A Beautiful Thought (The Beautiful Series) by Alicia Rae

it was just what I’d needed. I was ready to tackle this painting thing.
    “Wait!” I chortled. “Should we be drinking while painting? What happens if we screw it up?”
    “Then, we paint over it again,” Abbey easily answered.
    “In that case, we might be here forever.” I snorted.
    “Fine by me as long as we have more beer.” Jason chuckled.
    “Don’t have too much fun without me,” Lily said to Kyle. She gave him an affectionate kiss, and they murmured, “Good-bye,” to one another.
    “Hey! Do that in private!” Jason chided. “We’ve got work to do.”
    “I’m going, I’m going,” Lily huffed, striding toward the door with an adorably cute sway of her hips that only a pregnant mama could pull off.
    I stifled my smile as she left. Kyle was so smitten with her, and she with him. It was endearing to witness.
    Damon and Kyle prepped all the paint, pouring it into separate trays for everyone. Damon and I started on the back wall while Jason and Abbey took the west wall facing the street. Kyle grabbed a small brush, and he began to trim the ceiling, windows, and doors. We all worked side by side while listening to some classic rock. Abbey and I probably would have preferred hip-hop, but I figured we would never get away with that while working with three guys.
    Within a few hours, the guys all got on ladders to reach the higher part of the walls while Abbey and I worked on the front office area.
    “So, lady”—Abbey perked a brow my way, coming closer to me—“you and I have some catching up to do.”
    “Oh, boy.” I laughed. “Here we go.”
    She pointed her brush over at me. “Don’t even think of trying to be evasive, or I’ll pry the answers right out of you.”
    “Jeez!” I exclaimed quietly. “Since when did you become the prying type?”
    “Since you started dating my future brother-in-law,” she answered good-naturedly. “So, I need details—now.”
    I stroked my roller up and down the wall while gathering my thoughts, and I shrugged, not sure what to say. “Damon and I are…having fun,” I replied. “We haven’t really put a label on it or anything.”
    “Do you want to?” she asked.
    “Part of me screams yes ,” I answered truthfully. I took a quick glance at the man who could steal my breath with just one look. Then, I turned back to Abbey. “And the other part knows it’s too soon to say what is happening between us. I think we need more time.”
    “Love never happens according to a proper timeline,” Abbey reminded me. “Just look at Jason and me, and Kyle and Lily, too.”
    “Fairy tales don’t happen for everyone, Abbey.” I shook my head. “Life just doesn’t always work that way.”
    “Oh, you’re going to get your fairy tale, all right,” Abbey countered, “even if I have to pray to the fairy godmothers.”
    I rolled my eyes at her theatrics. “Okay, Mother Hen.” I snickered at my dear friend, acknowledging she was always trying to help someone, no matter the case. It reminded me of my own mom and her motherly ways.
    “Seriously, Gail…” Abbey’s eyes sobered.
    I held my breath, trying to guess what she was going to say. She was one of the very few who knew all the gory details of my train-wreck dating history.
    “Open up your heart, and give Damon an honest chance. I didn’t get that crazy thought in my head back at our dinner date for nothing. He’s a great guy.”
    “He’s a wonderful man,” I agreed, knowing she was undeniably correct about him. “He’s thoughtful, caring, honest, genuine, and compassionate.” I grinned. “He’s also too damn sexy for his own good.”
    “Well, then”—Abbey laughed—“it seems you might have made progress after all.”
    “I guess so.” I winked as it dawned on me. My head might not want to let Damon in, but my heart already had. The two just needed to find common ground.

~Gail~
    It had been another two blissful weeks of living with Damon. Today, I planned on taking a leap of faith. I