Free Love Discovered in New York (The Washington Triplets) by Danielle Allen

Mya! It’s a good thing you’re off today.”
    I shook my head and stifled the laughter I felt bubbling up inside of me. Pursing my lips to keep from smiling, I turned back to Colton who gave an appreciative nod toward Kelsey before looking down at me.
    “Are you ready?” Colton asked, taking a step closer to me.
    I dropped my voice so that I wouldn’t be overheard. “What are you doing?”
    I looked into his beautiful brown eyes and the butterflies started. He reached out and tucked a stray hair behind my ear and traced his fingertip across my heart tattoo. “I’m taking you on a date.”
    I smiled and put my hands on my hips. “How do you know I’m not busy? I could have plans. You can’t just pop up and expect me to be ready and willing to hang out with you today. You don’t know me. You don’t know my life,” I protested playfully in a hushed tone.
    Taking my hand from my hip and interlocking it with his, Colton leaned forward so his lips just barely grazed my ear. “Then tell me no,” he challenged in his sexy, musical voice.
    He backed away slowly and when our eyes met, I just held his gaze for a few seconds, not saying anything. I felt his fingers flex against my hand, squeezing gently. The sensation that jolted through our touch caught me off guard.
    I was with him for too long the other night. The addiction has settled in, I thought as I felt my stomach doing summersaults in his presence.
    Turning around to face my coworkers, I said, “I’m heading out. Apparently, I have a date.”
    Kelsey beamed at me and started walking toward us. “I’ll walk you guys out.”
    What is happening? I wondered. As the three of us walked out of the bar, Colton and I remained hand-in-hand. We all squinted in the sunlight and we were greeted by the intensity of the heat.
    “So, where are you two headed, Colton?” Kelsey asked as soon as the front door closed behind us.
    Rubbing his thumb across the skin on my thumb, Colton answered cryptically. “It’s a surprise.”
    “I like,” Kelsey responded, nodding in approval. “Will you excuse us for a second?” Grabbing my arm, Kelsey pulled me a few feet away from Colton. “I’ve never seen that look on your face before so as your friend, I’m begging you, don’t fuck this up.”
    My eyebrows shot up. “What?” I looked over my shoulder to see if Colton could hear the conversation. He was looking at his phone so I turned back around to face Kelsey.
    “Give him a shot. I haven’t seen you actually interested in a man since…ever. And Graham doesn’t count because it was an arrangement that may have provided decent sex, but there was no spark. There was nothing there. But with you and Colton…I could literally see the fireworks bouncing between the two of you when you were talking.”
    “We need to discuss your use of literally,” I joked, trying to downplay the conversation.
    Kelsey smiled, but her face was thoughtful. “I’m serious Mya. I just don’t want you to get in your own way. Yes, your dad is an ass. But every man isn’t going to do what your dad did. But in the off-chance Colton ends up being an asshole, we’ll get Devin and Stephen to beat him up,” she continued, peeking over my shoulder at him. “Just go with it. You two clearly have something.”
    I looked at her in confused disbelief. Where is this coming from? She saw us together twice and now she’s essentially declaring that he might be ‘the one.’ When did this happen? I wondered as I gaped at her.
    Sidestepping me, Kelsey called over to Colton. “What do you think about that pool hall on Berry Street?”
    I stiffened, opening my eyes widely. Oh shit, I thought as my heart pounded in my chest. I stared daggers into her as I sent mental demands with my eyes. You better not do it.
    “It’s a cool spot,” Colton answered. “Why? What’s up?”
    Kelsey looked at me and then back at Colton. “I’m going next Tuesday and you should meet us there. Take care of my best