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A wicked smile curves his lips. “I’d rather do something else to seal the deal.”
Even as my blood runs hot, I poke a finger into his rock-solid chest. “No, Henderson. If this is going to work, there will be none of that.”
“None of what?”
I wave my finger in his face. “Flirting. We’re doing this as coworkers with a common goal.”
“Coworkers?” He wrinkles his nose. “Well, that sounds a bit hoity-toity. Don’t forget where you are, babe. This isn’t Seattle.”
“Jake!”
He chuckles and holds his hands up. “Okay, okay. I won’t flirt if you’ll say we’re at least friends.”
I huff out a breath and cross my arms over my chest. “Fine. We’re friends.”
He nods once. “Good. Now as your friend, I’ll buy your coffee.”
This man, I swear he makes it hard to be mad, even when I should have kneed him in the nuts the first time I saw him again.
There’s only a couple of people in line when we walk in, but the few tables and chairs dotting the dining space are occupied. It’s bright and airy, but cozy. A perfect place for students from the nearby college to study as well as grandmas to gather and gossip.
“Lia Gray! Get over here!”
My cousin Amelia rushes over to me with her arms outstretched and I grin. Amelia’s about as feisty as they come.
I return her hug, inhaling the heady combo of coffee and vanilla. “Hey, Ame. I’ve missed you.”
“Of course you have. What’s not to miss?” She pulls back and looks me over. “Girl, you look amazing.” She lifts a strand of my hair. “I love this red in your hair now. You’re going to have to tell me what this is called so I can get some put in mine.”
I self-consciously run a hand over my hair, but can’t help smiling. “Thanks. I don’t know what it’s called. I tell my stylist to make it look awesome and it comes out like this.”
Amelia frowns. “Damn, too bad she’s in Seattle.”
She wraps an arm around my shoulder and looks behind me. “Oh, hey, Jake.”
“Hey, Amelia. How are ya?”
“Pretty good.”
She stops, looking back and forth between us, a slow smile forming. “Hold on. Did y’all come in here together?”
“I insisted on buying her coffee,” Jake says grinning back at her. “Of course, I did just buy her breakfast…” He taps his chin like he’s thinking.
“Really now?” Amelia’s brows rise to her hairline. She guides me over to the counter before she walks behind it. “I must know more about this development. But first coffee.”
I roll my eyes and shoot Jake a glare. He just shrugs, wearing that shit-eating grin, and leans casually against the counter next to me.
“Jake, your usual?” Amelia asks.
“Yep.”
Amelia goes to work on the coffee, and there’s a stab of something that feels like jealousy in my gut that she knows how he takes his coffee. The man has seen me naked—only once and a long time ago—and I have no clue how he takes his coffee.
Amelia slides a white paper cup across the counter to Jake and looks at me. “How ’bout you? You want a mocha or cappuccino?”
“Vanilla latte.”
“Coming up.” She rings in the order and then leans on the counter, her chin in her palm. “So…” she trails off as the chime to the place goes off. “Aw, hell. Poker Posse incoming.”
