“You’re not from here, so you don’t get it. But the Sunshine Breakfast Club isnotjust about breakfast. Or books. Or sunshine. It’s a matchmaking operation disguised as a charming group of women who meet over scones.”
“Matchmaking,” I repeated slowly.
“They see a single person and immediately go into ‘find them a spouse before lunch’ mode,” she whispered. “And Millie is their fearless leader. She’s probably got a spreadsheet somewhere of all the hopefuls.’”
I blinked.
Then looked again at Millie, who now had the barista, who looked approximately twenty, laughing like they were old drinking buddies.
Fifi rubbed her temples. “If she sees us together, she’s going to—”
Too late.
Millie turned.
Her gaze landed on us like a drone locking onto a target.
And then shebeamed.
“Oh, fiddle-dee-dee,” Fifi muttered under her breath. “Here we go.”
Millie crossed the café like a woman on a mission, voice rising as she neared. “Well now,well now, Fifi Bell, you didn’t tell me you were finally bringing someoneinterestinginto Buttercup Java.”
I glanced down at her, my lips twitching. “Fifi Bell?”
“Not. A. Word.”
Millie stopped in front of us, hands clasped in front of her, practicallyglowingwith mischief.
“And who mightyoube, handsome stranger?”
“Ben,” I said.
“This is Ben. He’s staying at the lodge. Just a guest.” Fifi tried to clear things up.
Millie’s eyes twinkled. “A guest, hmm?”
“Yes.”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded, unconvinced. “Nice of you to personally escort him into town, dear.”
I held back a smile. “She makes a good trail guide.”
Millie’s eyebrows shot up like that comment confirmedallher suspicions. “Oh, she does, doesn’t she?”
“Millie,” Fifi said, dragging out the name like it had personally betrayed her. “We’re just getting coffee.”
“Of course,” Millie said sweetly. “Isn’t that how all great romances start?”
Fifi groaned.
I leaned in, stage-whispered, “Youwerethe one who told me to try the espresso.”
Her cheeks flushed. “You know what? Let’s get the drinksto go.”
Millie practically purred. “I’ll just add this to the club notes.”
“What club notes?” Fifi asked warily.
