“Bear.”
“What the hell happened? Why did Bear drop you off?” Tansy said a little too loudly. “And why are you smiling at your coffee like that?”
“I’m not smiling.” Aasia took sugar packets from the metal holder.
“You’re hiding something,” Tansy accused.
“What makes you think I’m hiding something?”
“You’re pouring salt into your cup.”
“Oh shoot!” Aasia exchanged the salt for sugar and stirred in cream.
“You’re also wearing Bear’s shirt.” Tansy clicked her tongue.
“It’s a long story.” Aasia took a long gulp of her coffee, feeling the heat in her stomach.
“Oh my God. Did you two sleep together?”
“Shh. Can we not pass false facts for rumors to the other tables?”
“So, this new anxious vibe doesn’t have anything to do with the cowboy sitting at the bar?” Tansy said quietly.
“I’m not falling for that.”
“You might want to look. He’s sitting with Echo.”
Searching Tansy’s face, there wasn’t even a sliver of teasing in her features. Aasia swung around and there Bear was, he and Echo drinking coffee. She pulled herself together and said to Tansy, “I’m not anxious.”
“I want details. Every dirty, detail or I swear we can’t be friends.”
After more cream to her coffee and taking her time stirring, Aasia sighed. “Nothing happened. I swear.”
“When did you start lying to your best friend? No one spends the night with a cowboy built like a barn door and doesn’t get laid.” Tansy seemed almost offended.
“Bentley and I broke up yesterday. I mean, I think we were already broken up, but yesterday it was final.”
“Sweetie, I’ve heard the word “final” a time or two, or three.” Tansy rolled her eyes.
“Final final. I’m truly done. He fired me. He felt we shouldn’t be working together.” She nuzzled the kitten’s head, and he curled up into her lap, at once starting to purr.
“He can’t do that. There has to be some sort of law against firing a woman you’ve been screwing. I’m going to research that.” Tansy swiped up her phone and started furiously typing.
“Tansy, don’t bother. It’s for the best.”
“For whom? Hon, where are you going to find another job in this town?”
“I don’t want to think about it at this moment.”
“Cowboy’s looking.” Tansy waved.
Against her better judgement, Aasia looked. Bear smiled at her. She focused on her coffee. He seemed to be completely content that his nearness unsettled her. Catching Tansy’s grin, Aasia shook her head. “It’s only a smile.”
“Are you telling me you’re didn’t just drop an egg in response? A man as lethal as Bear could impregnate a woman with just a smile.” Tansyclankedher spoon against the rim of her cup.
“I’m immune.”
“Since when?”
