Page 31 of By Any Beans Necessary

"Chef's kiss," she joked, puckering her lips and miming the gesture in the air. Her laughter was light, like the notes of a piano in a jazz bar.

"Did you just chef's kiss my date plan?" He feigned offense, but his grin betrayed him.

"Maybe." She winked back at him. "But don't tell Avery that this food rivals hers. She'll never forgive me."

"Your secret is safe with me," he vowed, enjoying the easy banter.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the clink of silverware on plates and the hum of crickets filling the space between them.

"Tell me, Mr. Parker," she said, leaning forward, elbows on the table. "What other covert operations have you been running that I should know about?"

"Ah, well, there was Operation Get-Michelle-to-Smile," he confessed. "Involved a lot of corny jokes."

"No need to pull out that arsenal. You can save it for a rainy day," she told him with a smile. "You've already had a successful campaign," she admitted with a mock-serious nod.

"Then there was Operation Learn-Everything-About-Coffee. That one is ongoing."

"Sounds intense."

"Very. Requires daily surveillance of the Coffee Loft."

"Stalker much?" she teased, swirling her drink in her glass.

"Only in the most charming sense of the word," he shot back, winking again.

She laughed, and Jeff couldn't take his eyes off of her. Watching the effervescent joy bubble up inside her rivaled the sparkling water they were sharing.

"Okay, okay," she conceded, raising her hands in surrender. "You've won me over, Agent Parker. Consider me impressed."

"Good," he said, satisfaction oozing from his voice. "Because I didn't plan an exit strategy."

"Smart man," she murmured with a wink.

As they continued their meal, the quiet moments spoke volumes. Every shared glance, every laugh, added another layer to the evening—one that Jeff knew he'd tuck away in his memory like a cherished book to be revisited time and again.

Chapter Eleven

Laughter swirled through the evening air, mingling with the scents of fresh soil and blooming flowers from the garden dinner. The stars seemed to twinkle in amusement as Jeff led her by the hand, a playful glint in his eye that promised more than just the end of a meal.

"Where are we going next?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

"Surprise," Jeff said, his voice low and teasing as they rounded the corner to find an array of easels set up under several sets of string lights, paintbrushes at the ready beside palettes splashed with vibrant colors. "Paint and sip," he announced with a flourish, like a magician revealing his grand trick.

"Jeff Parker, you're full of surprises," she laughed, squeezing his hand.

"Wait till you see my masterpiece," he boasted, but there was a comedic wobble in his confidence.

They each took their places before blank canvases, glasses of wine within arm's reach. She watched him dip his brush into the blue, a childlike excitement dancing in his eyes. As they worked, hilarity ensued. Their brushes dabbed and swirled, but wheremajestic winter landscapes were intended, abstract blobs took form.

"Is that a snowman or a snowball fight gone wrong?" she teased, peeking at his canvas.

"Ha, yours looks like the snow apocalypse," Jeff shot back, his nose crinkling in mirth, echoing the scars of past brawls.

"Shut up, I'm channeling my inner Picasso."

"More like Pic-oh-no," he quipped.

Her laughter echoed off the walls, genuine and free.

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