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

friend tonight,” she said as she reached for the door handle. “Mya, call me later…if you have the will to do it.” And then she was gone.
    “She’s funny,” Colton commented with an easy smile as soon as the door closed behind Kelsey.
    “The funniest,” I replied dryly. Turning to stand in front of him, I rubbed my hands together. “Okay where are we headed?”
    “You’ll have to wait to find out,” he countered, walking to an older model sports car.
    His voice alone does something to me , I thought as I followed him.
    “This is a pretty color,” I acknowledged, running my hand along the side of the car, admiring the paint job. “Gray is my favorite color.”
    Colton opened the door for me and gestured for me to get in. “Thank you. And that’s good to know.”
    I climbed into the car and the black leather felt warm against my thin shirt. Colton hopped in a few seconds later. Revving the engine, he flashed me a sexy smile as we pulled off.
    “Mya, Mya, Mya,” Colton started as he maneuvered into traffic.
    Looking over at his profile, I felt the fluttering in my belly again, so I looked away.
    Oh shit, I know he’s going to ask me about my disappearing act Friday night, I considered, swallowing thickly. How am I going to explain leaving his house in the middle of the night ? Ordinarily, I wouldn’t think twice about telling a man that Friday night was a one-time deal. I mean, a couple of guys from college would attest to the fact that I can quickly and rather easily end it. But there’s something irresistible about Colton. And for that reason alone, casual, monogamous sex with Colton Davis is not an option.
    “Before you say anything, I just want to make it clear to you that I’m not looking for a relationship,” I blurted out, looking back over to him.
    He nodded and gave me a sexy smirk. “That’s fine.”
    We were silent as faint music from a mix I was quite impressed with floated from his speakers. I studied his face and tried to read his expression as he switched lanes.
    That’s fine? Why is that fine? I know he was feeling what I was feeling Friday night. Wait, what am I doing? He said it was fine. He—.
    “What does ‘Imitation makes you who they are; Individuality makes you who you are’ mean to you?”
    “What?” My voice trembled and came out in a strained burst of air.
    Colton glanced over at me, but he didn’t say anything. The question hung in the air as the silence stretched between us. I hoped that he would do what most people do and try to fill the silence, but he didn’t. Since I was trapped in the car with him, I had two options: answer the question or make the car ride to an unknown location super awkward.
    I cleared my throat and stared straight ahead. “It was the last thing my mother told me…before she passed away.”
    “Did she always have sayings like that?”
    I paused, liking that he didn’t immediately go for a sympathetic response. Looking out the window, I smiled. “For me, yes. She might’ve had them for my sisters, too. I don’t know. I never asked. But once a week, she would email me some wise saying. Some she made up, others she found on the internet. But every single one of them applied to me in some way. Needless to say, she didn’t agree with a lot of my life choices,” I concluded with a dry laugh.
    “What didn’t she agree with?”
    “Getting a degree in Business—but mainly because she didn’t think I would complete it. Selling my car. Moving to New York. Not coming home for the holidays.” I shrugged and continued staring out the window. “But when I got that message, I felt like she got it. Like she got me. I felt…”
    “Acceptance,” he finished my sentence, his voice thoughtful.
    I turned my head to look at him. His stunning profile looked contemplative as he rolled to a stop. He looked over at me and I saw something in his eyes that spoke to me on a deeper level. I couldn’t quite catch what it meant, but I understood it.