Page 148 of Mountain Daddy
“I’ll grab those beans quick, then we’ll get the drinks ready,” the barista says as she hands Luther his change.
He stretches to the side and drops the leftover cash into the tip jar.
Yet another reason to find this man sexy.
“Thank you for the latte. And the beans.” I reach up and wrap my fingers around the arm still around my chest. “I don’t know if I’ve had coffee from Chile.”
Luther slides his wallet back into his pocket, then settles his hand over mine, warming up my fingers. “Last year, one of the guys who worked here told me about them. Apparently they come from the same area of Chile that the rain sticks come from.”
I think about the pretty sound from when I opened the door. “Interesting.”
Luther shrugs. “Or maybe the guy was full of shit. But either way, it’s damn good coffee.”
When the woman returns with two bags, we untangle from each other, and Luther takes the beans.
I let him lead the way back to where he was sitting in the far corner.
The table is small and round with just two chairs. Perfect for being close.
Luther sets the bags side by side on the edge of the table, then goes back for his plain coffee when the order is called out.
I put my backpack on the floor beside one of the chairs and sit.
We stay quiet as Luther sets his coffee down, then goes back for my latte.
He puts the paper cup in front of me, and I wrap my hands around it while he lowers himself into the other chair.
“How was your day?” Luther’s dark eyes stay on mine.
I let a smile pull at my lips. “It was alright.”
“Just alright?”
“Well, it’s recently gotten better.”
The man smirks.
I tell him about my current project at work. We sip our drinks.
He tells me about the rest of his weekend with Ashley. We slide our free hands across the table.
Our fingertips meet, and I slide mine another inch closer.
Luther places his hand on top of mine.
And I have to ask him.
“Luther?”
“Yeah, Baby?”
I hesitate for a moment, then exhale. “Can I ask you about Ashley’s mom?”
I expect Luther to pull away.
To move his hand off mine and sit back in his chair.
But he doesn’t.
