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Since Reese let the matter go, Curt guessed Priscilla’s suggestion appeased her curiosity for the moment.
“Enjoy the afternoon,” Priscilla said. “We’ll see you later.”
From the back seat, Reese waved at him again. “Bye,” she called before the window went up and they drove away.
When he walked up the steps, he heard a popular country song through the screen door. He didn’t recall the name of it, but he’d heard it the last time he visited his cousin and his family. Trent’s wife was a big country fan, and she was slowly converting Trent. Before he could ring the bell, Taylor appeared in the hallway, suggesting she’d been watching for him.
“Let me turn off the music, and we can go.” She pushed the door open so he could enter. The sunlight streaming through the front windows bounced off the golden highlights in her hair that he’d failed to notice the night he ate dinner with the Walkers.
“I’m in no rush. I spent the morning working.”
He followed her with his eyes as she walked away, liking what he saw. When he’d come for dinner, she had on capris and a tank top. Even dressed like that he could tell she took excellent care of herself. Today’s outfit revealed even more. The sundress ended several inches above the knee in the front, exposing her long, lean legs. Unfortunately, the back of it hit midcalf. He never understood why women insisted on wearing long dresses, especially when they had great legs. She’d tied her hair up again, but at least her choice of hairstyles meant he got a perfect view of her sun-kissed shoulders and upper back. Considering it was only spring, Taylor had a great tan, suggesting she spent a lot of time outside.
The music stopped and Taylor reappeared, a small purse hanging from her shoulder. “All set.”
He hadn’t left the house much since moving in. The only places he’d visited had been the grocery store and the hardware store. Except for the day he looked at the house and his GPS took him on a little tour, he hadn’t driven around town. He’d seen no real reason to at this point. It wasn’t like he planned on becoming a permanent member of the community. So when Taylor suggested they go to the Java Bean, she had to give him directions.
Curt looked at the small café located on Mammoth Road. A handful of cars were parked out front, and a large sign with the words The Java Bean hung over a window, the B in the word Bean actually in the shape of a giant coffee bean. A line of cars waited for their turn at the drive-thru window.
“Looks like a popular place.” He pulled into an empty spot away from the other vehicles.
“It is, especially when there are games at either the soccer or the baseball fields. Both are just down the street.” Taylor opened the door before he managed to get the keys from the ignition, making it impossible for him get it for her, something he normally did for any woman he took out, including his mom.
The scent of apple pie and coffee greeted him the moment he opened the café door. If the smells were anything to go on, he’d be visiting this place a lot while he lived in town. “It all looks delicious. What do you suggest?”
Two long glass cases stood full of every tasty dessert imaginable. Behind the counter on the wall, a long list of coffee blends and specialty drinks was mounted, along with a listing of all the sandwiches available.
“Their pies are unbelievable. I’ve never had better anywhere, not even in the city. The cookies taste like homemade, and the sandwiches are huge. I can never finish even a small one. During the week, they also serve soup. You should try it sometime.” She stepped closer to him. Right away he noticed that a heavy cloud of perfume didn’t overwhelm him. His last girlfriend had often smelled as if she took baths in perfume. The smell would linger in his car or apartment for days.
“The only things I don’t love are their cakes. They tend to be a little dry,” she whispered. “When we need to order one, we go to a bakery in Hudson instead.”
He wasn’t a big cake person anyway. “What are you having?”
“The mixed berry pie and a coffee.” She pointed to a golden-brown pie in the case. “They make it with blueberries, raspberries, boysenberries, and blackberries. There’s nothing better than a slice of it warm, with vanilla ice cream on top, and a hot coffee.”
“Then we’ll make it two slices. If you want to find us a table, I’ll order. How do you like your coffee?” Curt asked.
“How about the other way around? I asked you out, which means this is on me.”
Two firsts in one week. Although a woman had never asked him out before, when Taylor had his response had been a no-brainer. This was different. “I don’t mind getting it.” He didn’t want to cause a scene, but he didn’t want her picking up the tab even if it was only for some pie and coffee.
Two women got in line behind them, but their presence didn’t stop Taylor from shaking her head. “I appreciate the offer, but not today.” She stepped forward, handed the teenager at the counter a twenty, and then placed their order.
He considered demanding the teen hand the money back and accept his instead. Doing so would cause a scene and draw attention to them. Avoiding unnecessary attention remained number one on his priority list. It would also piss Taylor off. They hadn’t spent much time together, but everything he’d seen suggested she was one stubborn woman. Curt was related to enough stubborn people to know, if he kept pushing the matter, she’d only dig in further. He’d prefer to avoid a standoff this afternoon.
“Next time it’s on me,” he said, picking up the tray the teenager set down. And he planned on there being a next time soon.
“Fair enough,” she said, in the silky voice he found so at odds with the little he knew about her.
She selected a table near a tall bookcase packed with books, some of which looked like they’d seen better days. A framed sign on one shelf said: Take A Book, Leave A Book, or Do Both.
“Do you mind if I sit on this side?” She went toward the chair against the wall. Unlike the car door outside, he managed to pull the chair out before she did it herself. Her bluish-gray eyes widened with surprise, telling him no man had ever pulled a chair out for her before. “Thank you.” Her voice echoed the emotion. “I don’t like my back to the door,” she explained after sitting down.
Curt handed over her pie and coffee before t
aking his off the tray. Already his mouth watered at the sweet smell wafting up from the plate. “Mind if I ask why?” Personally, he didn’t care if his back was to a door or not, as long as he had a seat under his ass.
“It’s a security thing. I like to know who comes in and goes out. If I can monitor that, it’s easier to respond in case of an emergency.”
