I'll try."

"Good enough."

"I'd better get to work. I'll get there early for a seat."

Aspen tried not to show her nerves. The idea of doing a book signing with her sister in the audience was a big deal. She wanted Sierra to be proud but had a bad feeling that no one would show up. Or if they did, everyone would only want to talk about Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover . She kept her tone light. "Oh, not many people will be at this."

"Are you kidding? You're a big star. I'm sure it will be packed. See you later."

Aspen watched her sister leave and tried to remind herself that, no matter who showed up to support her, it was a win—even if no one bought the new book.

She grabbed another cup of coffee and tried not to think about it.

Brick glanced at his watch and noted Aspen should arrive soon.

The thought of their kiss last night hit him right in the solar plexus with a sucker punch. He hadn't expected such a primitive reaction. Yes, she intrigued him. Yes, their conversation had both amused and challenged him. The woman was attractive, good company, and a straight shooter. They had chemistry.

But he hadn't been prepared for a literal explosion of raw hunger. A base need to conquer and possess once his hands touched her skin, once he tasted her sweetness—still lingering on his tongue. He'd only felt that once before, and not so strongly.

With Anastasia.

The memory usually ripped him with pain, but the wound only throbbed now. He tried to reassure himself that it was just a coincidence. Besides, Aspen was a summer fling with strict rules and boundaries. No way to get hurt again. Sure, there was a connection, but he was glad. It would make getting her to fall for him easier. He'd been on his best behavior last night but had sensed her uneasiness when he took her home.

Was it wrong that her obvious awkwardness charmed him? She liked to blurt out her thoughts without a filter—another trait he admired. Brick figured the best way to get things moving was to wield his sexual charm like the asset it was. There was no ego involved; women had been easy to seduce and win over since he was young, paving a path that made life easier until he fell hard and got the shit beat out of him.

Brick rubbed his hands over his face and tried to focus. Okay, the kiss was legendary. And he'd gone straight home, jumped in the shower, and stroked himself off to the image of her sweet, plump mouth opening under his, ready to take his dick in one satisfying thrust.

He'd been on this self-imposed celibacy break for a while. He was happy Aspen would be the one to break it. And all he had to do was keep the charm factor high, tease out some shattering orgasms, and tell her some secrets to build intimacy. Then, something else would hopefully break.

Her heart. By her demand.

The door banged open. "Heading out for the day," Sal called. "Deliveries are set for tomorrow. The whole crew will be here."

"Thanks. Appreciate the work on short notice. "

Even though it was Sunday, Sal had shown up early to do his initial measurements, confirm materials, and go over the reno plans. Brick counted himself lucky to have had the foresight to plan ahead, even when all the banks rejected him. Getting contractor work done last minute was almost impossible without damn long waits and delays.

Sal grinned. "Better than doing another damn deck for the summer people. Was hoping you'd call me, especially since you put down that retainer to jump the line when needed. Glad Ziggy's place will be back to its former glory."

Brick laughed and waved, then headed to the back and grabbed a fresh T-shirt. He'd gotten a bit sweaty and figured a quick change would do before he saw Aspen. Stripping off the old one, he threw on some deodorant and turned when he heard someone come in.

He stilled, nostrils flaring as her wide-eyed gaze flicked over his bare chest like a caress. Brick studied the naked desire on her face, and a wave of heat surged between them, driving the breath from his lungs.

Ah, fuck.

He hardened immediately, helpless under the greedy stare that looked upon him like a treat she wanted to devour but was too afraid to ask for. Fists clenched, he remained still until she was done.

Her gaze lifted and clashed with his.

Those brown doe eyes held both lust and fascination, and Brick wondered what expression she'd wear when he thrust deeply inside her that very first time. Would she squeeze him tightly and welcome him in? Would that pretty stare lock on him and hold, then fall apart as he made her come? She gave off a sense of reserve as she seemed to circle around him, still wondering if he was friend or foe, possible lover or enemy. Brick couldn't help the wolfish grin that stretched his mouth at the thought of being both.

Either way, he had full permission to do what it took to gain her affection. And damned if he didn't intend to have fun.

