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Bailey would be genuinely surprised if Deke ever expressed any interest in reconciling with Dayna. She’d be equally surprised if the woman ever showed up, given she’d been gone so long and wasn’t exactly his biggest fan these days.
Nearing the deli, Bailey noticed him sitting at the eating counter near the front window. He tipped his chin her way, and she flicked her hand up in a brief wave before then pushing open the door. She walked in and was immediately swarmed by the scents of cold meats, yeast, and spices.
It was right then that Cassandra stopped beside him, a tray in hand. Smiling, the woman boldly took a seat beside his and began chatting away to him.
Bailey felt her lips press into a thin line. She agreed with the general consensus—Cassandra had a little thing for Deke but didn’t want anything permanent with him. That she wouldn’t try to steal him out from under Bailey didn’t make it any less irritating that Cassandra took any opportunity to talk with him. Or that the woman had settled at his side without waiting for an invitation, taking it for granted that he’d welcome her company.
Going by the look on his face, he didn’t welcome her company right then. Not that that placated Bailey’s mamba—the snake wanted to snap her teeth at both him and the female who coveted him.
Unable to hear what the female pallas cat was saying—it was loud with the music playing, the chatter of customers, and the orders being called out—Bailey began making her way to Deke, the soles of her faux fur-lined thermal boots scuffing the hardwood floor.
His gaze focused on her with each step she took, those perceptive eyes missing nothing as they swept over her face. His brow furrowed as she came to stand beside him. “What’s wrong?”
She blew out a breath. “The world would be a nicer place if the only annoying person in it was me.”
Cassandra smiled up at her. “Hey, Bailey.”
It was hard to stop her upper lip from quivering, but Bailey managed it. “Yo.” Flicking a look at the woman’s tray, she asked, “Is that bubble tea?”
“It is,” Cassandra replied. “They just started selling them here. I can’t say whether or not they’re good, because I haven’t tried it yet.”
Deke arched a brow at Bailey. “You ready to go order?”
Bailey shrugged off her coat. “More than. I’m starving.”
Her eyes widening, Cassandra glanced from him to Bailey. “Oh, you … you two have a lunch date?” Her mouth curved into a lopsided grin. “Well, that sure is new.” The leather-padded cushion creaked slightly as she slipped off the chrome stool. “I’m sorry, Bailey, I didn’t realize you were meeting him here or I’d have sat somewhere else.”
Deke drummed his fingers on the counter. “I’d say you’re welcome to stay and eat with us.”
“But I’m not,” guessed Cassandra, still grinning.
“No, you’re not,” he confirmed.
The female pallas cat laughed.
“I mean that in the nicest possible way,” he added.
“I know you do.” Her shoulders shaking with silent laughter, Cassandra grabbed her tray. “You two enjoy your lunch.” With that, she made her way to an empty table.
Deke stood and turned his full attention to Bailey. “So, who annoyed you? Tell me. I’ll fix it.”
Slinging her coat over the back of the stool, Bailey smiled. “Well, ain’t you cute.” Her snake thought he was plain adorable for thinking either she or Bailey would step aside to allow him to handle their problems. They loved handling problems.
He snorted. “Where’s my kiss, anyway?”
“I don’t know. Where did you last see it?”
He looked close to rolling his eyes. Instead, he took a step toward her and crooked his finger. She closed the tiny distance between them and let their mouths meet in a brief kiss that made him hum. Her belly predictably did a lot of idiotic flipping and twisting.
“Come on, let’s go grab some grub,” she said.
His hand splayed on her back, they walked to the deli’s counter. As they joined the line of customers, Bailey strained to glance through the expansive glass case at the display of cured meats, condiments, and sandwich fixings. There was also a selection of bread and baguettes, and cellophane-wrapped desserts such as cookies. People could also order soup, sides, drinks, nachos, and potato chips.
He slid his hand up her back to rest between her shoulder blades. “Who annoyed you?” he asked again, the persistent bastard.
She swatted at the air. “Just Therese. I bumped into her on the way here. She apologized for all the petty smack talk. Then she claimed you marked me to provoke Dayna into hauling ass back to the US, and she wanted to know if I was in on it.”
His brows snapped together. “What? That’s pure bull. You know that, right?”
“I do. And I told her that.”
Seeming satisfied that Bailey meant it, he nodded. “I’ll have a little chat with her.”
