Before I could respond, Dolly appeared at our table again, coffee pot in hand.
“Cash Callahan,” she said, her tone warm despite the appraising look she gave him. “I knew I recognized you the first time you came in. But I couldn’t put my finger on exactly who you were. Been a long time, sugar. You want some coffee?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, his Texas drawl thicker than usual. He flipped over the mug in front of him. “Black, please.”
Dolly filled his cup, then looked between us with curious eyes. “You two getting along all right at the parsonage?”
“Just fine,” Cash answered before I could, his eyes never leaving my face. “Pastor Mike’s been very...accommodating.”
I choked on my coffee again, earning concerned looks from both of them.
“Wrong pipe,” I coughed, waving off their concern. “I’m fine.”
“Well, I’ll leave you boys to it,” Dolly said, though her eyes lingered on us a moment longer than necessary. “Call me over when you know what you want to eat.”
As soon as she was out of earshot, I leaned forward. “What are you doing here?”
Cash sipped his coffee, regarding me over the rim of his mug. “Having breakfast. Same as you.”
“No, I mean... why did you sit with me?”
He shrugged, setting down his cup. “It’s a free country, ain’t it? Besides, thought you might want to talk about last night.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said quickly, too quickly. “It was... it happened. That’s all.”
“So you regret it,” he stated flatly.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” His expression hardened slightly. “Look, I get it. You’re the town pastor. Can’t have people knowing you like to take it up the ass.”
“Jesus, Cash,” I hissed, glancing around again. “Could you be any more crude?”
“Probably,” he smirked. “Want me to try?”
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. “What do you want from me? Was last night not enough?”
Something flickered in his eyes. It might’ve been hurt, maybe, or anger. It was gone so quickly I couldn’t be sure.
“Relax, Pastor,” he said, his voice cooler now. “I’m not here to blackmail you or whatever you’re thinkin’. Just thought we should clear the air since we’re still livin’ together.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just... I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning.”
“Clearly,” he muttered, taking another sip of coffee.
We sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment. I studied his face, noticing the slight shadows under his eyes. Maybe he hadn’t slept as well as he claimed.
“So,” I finally said, desperate to finish on this subject and move to another. “What do we need to clear up?”
“That last night meant nothin’ to either of us,” Cash replied, not looking me in the eye. “It was just good fun. Nothin’ else.”
“Just good fun,” I echoed, nodding perhaps too enthusiastically. “Exactly. Nothing more.”
Cash’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “Good. Glad we’re on the same page.”
I stared into my coffee cup, unable to meet his eyes. The truth was, I wasn’t sure we were on the same page at all. Last night had been...incredible. Earth-shattering. And while I knew it shouldn’t happen again, part of me desperately wanted it to.
“So we’re good?” Cash asked, his voice oddly flat.
