A Taste of Spring
Chapter 29

DEZMOND

Minutes ticked away until Dez realized he was standing in the little alcove for over fifteen of them. He didn't want to jump to conclusions but he couldn't help wondering if Anna took off again. "She must think I'm some desperate nutcase," he said to no one in particular.

"I sometimes do. I think it's all that stuff you write."

Dez swung his restless gaze to Fallon. "I'm waiting for someone, so if you don't mind..."

"So, you came here on a mission. I should have known you coming here for just the hell of it was a pipe dream."

Moving his hands through his thick hair, Dez pushed off the wall. "She's not coming back."

"So, what if she doesn't? You know nothing of this woman. She could be the serial killer going around," Fallon hissed. "You need to stop this crazy infatuation with a complete stranger before-"

"It's not like that," Dez bit out, cutting Fallon's argument short. "This isn't anything like Tina."

"It isn't?" Fallon tilted his head as he pinned Dez with a hard stare.

Dez felt the weight of his friend's words. This isn't anything like Tina, he repeated in his head. It isn't. Was it though? Dez turned his back to his friend. He needed to think without Fallon's eyes digging into his head. (Tina...)

Was he doing the same thing that almost ruined him?

"Dezmond?"

(Anna!)

Her sweet voice was like a soothing balm on his troubled spirit. She came back. Turning around, Dez's lips stretched into a smile as he took Anna's hand. "Fallon, I'd like you to meet Anna."

Fallon noticeably hesitated.

Dez's felt his inner smile beam brighter than his outer one. He didn't usually get joy from his friends being wrong, but tonight he loved it.

"Hello, Anna," Fallon said smoothly. He took her hand.

Anna looked to a woman standing beside her for a moment. Dez didn't know what was passing between them but he wondered if they were related. The woman was just as beautiful but Anna held an innocence Dez found alluring. If he were basing his assessment on appearance alone, this other woman looked...experienced.

(Would Fallon replace her interesting? Double date maybe?)

Anna looked to the woman with questioning eyes before saying to Fallon, "Hello." She turned her attention on Dezmond. "Actually, Anna is my middle name. My actual name is Spring," she paused for a few seconds, "and this is my sister, Summer." Dez's smile faltered a bit. She'd given him a false name. But then, a woman had to be careful, didn't she? "Those are beautiful names. Is there a story behind them?" Dez asked as he shook Summer's hand.

"None that needs sharing." Summer winked.

Definitely Fallon's type of woman, Dez thought.

SPRING

Spring felt she had some explaining to do. Even though Dezmond wasn't questioning her about her name, she didn't like the lie floating between them. Though a much bigger lie was hovering over her head. She knew that it was crazy to want to resolve this small lie versus the huge lie of how they met, but she had no control over that one.

Her name...she could explain.

The problem was she couldn't replace the right moment. Apparently, Dez was a very popular man. After he found them a place to sit, someone recognized him. A snowball effect took root and he was dragged away soon after by a small crowd. Spring smiled at the memory of his constant manners as he departed. Now it was just her, Summer, and Fallon alone...together.

Spring smoothed out the folds of her gown as she glanced over her shoulder to see Dez surrounded by a group of people who seemed to hang on to his every word. "What is it that he does for a living?" She kept her attention on Dez. "Why? What's your endgame, Escort Barbie?"

Spring's face burned. She whipped her head around to face Fallon who was staring holes into her head. "What? I'm not an-" But before she could finish...

Summer held her hand up and whispered, "What the hell is your problem, Jack Ass in a Suit Ken? Who cares she's an escort. Are you suggesting that all Escorts want to bleed their client's bank account dry?"

"You are one...aren't you?" Fallon spat.

Summer grinned. It was a grin Spring saw often. It wasn't one made from happiness but more like a grin of total determination. Usually, the insults flew when they appeared.

"Sounds like Basic Ken had a run in with a Gold Digger Barbie? Did she hurt your," Summer flattened her palm on Fallon's thigh and squeezed, "wittle feelings? And yup...I'm one, too!"

Spring cringed at her sister's bitchy tone.0000