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“You’re the one who said it.”

“Nicolas, the man I’m buying this for, is working on a project at my house. He was one of my first students.”

“How cool is that?” Cat said.

“I can assure you I did not foresee him reading gay romance when I helped him all those years ago, but hey, he’s reading.”

“Are you renovating?” Cat asked.

“No, I’m adding—” Elena tilted her head. “You know, he’ll be finished with it soon. How would you like to come over and see it?”

Cat raised her eyebrows. “See what?”

“Oh, I think I’ll keep it a surprise. Are you interested?”

Cat narrowed her eyes. “Hmm, can I bring wine?”

“Absolutely!”

Cat laughed. “Okay, I’d love to.”

“That reminds me. I need to go to Cory’s and buy wine.”

“She’s got a wide selection.”

“Thanks, Cat. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Cat grinned and watched Elena walk through CeCe’s salon then into The Liquor Box. She was surprised about the things she shared with Elena today, but then again, she was so easy to talk to. Cat hadn’t even told her sisters about the vibrator and trying to reignite her and Hattie’s sex life. It felt too personal. But with Elena, it felt like the most natural thing to share. Of course, they were surrounded by sex toys so that may have had something to do with it.

Cat chuckled. Opening this bookstore had brought her a new friend. At least she hoped so, because there was something about Elena Burkett that made Cat want to know more. How do you talk to someone about your sex life when you’ve known them for two days? Why did she feel like she could tell Elena anything and not be judged? Cat was not the nosy type, yet she wondered about this project in Elena’s new house. She knew Elena must be caring because the guy working in her house was a former student from years ago. That means she must have kept up with him.

Yep, she wondered all sorts of things about Elena Burkett.

4

Elena walked into the bookstore and found Cat in the sapphic romance section.

“Well, I see you’ve been cheating on me.” Cat smirked.

“What?” Elena gasped in surprise.

Cat grinned. “Your hair looks great. CeCe told me you came in yesterday afternoon.”

Elena felt relief wash through her body. She knew Cat was kidding, but the idea of cheating on Cat threw her.

“I’ve had long hair for years and decided it was time for a change,” Elena explained. Her straight dark brown hair fell just above her shoulders.

“You have such beautiful hair,” Cat said, reaching out and then stopping herself.

Elena’s eyes met Cat’s but she couldn’t read her expression. “CeCe is so talented. I wasn’t sure what I wanted and she knew what style would look best on me.”

“It looks really great. Do you like it?”

“I think so. I can still pull it back into a ponytail which I often do in the summer.”

“It’ll be here before you know it.”

“Hey,” Elena said, giving Cat a playful smack on the arm. “I didn’t cheat on you. I came by here before my appointment with CeCe.”