AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They started walking again, toward the café.
“Not so much, but I’ll keep working on it.”
She took the step up when they reached it, and then turned to face him. The day was cool, and she wore a fitted deep green sweater under her wool jacket, and it hugged her lovely curves, dipping to a V at the neck. Her scarf was a lighter green that made those Trainer eyes pop. Tight black jeans added to one hell of a package, Dylan conceded, but then she could wear a sack and look hot.
“You do that. And now I have a café to run.”
“As it turns out, I need a coffee.”
“You just had a scone, why didn’t you drink tea with it?”
“I’m a big boy. I need constant nutrition, and I do not drink tea. No good, self-respecting FBI agent would.”
“You drank tea with the seniors.”
“I was being polite, plus it got me Pearl’s meatballs and sauce recipe.”
She had to laugh then.
“Do you love your work, Dylan?”
“Mostly.”
“But some parts of it must leave a really nasty stain on your soul,” she said softly.
Her words couldn’t have been more accurate.
“Sure. It’s not all like the TV shows and movies. And there’s a lot of paperwork.”
Her smile did strange things inside Dylan, which sent a warning shot through him.
“I’m sure it’s not. I mean let’s face it, no way in hell could there be that many sexy men and women in one place, all working together in perfect harmony.”
“Yes, it’s hard being the only one.”
Piper’s laugh was loud and full, and his own lips twitched to respond. She turned to head inside. Dylan followed.
The café was busy, the white chairs and tables mostly full. One wall was covered completely in plants, all hanging from pots, and the others held modern artwork.
Dylan found a seat at the counter while Piper disappeared behind it and through a door. Ava hadn’t seen him, so he took the time to watch her unobserved. She was working the coffee machine like a pro. She turned to smile at someone who brought her another order. It was real, and he wanted that smile for him, which of course he had no right to.
“Coffee, thanks,” he said when a waitress appeared.
Ava turned his way seconds later, and the smile fell from her lips.
“What are you doing here? Did Mom tell you where to find me?”
“No. It’s a pretty small town; chances are I would have run into you here at some stage.”
Keep it calm, Dylan. You’ve been trained how to deal with difficult people.
She’s not people, you moron, she’s your sister!
Her eyes were the softest blue. He and Charlie had often teased her about the baby Howard having baby blue eyes. Funny, he hadn’t remembered that until now.
“Hey, Ava, how’s it with you today?”
Dylan turned to watch Luke Trainer amble to the counter.
