“Want to talk about it?”
I took a generous swig, wishing the bourbon maple syrup actually had some kick to it. “Just needed a mental moment.”
“A mental moment?”
“You know,” I said, placing the cup down on the bench and leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, clasping my hands together, “a few minutes to take a breather. Clear your head. Let the thoughts stop swirling and settle.”
“Ahh, I see.” He sat next to me, clasping his own hands together. “Where’s that little twinkle of your eye?”
“He’s being watched at the house,” I replied, more defensive than I’d intended.Did he think I’d leave him alone?“Why?”
“I’m just not used to seeing you without him.” His evergreen eyes locked with mine, sincerity softening their crinkled edges.
“We are a package deal at this point.” I sighed, sipping my coffee again and savoring the blend of cinnamon and spices with the subtle bourbon undercurrent.
“Nothing wrong with that.” He gave a slight smile that stopped just at his gaze, a tinge of ruefulness laced in it. For whatever reason, I wished I knew the cause. There was something about him that came off equally bitter and sweet, like the coffees he served. His very presence made me want to scoot closer and scurry away. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was as if my Desire—as rusty as it was right now—was both magnetized and repelled by him.
“I better get back home,” I said, lifting the cup toward him with a pleasant smile, the best one I could muster, considering everything going on in my head. “Thanks again for the coffee.”
“Of course.” He nodded, evergreens narrowed on me. But then he turned and strolled back toward the coffee truck.
What was his gift, and why did my gut pull me in two very different directions about him?
It was a sensation I’d never experienced. But to be fair, most of my recent sensations when it came to what was left of my dried-up magic were unusual. This could easily just be another side effect.
Either way, right now I had enough on my plate to contend with, like an unaccounted for sister and an ex who was currently in our house about to stay the night.
Chapter10
Oakley
“Hey, beautiful momma,” Atlas said, waving Aspen’s tiny hand at me when I walked through the door. He beamed down at the miniature version of himself. “What kind of coffee did you grab for me?”
His attention went straight to my empty hands.
Shit.“I’m sorry. I was a bit distracted.”
He sighed. “Well, I guess I can just walk over with Aspen and get some.”
“They’re already closed for the day,” I spat out quickly, almost defensively, though I didn’t know why. “I can whip up something for you here.”
Atlas’s eyes narrowed into slits, but before he could say anything, a tiny fist gripped his shirt. Aspen giggled as his father nuzzled their noses together and tickled the rolls climbing up his chunky thighs.
Hunting through the cabinets, I grabbed some coffee and began to brew it. Then I pulled out some oat milk, maple syrup, and lavender, mixing it together into a homemade creamer. Atlas watched each step, sharpened gaze softening when I handed him the pumpkin-shaped mug. One he had gotten for me the first time we’d met at Phil’s Pumpkin Patch.
“I did hear from my contacts, and they are looking into Hazel’s disappearance,” he said before inhaling the relaxing scent of lavender then took a sip. “They are trying to work backward as to her whereabouts that night. Do you happen to have your phone with the messages you sent? It would help us flesh out the timeline of when you last spoke and when you stopped hearing from her.”
“Do you really need to see them?”
“Is there something incriminating about them?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking.”
He transferred Aspen onto his hip, holding out his free hand. Waiting.
“Fine,” I said, pulling out my phone and handing it to him.
He scrolled up a few moments and smirked, then his brows furrowed.Oh fuck.Of course he sawthosemessages.
