A Taste of Spring

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.

repeated in his head. It isn't. Was it

(Tina...)

same thing that

"Dezmond?"

(Anna!)

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

Fallon noticeably hesitated.

didn't usually get joy from his friends being wrong, but

Anna," Fallon said smoothly. He took her

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

her interesting?

eyes before saying to Fallon, "Hello." She turned her attention on Dezmond. "Actually, Anna is my middle name. My actual name is Spring," she

a woman had to be careful, didn't she? "Those are beautiful names. Is there a story

needs sharing." Summer

of

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SPRING