Font Size:  

Kris accepted the coffee, paying for it with her last few pounds. “Can you point me at the closest bank?”

“One block up and another to de left. Can’t miss it.”

“Thanks. Did you wanna join me?” Kri

s lifted her cup.

Jamaica glanced around. Locals occupied over half the tables, along with tourists and a few Kris couldn’t place in either camp.

“I’d best not. De help shouldn’t be seen just sittin’ around.”

“You’re not exactly the help.”

“I’ve always thought ‘Do as I say and not as I do’ is baloney.”

“I’d have to agree.”

Jamaica smiled, the tentative friendship they’d begun the first time they’d met deepening.

Then Kris remembered that their last meeting had ended abruptly when she’d questioned Jamaica about Liam. The woman had behaved strangely, although around here everyone did. Kris wouldn’t hold it against her.

“I went to The Clansman for dinner last night,” Kris said, hoping to keep the conversation alive.

“With dat nice young man who be lookin’ for you?”

Kris jerked and slopped hot coffee over the edge of her cup. Hissing, she put it down, then mopped her fingers with the napkins Jamaica tossed her way.

The woman came around the countertop, snatching Kris’s hand, peering close. “Come on,” she said, and tugged Kris into the back room. “I have some ointment.”

The area was a tumble of files and invoices covering a desk with an open laptop. Several bags of coffee lay scattered around in various stages of being packed into boxes.

“I started a Web site,” Jamaica explained. “Now I can ship my coffee anywhere in de world.”

She really was quite the businesswoman. Kris was impressed.

Jamaica shoved her into a chair. Kris landed on a bag, and the plastic went oof. Coffee beans spilled onto the floor.

Both she and Jamaica exclaimed, “Shyte!” at the exact same time; then together they laughed.

“It’s a good word,” Kris said.

“I like it.” Jamaica smoothed a light green gel onto Kris’s thumb and the meaty part of her hand just below it. The slight sting immediately disappeared.

“You should sell that on the Internet,” Kris said. “What is it?”

“Magic,” Jamaica intoned, then waggled her fingers over Kris’s hand. “Oooga-booga. All better now.”

Kris snorted. “Really, what is it?” She lifted her hand and sniffed. The gel had no scent.

“Secret recipe from my great-grandmamma in Kingston.”

Kris lifted a brow.

“If I told you what it was, I’d have t’ kill you.”

Kris almost said that she’d need to get in line. But Kris really didn’t want to have that conversation. However, there was one she did want to have.

“What nice young man?”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like