He rubbed his chest and lowered his voice to a purr. "Was just changing for you. Got a bit dirty."

The word made her blush, which he found adorable. Her jaw worked, and she cleared her throat, shifting back an inch. "Oh. S-sorry. I can wait outside."

"No need." He crumpled the old shirt in his fist and blotted his neck, trapping her stare once again. Brick made sure to stretch, calling attention to his abs, which were on full display from the low dip of his jeans. "It's damn hot without the air on. "

Her tongue reached out to slick her lower lip. "Yeah."

She seemed to run out of words after that. Brick tried not to grin. "Why don't you come on over here? I want to show you something." His hand deliberately dropped to rub his stomach. Settled suggestively by his crotch. "Something you'll really want to see."

Shock flickered over her face, and she half-turned, cheeks mottled red. "Not now!" she hissed.

He laughed then, unable to help it, and wondered at the need to hug her and playfully tug at her hair. It was a strange reaction to be torn between heat and lighthearted banter. Most of his relationships revolved around sex, not talk. Aspen shook her head in a muted temper, but then she was laughing with him. "You're an asshole," she muttered. "Put on a damn shirt."

"If you're sure."

She rolled her eyes. "Do all women fall for that little show? Do they drop at your feet in hormonal lust at the sight of your half-naked body?"

He gave her a half smile. "Sometimes. I usually prefer dropping to mine." His voice deepened. "For other things."

She arched a brow, but he caught the slight tremble in her body. Still, she fought hard to hide the reaction, speaking cooly. "You're a real expert. The Dom-tone thing is a nice touch. Hinting at being able to pleasure a female is classic seduction material. I can't wait to see what else you've got in your arsenal."

"Aspen?"

"What?"

Brick leaned over the counter, palms flat, casually displayed for her viewing entertainment. He kept his body fit for health and his satisfaction but enjoyed the honest appreciation of Aspen's helpless, sweeping stare. "I'm not hinting."

She made a little sound under her breath. "If I wave the white flag, will you get dressed? I'm already nervous about this stupid book signing and not up to par for verbal foreplay."

Brick frowned and shrugged on his new T-shirt. "You get anxiety over these things? Thought you've done several before."

"I have, but they're never easy. I worry no one's going to show up. Then I worry people will but won't buy my book. Plus, Sierra is coming with some friends, and I'm not used to having people I know well there."

He studied her, dressed the part in white linen pants, a lacy white blouse, and high-heeled sandals. Her hair was smoothed into a tight topknot, and she'd put on makeup—sparkly pink shadow, lipstick, and blush, giving her face a beachy, rosy glow. "No one would ever know. You look like the famous author you are."

"Thanks." She still looked tense, but he wasn't sure how to calm her. "This is my sister's home. I just want it to be successful." She wrinkled her nose. "Also, I hate reading aloud and the Q&As. I'd rather just sign."

Amusement cut through him. "Isn't it a thrill to meet readers, though?"

"Sure. I adore my readers, but I love them more from a distance. Like via email. Face-to-face means pressure, but I'm always grateful. When I was young and writing in my notebooks alone on a Friday night while Sierra dated, I never thought I'd actually have people wanting to leave their house to come see me."

Her confession connected on a soul-deep level. It was nice not to pretend with her. She seemed to own her shit, which was rare in anyone nowadays. "When I took over for Ziggy, I had to deal with the fact that I'd failed him," he admitted. "I was the one to finally run it into the ground, even though I got here late. I assumed I'd step in and be the savior."

She tilted her head. "You will, though. Save it. I can't believe you have people working on this already. Sierra had to wait over a month just to get her patio repaved."

"I've had them on standby for a while. I drew up plans with an architect, got the necessary approvals, and hired a team. Figured the easiest part was getting a loan. I was an idiot."

"What about mortgaging your home? Do you own?"

"It's Grandpa Ziggy's house and mortgaged to the hilt." A humorless laugh escaped. "He had a twisted sense of humor, all right. Leaving me a bankrupt legacy. I spent over a year hoping for a miracle."

She threw her hands in the air. "And here I am."

