Now she wondered about him. What made him such a perfectionist? What did he want, aside from professional recognition? Mundane questions rattled around her head, too. What did he read? Did he have a favorite movie? Aside from Colette, had he ever been in love?
Not that answers to her questions would reveal more about him than his actions did.
Mark’s emotions had come in tidal waves. Easy to spot, larger than life, chaotically crashing around him. Alec’s were more like a geyser, hidden away with his secret thoughts beneath a deceptive surface until the boiling point caused them to surge upward. Different from Mark, yet equally disquieting. Enough so that she should resist temptation and ignore the whisper in her heart.
Setting the photo down, she straightened her skirt and went to the reception desk to speak with Becca about the seating chart.
Gentry breezed through the door with a man Colby assumed was Jake, the infamous “hot dog guy.” An emerald-green off-the-shoulder minidress hugged Gentry’s curves. Her spiky rhinestone shoes made her an even height with her date, whose faded blue jeans sagged on his hips. His collarless black shirt did little to upgrade his attire. He wore a leather-and-silver chain bracelet on one arm, a silver ring on the opposite hand, and a thick, small hoop earring in one ear.
Colby couldn’t tell whether he’d forgotten to shower, or if this particular disheveled look was intentional. He definitely could use a shave. The black stubble was too long to be considered sexy, yet far too sparse to be a proper beard. Beneath it all, Colby acknowledged the appeal of his strong, sharp features and coal-black eyes.
“I sacrificed making a grand entrance to come early and help.” Gentry smiled and kissed Colby’s cheek. “This is Jake.”
Colby shook Jake’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Jake. Welcome to A CertainTea.”
“Thanks.” No “you, too” or other remark. His blank expression offered no hint of personality. Of course, an empty look probably came in handy at times. Maybe he’d give her a lesson. She’d about given up on the idea he’d say more when he added, “Tight digs.”
When Gentry shot her a cockeyed look, it clicked. Jake’s “dude ’tude” and appearance would piss off their dad.
“We’re serving drinks in the bar until everyone has arrived,” Colby said.
“Cool.” Jake grabbed Gentry’s hand to go, but she jerked free.
“Go ahead, I’ll catch up.”
He ambled over to the bar and ordered himself a beer.
“What do you think?” Gentry asked in a way that told Colby she expected pushback.
Only someone so young and pampered would waste time on games. Games Colby had no interest in playing. Her gaze slid over to Jake, whose raven locks glinted underneath the lights at the bar. Poor guy had no idea her sister might be using him to send a message to her family. Then again, as Hunter had pointed out the other week, Jake was probably using Gentry, too. “I’d kill for his hair.”
Gentry giggled. “It is pretty awesome.”
Colby couldn’t remember ever acting as young as her sister. “Go be with your date. You’re off the clock tonight.”
“Have you checked our Facebook and Instagram pages?” Gentry stalled. “They’re getting nice engagement. I’ll post pictures tonight, too. How are reservations for the opening shaping up?”
“They’re coming in.” Colby smiled because Gentry had become invested in this job, after all. She’d have to give her sister a little more responsibility to keep her motivated. “You’re doing a great job.”
“Don’t sound so shocked.” Gentry crossed her arms. “When the newspaper interview comes out on Sunday, you should get lots of interest.”
Colby recoiled from the memory of Melissa’s shifty eyes. “That reporter was extremely insensitive about Joe and Mark. Honestly, I don’t think any of that should’ve been part of the discussion.”
“Sorry, but giving a personal angle helped pique her interest in doing a story. Voyeurism sells. Look at the Kardashians.” Gentry patted Colby’s shoulder. “It worked. Now we’re getting free publicity in a major paper.”
“At a personal cost to Alec and me. I’m not interested in being like a Kardashian.” Colby practically shivered at the comparison. “Next time, let’s not do that.”
“Okay.” Gentry shrugged, dismissive of the wounds she’d probed.
Colby realized her pampered sister had no clue about that kind of pain.
“Guess I’ll go hang with Jake.”
Colby did a last-minute sweep of the dining room, spoke with the waitstaff captain, tended to the floral arrangements and, when no one was looking, shook her hands out to dispel her nerves.