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She gasped. “That’s hurtful.”
Luke grabbed Ashanti’s favorite mug—an atrocious creation he’d crafted his freshman year of high school when they both attended a potting seminar for extra credit. She claimed it was ‘perfectly avant-garde’ and never drank from anything else.
He filled it up and slid it over to her. “Here.”
“Thanks, Luke.” She bounced happily and took a deep sniff of her coffee. “I’ll be over there. Working. Good luck with Michelle.”
Luke waved her away and dealt with the customers that trickled in until Michelle and her party were ready to pay. He was pleasantly surprised when she wandered over to the counter.
After giving her the total, Luke watched her count out the money. Ashanti’s words about Michelle’s interest in his phone number pounded through his head.
He moved on instinct, grabbed a business card and scribbled his personal number on the back of it. “This is… just in case the café’s line isn’t working.”
Really? That’s the best you could come up with?
Michelle looked surprised. “Oh, thank you.”
“But if you don’t want to use that, I understand. Our business line works most of the time so—”
“I’ll call you, Luke.” She stared straight into his eyes. “Goodbye.”
When she was gone, Luke allowed himself to wilt against the wall. While he struggled for breath, he caught Ashanti’s eye from across the room.
She grinned widely and gave him two thumbs up.
Chapter Four
Ashanti jumped into the sofa and grabbed her novel from its perch on the end of the armchair. The cover boasted Fabio, shirt open and breeze blowing through his luxurious golden hair. He was posing on a ship next to a beautiful woman dripping in equal amounts of seductiveness.
Ashanti was in the middle of the book—right before the rakish pirate seduced the innocent maid—when nature had called and she’d torn herself away.
Now she was back and there was nothing getting in the way of the story…
Her phone vibrated like it knew what she was reading and disapproved. Ashanti sighed and picked up the device. When she saw the name parading across the screen, her earlier frustration fled.
She slammed her finger on the ANSWER button and shrieked, “Dad!”
“Hey, honey. Just checking in. How are things?”
“Everything is fine.”
“Did you call the plumber to deal with that pipe?”
She settled into the crook of the couch. “That happened two weeks ago. How did you find out about it?”
“I asked Luke to keep tabs on you.”
She shook her head. “The traitor.”
“He told me you would say that.”
“Dad, don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control over here.”
“I’m your father. I have a right to worry. If anything else breaks down, make sure you call a professional right away.”
She sighed. “I will.”
“I mean it, Ashanti.”