"Here you are." The air cranked with intensity. She regarded him as if he were a scientific experiment, so he didn't disappoint. "Did you think about our kiss?"

She opened her mouth to answer, then shut it. "Maybe."

Satisfaction surged. "So did I. Especially…later on. When I got home." Brick watched her face, wondering how far he could push. Did she like dirty talk as much as he did? Or did she prefer a more subtle, vanilla-type lover? Of course, it could be too soon, but they were on a short timetable, and he'd rather find out now. "I imagined a lot of things."

"Oh." The implication seemed to hit her all at once. "Oh!" A half groan strangled from her lips, and Brick fought the impulse to close the distance, pick her up, and swallow that sexy sound whole. Embarrassment mixed with curiosity as she tipped her chin up and met his gaze head-on. Her pupils dilated. "You…did stuff while thinking about me?"

Heat blasted through his veins. Oh, this was fun. He propped his chin on his open palm and answered in a slow drawl tightly packed with innuendo. "Oh, yeah. Lots of stuff."

She hesitated. Then forged on. "Like what?"

He couldn't help his smile. Damned if he didn't admire a woman who could give as good as she got. "First, I imagined you laid out on my bed. Naked. Waiting for me." He stretched out the pulsating silence. "I took off my clothes. Got in the shower. And put my hands on myself, pretending it was you."

The pulse in her neck was beating overtime. Her body stiffened, and he bet if he cupped her breast, those sweet nipples would be hard. Were they a light, flushed pink, or dark red under that virginal white? He was dying to find out. "Brick."

His name sounded sweet on her tongue. Even better when she eventually screamed it. "Aspen?"

"You're very good at this, aren't you?"

"I'm good at lots of things."

She shook her head. One random curl escaped the knot and lay against her cheek. His fingers itched to brush it back. Only one blistering kiss and less than twenty-four hours had him fully on board with this summer affair. Plus, he got his business saved as a bonus. God had finally blessed him after being pissed off for a long time. "I appreciate your effort in all ways. But right now, I need to focus on my signing and not you in the shower, naked, doing…stuff."

He laughed, surprised by her challenge. Good. Aspen was no shy virgin, which would make this whole thing much easier. But she was definitely a bit innocent. He doubted she was used to sharing sexual fantasies, given how she blushed and stuttered, but the woman was turned on and willing. He could work with that.

"Duly noted. Just remember, I don't have to always make the first move. Men enjoy female advances now."

Aspen tilted her head and gave him a level stare. "Shall I strip to my bikini underwear and play innocent when I get a reaction?"

"Yes, please."

He enjoyed her half giggle, but they were interrupted when Marco strolled in. "Aspen, you're back! Looking sweet, too. Going to work?"

"Hi, Marco. Kind of. I have to go to a book signing. "

"Cool, anyone I know?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Um, me."

Marco's eyes bugged out. "No. Way. You're a real author? That's fire, man. Isn't it, Brick?"

"Definitely fire."

"Hey, I'll come and see you. When is it?"

"About an hour. And no, Marco, don't worry about it. You need to run the store."

"Nah. Burger's there to run it. Brick, you going?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

Alarm blazed in her brown eyes. "No, honestly, you want to skip this one. It's a small store, I'll be talking about women's fiction, and you'll be bored. But thanks anyway."

"Absolutely not," Marco stated. "I love going to the bookstore. And I love reading romance. That stuff is how you figure out women. Biggest selling genre out there, and I know dudes who actually make fun of it."

Brick stared at him with surprise. He read romance? Grudging respect settled within, especially the way he supported Aspen.

Marco continued. "You know, reading saved my life. That's how I found out how to be a business owner. I sucked at school, got bored real quick in the classroom. So, instead of going to college and wasting four years studying stuff I'd never use, I read books. I like audio. Hell, no one needs a degree anymore between books, the internet, and YouTube. Plus, AI, man—it'll be doing everything for us soon."

Aspen wrapped her arms around her middle and squeezed. Why did she suddenly look pale? "I'd really rather you not come. I'm used to doing these things when I don't know anyone in the crowd."

