Page 92 of Sincerely, Mr. Braden

“More like spies.” I stir the foam into my latte. “So, this is a recon mission?”

Her eyes narrow. “I prefer to think of it as strategic positioning.”

“You’ve been positioning for an hour,” I point out. “I think your mystery hottie is a no-show, but you could probably pick one of these college kids. They seem to be into cougars.”

Becca’s jaw drops. “You did not just call me a cougar. I’m only thirty.”

I smile. “I was kidding. So, what do you think of Dad visiting Patsy?” My father was tired and sore for days after our caving trip, but that didn’t stop him from going to the city to visit Patsy last weekend.

“I like her. Don’t you?”

“I do. I just don’t want him doing too much, you know? He was tired when he got back.”

“Of course he was tired. But he also had a pep in his step.” She swirls the straw in her glass and wiggles her shoulders. “Dad’s getting his groove on.”

“Ew. Can we not go there? I’m having breakfast with him tomorrow. I do not need that image in my head, thank you very much.”

“Get over it. It’s good for him to give those numb fingers a workout. I wonder if his other extremities get numb.”

“Gross.”

“I love annoying you,” she says with amusement.

“I’m so glad I drove all the way out here just so you could harass me.”

“You love me.” She snags one of my fries. “Who’s the new client you’ve been buried under all week?”

“A travel publisher. They’re launching a new book series, and I’m designing the event swag and promo materials. They’re going all out, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. We’re doing the usual stickers and postcards and all that, but we’re also doing bags, notebooks, and luggage tags.” I take my tablet out of my bag and scroll to my mock-ups, then hand it to Becca.

She scrolls through the designs and zooms in on a tote mock-up with watercolor mountains and a minimalist compass. “Tay, these are gorgeous. They even give me wanderlust.”

“Thanks. When they saw the foil-stamped luggage tags, they started using words like elevated.”

“Of course they did,” she says, handing me the tablet. “You’re so talented. Seth is right. You could do that full time if you wanted to.”

I tuck the tablet into my bag. “When did he tell you that?”

“At dinner after you guys went caving. We were doing dishes, and you were in the living room with Dad, drawing. Seth couldn’t stop talking about you. That man is hot, smart, and head over funky-colored sneakers for you.”

Happiness bubbles up inside me, and I can’t stop grinning.

“It must be difficult to see with all those hearts in your eyes,” Becca says as she finishes my fries.

“Do you blame me?” I say almost giddily. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be here or that he’d be as wonderful as he is. He’s so freaking insightful. He gets me, Bec, and he cares about everyone and adores his family and puts up with Dad. And you’ve seen how loving he is.” I sip my latte. “Don’t even get me started on his other talents, if you know what I mean.”

Becca shakes her head, her eyes serious. “I have no idea what you mean.”

I give her a deadpan look.

“Oh, you mean he can work magic with his man sword.”

“Ohmygod.”

“And he’s all about your pleasure.” She sings the word pleasure.

“Shut up.” I lean across the table and whisper, “I love him, Becca. I love everything about him, and I swear one of these days I’m going to burst if I don’t tell him!”

“So tell him!”