Page 86 of Violet Moon
Jostled in the crowd, Hugh waved and smiled.“I came to see what was holding you up, but I think I answered my own question.”
“Tour bus.”She gestured across the street.“Your coffee shop looks about the same.”
“Luckily, I’ve already taken off my customer service face for the day.”
“I was supposed to be gone by now.”
“Go!”Lock walked up behind her, planting a hand on Sera’s shoulder.“We got this.Get out of here before we kick you out.”
‘But I —”
“Need to leave, I know.I was serious about kicking you out.”
Sera grinned.“Fine.I know when to take a hint.”
“It’s not a hint if it’s a threat.”Lock laughed, turning towards the next customer in line and putting on his brightest smile.
“Guess I’m free now,” Sera said, swinging around the edge of the counter.
He held out a hooked elbow for Sera to loop her arm through.“Shall we?”
Sera stepped beside him and joined their arms together with a laugh as they stepped out onto the sidewalk.“Feels like we’re on a date when we walk like this.”
“I’m flattered, but you’re not my type.”
Sera smacked his arm.“Cheeky.”
Hugh smirked.
“So, how’s your newest, little vampire, Eugene?”Sera asked with a teasing lilt to her voice.
“Now who’s the cheeky one?”Hugh shot her a look.“You used to avoid all romantic talk unless I brought it up for decades.You finally get together with the love of your life and now that’s all you want to talk about.”
“That must mean the gossip is good.”Sera waggled her eyebrows at him.
Hugh sighed.“There’s nothing to discuss.”
“Yeah, that means it’s good.”
“Fine,mon lou lou.Then how have things been for you two between the sheets lately?”
“You know what?Excellent.Outstanding.Mind-blowing and I’m not even ashamed to admit that out loud.”
Hugh laughed.“That’s growth.”
“What?To be able to talk about my sex life?”
“Well, that, yes.But also, look at you.If you got stars in your eyes when talking about her before, now you’re glowing.Your smile’s so wide I wonder if your face hurts.”
Sera put the back of her hand to one cheek.“It does a little.”
“This is a much better change than a book about baking.”
“It is.It really is.And Hugh?”
He glanced down at her, patting her arm with his other hand.
“I’ve been working on changing in some other ways, too.Ways I don’t really ever talk about.”She paused as their steps slowed on the sidewalk.“Do you remember much of your past?”