"I'm sure you invite friends to your signings," Brick said. "Coworkers? Family?"

She shook her head. "No. I go alone."

Didn't she have anyone in her life to show up for her? Or was she such a loner that she'd gotten used to facing things by herself? Brick grabbed a bottle of water and walked over. "Breathe, baby. Here, drink this." She grabbed the bottle and took a few sips. "We only want to support you, Aspen. What type of boyfriend would I be if I didn't go to your signing?"

She shot him a glare, but Marco caught the slip. "No way! Dude, you work fast. And I was going to try hooking her up with Burger."

"Thank God I got there first," Brick said with a straight face.

Marco nodded. "Yeah, Burger's an animal. Probably the long hair and beard."

Brick's phone rang. He glanced down. "Sorry, I have to take this. It's one of my suppliers for the renovation."

"Hey, Aspen. Come over to the store for a minute. I wanted to get your opinion on something."

"Sure."

"I'll meet you next door," Brick said. Maybe she needed a distraction. It would be nice to see Aspen in her element, signing books for readers who loved her stories. He hadn't planned to attend, but it may be a good idea. And if he could help soothe her nerves? Even better.

He took the call and watched them head next door.

This was ridiculous.

She stood next to Marco, Burger, and Patsy looking at three identical T-shirts in various colors, stacked in bins. The back room smelled like sweat, salt, and skunk. The guys were too sweet, stumbling over themselves to try and show her the differences in pale yellow, lemon, and citrus gold, asking her opinion when her stomach was roiling with anxiety.

Aspen nodded, sipped her water, and let the low-level argument wash over her as each tried to convince her which color would be best. At this point in her career, she'd made peace with most public appearances. After she scored book of the month, she did television and magazine articles, podcasts, and plenty of signings. In the beginning, she'd been ready to pass out with fear but managed to fight through by sheer willpower. The fan love and approval eased the way until she could perform without major issues.

Until this latest book.

Having Sierra and her friends there should be comforting, but it only added pressure. The idea of sitting and smiling for over an hour while no one bought her new book was humiliating. And Ursula, the bookstore owner, was enthusiastic to hear her talk about her life as a famous writer to keep customers engaged. It was bad enough that she felt silly being scared in a small, quaint beach town bookshop, but now Brick wanted to come?

God, no. He was already haunting her damn dreams. She couldn't stop replaying the kiss in her head—how hot it was, how his tongue thrust slowly and deliberately, tangling with hers, getting her all worked up. The way his fingers threaded through her hair and tugged. The firm grip on her hips to pull her in with just enough force to feel claimed.

He was a physical danger to her libido, fogging her mind and seducing her body on the very first date. He was exactly what his reputation had promised. He was precisely who she wanted him to be, which was messing her up badly.

Seeing him stripped to the waist with a sexy, knowing smile had turned her mute. All those defined muscles naked to her hungry gaze. Eight-pack abs she wanted to touch, taste, and test to see if they were as hard as she imagined. Jeans riding low on his hips, the perfect amount of swirling dark hair covering his chest. Flat, brown nipples peeking out to tease her. Her teeth ached to bite and lick all that toasty golden skin. In seconds, she'd been reduced to a shivering, helpless, needy female who wanted him.

It was a nightmare.

Yet this was what she was paying for.

If only she could write. All those achy feelings after he'd left drove Aspen straight to her laptop, desperate to pour her heart into the new story—the sequel the world was waiting for. It was supposed to be easy. She hadn't felt so alive since writing Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover . She'd finally found the secret sauce, but after writing a few pages, she read it back and realized it was…

Flat. Like cardboard. She couldn't translate her emotions into the story. It sounded like a bunch of telling and no showing—a classic beginner's mistake.

Frustration made her want to scream. She'd spent hours trying, then began some character outlines, hoping to reconnect with her heroine for inspiration. But nothing worked. She ended up sketching her Zany Zoo comics in bed, relief pouring from her very soul as the pent-up creative energy finally found a decent outlet.

She fell asleep by dawn, only grabbing a few hours, which made her anxiety today worse.

"Hey, Aspen. You okay?" Marco asked, frowning in concern. "You look stressed out."

