Page 40 of Ravish

“I can work with that.” Colby rubbed his chin.

“Great. That’s the one I want.” Flash took a bite of his wrap.

“I like the second one the best.” Bear flipped the pages after wiping his hands off. “The design is very nice.”

“Thank you. How soon do you need them?”

“Two weeks, can you do that?” Bear asked.

“Shouldn’t be a problem. Thuddy or stingy?”

Bear took a drink of his coffee.

“Thuddy for me,” Flash said. “The heavier the better.”

Colby nodded and made a note on his sketch pad.

“I’d like mine with fewer tails, about medium heaviness,” Bear said.

“So closer to a sting than a thud?” Colby asked.

“Yeah.” A smile crossed Bear’s face as a shadow fell over the table.

“More coffee or hot water?” Lara asked, standing there.

“Please,” Bear said holding his cup out.

Lara refilled Bear’s cup and then his.

“I’m good,” Flash said.

“Enjoy.”

“Now I know why you wanted to meet here,” Bear said.

“Oh?” Hadn’t his warning come across?

“Great food.” Flash grinned.

Colby shook his head as they finished their conversation and drinks. All three stood and shook hands. Bear and Flash picked up their trash and carried it over to the bin, then walked over to the counter.

Lara smiled at them as they paid, then Bear put money in the tip jar and left with a wave at Colby.

He cleaned up his stuff and picked up his sketchbook. When he approached Lara, she was frowning at the tip jar.

“What is it?” he asked. It didn’t make sense why she would be frowning at the tip jar.

“Colby, they left a twenty dollar tip.” Her voice was soft.

“Yes.”

“It’s way too much.” She shook her head.

“Honey,” he said softly. “It’s because they appreciate how you treat them.”

“But...” Her cheeks turned red.

“You don’t ignore them or ask them to leave your café.”

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