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“I did. Anyone who orders a coffee black needs more excitement in their life. These sweets will cause an explosion of pure happiness in your mouth,” I say and then the way his lips tip up at the side makes me rethink what I just said.
Heat fans out across my cheeks, but I own it. He went there, not me. Well, I did, but I didn’t mean the innuendo, even if I may have just had a wandering thought about what an explosion of another kind in my mouth would taste like.
“I’m looking forward to it.” His voice is gruff as his eyes drop to my mouth.
“Hmmm,” is all I manage as I stand there and stare back at him. He’s nearly a foot taller than me, so I tilt my head back slightly and smile at him.
His phone dings from somewhere on his body and he slowly drags his gaze off mine to look at his watch.
He mutters a curse.
“I’ve got a meeting.” He huffs. “Thanks for this.” He lifts the bag. And I barely get a goodbye out before his retreating back is out the door.
I let out a breath and close my eyes.
What the hell was that?
I take a drink of my tea, the peach flavor hitting all my taste buds, and give myself a mental shake.
I have a list of calls to make. I can overanalyze everything that just happened later.
* * *
Not even thirty minutes later, five calls down, my office line beeps. Jodi tells me that Nora Abbot is in the lobby and needs a quick minute.
Since I was supposed to have lunch with her, I don’t have her on my calendar, but I’ve got some time, so I tell Jodi I’ll be right down.
A few minutes later, I greet her as she sits in one of the pink, overstuffed love seats.
“Nora?” I say and she jumps up, her hands full.
“Ah. Hi! Cassie, sorry for popping in without an appointment.” She sounds a bit nervous.
“It’s okay. I was free. But you did have an appointment. One that ended less than an hour ago.” My tone is slightly questioning.
She bites her lip. “I’m really sorry about that. I botched up my schedule. But I got here as soon as I could. I brought gifts. Five to be exact.” She thrusts a long, pink bakery box into my hands. “I hope you like candy because this week’s flavors are all candy-based. But I felt bad for standing you up and maybe a peace offering of cookies would get me on your good side.”
I take the box of Crumbl Cookies from her and wave her over to the Crazy for You room.
“I do love candy. But I’m probably not the one who needs the bribe. Your brother was not happy,” I tell her.
She cringes. “I know and I’ve already got a plan on the Theo front.”
I shake my head and smile. “The good news is he left happier than he arrived, that’s for sure.”
Her eyes go wide. “Uh, what?”
And again, foot in mouth, my goodness. “No, I mean, he was mad as all get-out, but I calmed him down with my perky, likable personality and I sent him back to work with the best lemon bar in Indy.”
She giggles. “Oh, okay. Well, either way, that’s good.”
“So you just stopped by for the cookies?” I ask. I really do need to get back to work.
“Oh no! I also brought you our current guest list.” She digs into her purse and pulls out a small pack of crisply folded sheets of paper.
I just blink at her as she holds it out for me to take.
“Uh, okay…” I reach for it with my free hand. “I don’t—”