Burger and Patsy stopped arguing about the differences between sunshine-yellow and lemonade. She forced a smile, feeling silly. "Nah, I'll be okay. I just get a little nervous before events. It's stupid."

Marco had told them about her book event, and they'd actually discussed closing the shop so they could all attend. Aspen waited for the guys to laugh off her remark, but they all wore serious expressions like she'd confessed a real problem. "That's not stupid," Burger said. He wore a tank that said Just Love, Man , ripped jeans, and flip-flops. His hair was long and straight and so much nicer than hers. With his scruffy beard and serious, dark eyes, he reminded her of a modern-day rocker Jesus. Also, how'd he get the strands so shiny?

Patsy shook his head. "When I had to do public speeches in school, I'd vomit." He was the opposite of Burger, his head shaved clean with Coke-bottle-type glasses and a proper collared shirt with pleated khaki shorts. The three of them were so different, but even with their arguing, they had an evident bond. They'd make perfect secondary characters in her book. Aspen would dig a bit deeper and get their backstories later.

Marco snapped his fingers. "Want something to bring you down a level? Just to chill out?"

She hadn't eaten today, which was normal when she had a public appearance. "Sure, you got anything with chocolate?" she joked. Something about the sugar and caffeine in the sweet always gave her a hit of happiness.

The guys shared a delighted look. "Hell, yes! We've got brownies. Want one?" Burger asked.

"Seriously? You have chocolate?"

Marco grinned. "Sure. Best chocolate you can get around here." He laughed, and his friends also laughed. She wasn't sure why brownies were funny, but maybe a square would help settle her stomach.

"I'll have a small piece."

"I knew you'd be into it," Burger said, staring at her with renewed interest. His grin held male appreciation. Uh-oh. Looked like he may be thinking about Marco's suggestion to date her. She'd have to set him straight soon.

Marco came back with a chocolate square and a napkin. "Thanks." She lifted it and took a bite. The texture was dense and rich, so she took another one. They all looked excited that she was eating the dessert, which was weird. She gave them an awkward nod while they watched. An aftertaste hit, and she frowned. "Did one of you make these, or did you buy them?"

"I made them," Marco said proudly. "Can't even taste it, right?"

She blinked. Why wouldn't she want to taste the chocolate? "Um, right." Being polite, she ate some more, but there was definitely a funky flavor that didn't taste right. Aspen wanted to dump the rest but hated to hurt Marco's feelings .

So, she finished it like medicine. Could brownies go bad? Maybe he'd made the batch with old milk.

Pushing the thought away, she offered a smile. "Delicious."

Burger, Marco, and Patsy all did a high five. They were so cute. She took a slug of water to wash away the lingering bitterness. "I like the sunshine-yellow one and the sky-blue shirts. Very OBX."

Patsy whooped, and Marco looked disappointed but took it in stride. "How'd you all decide to open a souvenir shop?" she asked.

"Well, we all met at the Smoke Shop back in Boston and got tight. We had a dream of being our own bosses, living near the beach, and getting out of the city," Marco said.

Burger agreed. "Got tired of everything being about status and money. We wanted to surf the waves and live free in the sun."

Patsy jumped in. "We pooled our money for a while, then hit on an instant lottery card for twenty-five grand. That was it. We quit and headed south to travel. We thought about opening a bar at first, but liquor licensing and liability was a bitch."

"When we found this place, we knew it was meant to be. Especially when this store was up for rent pretty cheap," Marco said.

She pictured the three of them creating their own future, with the passion and ignorance of the very young. God, she remembered those exact feelings in college. On fire to write her stories and change the world. Rebelling against the patriarchy of the so-called classics and craving to create books for women with emotion and messiness without apology.

Until Ryan stole her innocence. Now, she couldn't tap into the joy of just writing any longer. Her work needed to come from pain.

A twinge of sadness threatened. She didn't want to think about what she had lost. Better to revel in what these three young men had created together.

