Page 27 of Healer’s Betrayal

I don’t look up at him. “Iced in the summer; hot in the cold months.”

“Flavor?”

“I can’t really ever afford coffee. When I do, I keep it simple. Usually just vanilla or maybe caramel.” I can’t believe I just told him that, but it seems like the least of my worries right now is him knowing I can’t afford coffee.

“Vanilla. Got it. Cream?”

I nod. “Always.” I take a step back. “I really have to go, or I’m going to be late.”

“Here.” He hands me the iced latte I’ve been eyeing and then walks ahead of me to the stairs.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll drive you.”

I hurry to catch up to him. “Um, no. No, you won’t.” I follow him down both flights of stairs and out into the sun. He starts towards his black SUV, but I walk towards my car. He catches up to me a moment later.

“Let me drive you to work.”

“Nope. They say never to get in the car with your stalker.”

He scowls. “Stop calling me that.”

“Then stop stalking me and start giving me space.”

“I can’t do that.”

I blow out a breath and walk over to my car. Seconds later, I’m inside with the car doors locked. I pull out of my spot and wave at Jackson as I drive past. I turn on music as I drive, mostly so I don’t have to think. I glance down at my iced latte several times before I finally cave. I groan at the first sip. “Seriously?” I lift up the coffee and glare at it. “Why did you have to be so good? You were supposed to taste nasty.”

Chapter 12

Kayla

I pull into a parking spot far from the door and grab my wallet and phone. I stare at the iced coffee a moment and then finally grab it. I’m not going to let it go to waste just to prove a point. I can’t remember the last time I splurged and bought an expensive coffee like this one. I don’t even know what it is, but it’s amazing. I walk towards the door quickly. The parking lot is mostly empty at this early hour, and I don’t see Jackson’s car anywhere. I'm almost to the door when I see him pull into the parking lot. I stop a moment and watch as he drives past, giving me the same wave I gave him when I left my apartment parking lot. I almost laugh. Instead, I walk around to the back door and knock. Butch opens it and waves me in. “Mornin’, Butch.”

“Mornin’.” He goes right back to working in the kitchen, and I head to the back to grab an apron. I take another sip of my coffee and nearly run into Jessie on my way back.

“Hey, Kayla.” She pauses and then grins. “I didn’t know you liked Grounded.” She must see the confusion on my face because she points to my cup. “I recognize the cup from Grounded.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“What drink did you get?” she asks as she ties her apron.

“Oh, just an iced coffee.”

“You like plain iced coffee? No fun flavors or anything?”

I try to think of a way out of this, but I really don’t want to lie to her. “No. Actually, I like vanilla.”

“Oh, were they out of vanilla?” she pushes.

I come clean. “Okay.” I take a breath and let it all out. “I didn’t buy it for myself; I actually have no idea what kind it is. Jackson bought it for me. I had a choice between this one, a hot coffee, a hot chocolate, or a tea.”

Jessie blinks. “Who is Jackson?”

“The redhead guy.”

Her mouth drops open. Then she shoves her arm through mine and all but drags me into the back room. She drops my arm. “Are you in a relationship with him?”