They chatted a bit more about how they'd figured out retail wasn't as easy as they thought, but working together made them happy. Oddly enough, the edge of sadness morphed into a warm, gushy feeling that made her begin to tear up. Her vision blurred, so everything started to take on an edge of softness. Wow. She felt so much better. All the stress and worry had eased away. She needed to come over and hang with Marco more often. Who would've thought he'd have such a calming effect?

Aspen reached out and pat Marco's arm but found she missed by a few inches. "Your story makes me so happy." She sighed. "You're the dynamic trio. The triplet musketeers of retail. "

A giggle escaped her at the witty words. She was definitely on her game today. Aspen wasn't even nervous about speaking to a crowd and almost welcomed the opportunity to share her journey as a writer.

"That worked fast," Patsy muttered. "She must be a lightweight."

A bell rang out. Aspen straightened and glanced around in awe. "An angel," she whispered. "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings."

A deep voice rang out from behind. "And pisses off the devil to do more bad deeds."

She spun around, losing her balance and falling against Brick's hard chest. The same one that had been naked a little while ago. Damn, she wished he was still naked. She wanted another peek at that masculine magnificence.

Aspen squinted up at him, pressing her cheek against the soft, washed cotton. She sniffed hard. Yum . The fabric held some of his special cologne. "I thought you were like the devil when we first met."

"And now?"

She looked up with a dreamy smile. "Still not an angel. But you're growing on me. Like a plant. Not ivy. That other stuff that's green and clings to a house."

He blinked. "Moss?"

"Yeah, moss. I should put that in my book. Something different. I'm tired of writing about men smelling like spice and musk and sin."

She heard the low laughter around, but it sounded like it came from a distance. Her body was warm and tingly, but she figured it was Brick's closeness. Her hands were stroking his chest, and she couldn't stop. Her fingers seemed disconnected from her brain.

"Hmm, moss doesn't sound as sexy."

"Well, every woman has a special scent that's sexy to them. For instance, one of the women you slept with said you smelled like freshly baked sugar cookies."

Brick gazed down with a bit of puzzlement, a tiny frown creasing his brow. "Are you kidding? Who said that?"

"Um, I don't remember. Sierra mentioned it." She took another large whiff. "But I think you smell like lemons and sunshine. That's my favorite."

Concern flickered across his features. "Aspen, are you okay?"

She tried to pat his cheek, but it moved. Little sparks of light gleamed around his head, making him look like he had a halo. She tried to touch it, but it was like stardust, disappearing the moment one wanted it to be real. "You are like an angel," she whispered. "So. Cool. "

His voice lashed like a whip, and Aspen winced. "Marco. What the hell is wrong with her?"

"I had brownies," she managed to say, still trying to touch the halo. A giggle escaped. "Stay still!"

Marco sounded distressed. "She said she was nervous and wanted something to relax so I offered her the brownies I made. I didn't know the weed would affect her so much. It was lightly laced. Just a hint."

"Did she ask for it?" Brick asked in astonishment.

"I thought so. I told her they were special and that it would help her relax. Right, guys? Didn't it seem she knew?"

Burger and Patsy shared a glance and shrugged. "Sure. We assumed we were having the same conversation."

"You don't assume when you're talking about weed!" Brick roared.

"Weed, like moss?" she asked, wondering why Marco's statement seemed important. "Like how Brick is growing on me?"

"Holy shit, she's high as a kite," Brick hissed. She was scared of his tone, but he held her gently, allowing her to keep swiping at the invisible halo no one else could see but her. "Are you kidding me? She has to sign books in half an hour."

"I didn't mean to get her like this." A desperate whine edged Marco's tone. Burger and Patsy jumped into the dialogue, and it looked so lively, Aspen tried to focus on what they were saying, but a bubble of laughter overtook her, especially when she saw how animated they were. Hands flying in gestures, deep frowns, worried faces—it all jumbled together like a giant fun house until she was doubled over and gasping for breath. "Stop making me laugh," she sputtered.

"This is a disaster," Brick said, shaking his head. "How's she supposed to give a talk like this? I have to call the bookstore and cancel."

Oh, no. She heard that, and it wasn't funny anymore. Her head popped up. "Ursula promised lots of people to show up. I am not canceling. I feel good."

Marco began to pace back and forth. "We can help her. Be her…assistants. It hit way too fast, which means it'll fade. She's gotta drink a lot of water."

"I like water."

"Fuck my life. Get me a few bottles now," Brick ordered. "Come on, baby, let's sit down. I need you to drink a lot of water for me, okay?"

This time, she found his cheek and patted it hard. "Aww, I like it when you're nice. And without a shirt. That's nice, too."

He groaned and eased her onto a folding chair. "Good to know for future reference. Here you go, drink as much as you can."

She guzzled the water and swiped the back of her hand over her lips. "Yum."

Marco pressed three more bottles into his hands. "Great job. How about some more?"

"No, I'm full."

"Just try. Please, Aspen? For me?" Brick asked.

A joyous smile curved her lips. It was sunny inside her body, and she wanted to share it with the world. Might as well make Brick happy, too. "Sure."

She managed to drink more, and the men had some type of group discussion she wasn't a part of. "It's time for me to go now!" she shouted.

Brick jerked. Had she yelled in his ear? He looked scared. That made her laugh again, and the cycle began all over.

"At least she's not paranoid," Marco said, taking her other arm and escorting her out of the store. "I'm sure the weed will wear off by the time she needs to talk."

"It'd better. I can't tell anyone she's high," Brick snapped.

"It's legal, man. Not like she's going to prison. I'm sorry, I feel awful." Why did Marco sound hurt when he spoke? She wanted to console him, but they were dragging her outside to the car.

"Being legal has nothing to do with it. What if she can't function? What am I going to tell her sister?"

"Don't yell at Marco," she scolded. "He gave me the nice brownies. He made the nerves go away."

Brick snorted and settled her in the car, then came around to the driver's seat. "Aspen, he gave you brownies with pot in them. Did you realize that?"

The light bulb went on, and everything made sense. That was why she felt like this. Her limbs were loose and free, but she didn't have much control over them. Hopefully, she'd be able to sign her name. At least she wasn't panicked anymore and didn't care about people not buying her book. "No." Aspen wiggled her fingers, trying to focus. "No wonder they tasted yucky."

"I'm sorry, Aspen. I screwed up bad. I thought you knew they were pot brownies, and now I drugged you and feel terrible," Marco said.

His sadness suddenly made her want to cry. "No, pot is good, Marco. You did a good thing, and I'm not mad. Ignore Brick. He's being judgy, and we need to live in a world that's free."

A choked laugh came from her left. She glared at Brick but wasn't sure she was perfecting the anger she wanted. "Oh, you're free all right. Flying high in the clouds. How the hell are you supposed to talk and sign books?"

Marco jumped in. "We can do it, man. We can tell everyone she had a…headache. And that I had some leftover muscle relaxers, and she took one, but it hit her too hard. No one has to know what really happened."

"I ate weed!" Aspen cried out.

Brick swerved a bit and shot her a look that had her cracking up again. Why were things so funny? He cursed, and Marco shoved more water at her and begged her to drink, and then they arrived at the bookstore. Brick unbuckled his seat belt and turned toward her. His eyes were deep and dark and filled with an intensity that made her tummy drop in a beautiful free fall. "Aspen?"

She reached out to touch his chest. This time, her hand worked. Her palm hit a wall of muscle she was dying to explore. "Brick?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "You have to try very hard to focus. Readers are coming to hear you talk about your new book, okay? Just answer questions about what you wrote and try not to laugh. Do you think you can do that?"

"Of course."

"And don't say anything about pot or weed or brownies. Okay?"

A giggle almost erupted, but Brick had said not to laugh, so she swallowed it down. It tasted like a popped bubble gum bubble. "Oh. ‘Kay."

"We'll be right there to help. I'm going to say I'm your assistant. Marco, too."

"Oh. ‘Kay."

A dark expression flickered over his face, and his brows lowered in a frown. "Let's go."

"Brick?"

"Yeah?"

Aspen pressed her lips together with hidden glee. "I'm high."

He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "I know. Remember, let's keep it a secret."

She put her finger over her lips. "Shhh. It's a secret."

Then she got out of the car.