Page 62 of Take A Number
“More like you missed my baked goods.” She turns and begins filling a cup of coffee for me. She shoots me a flirty side glance and adds, “Croinut flavor today is strawberry cream.”
I press my hand to my chest. “You really do love me, don’t you?”
She bursts out in an awkward laugh, and I immediately regret my casual comment when her cheeks flame red, and she begins dabbing at her upper lip with the back of her hand. She then turns to hand me a coffee cup while blurting out, “Boyfriends get free coffee.”
“Seriously?” I reply while glancing down at the steaming cup in my hands like it’s my savior because it’s rescuing me from needing to explain my last comment. “Had I known this little rule, I would have made you my girlfriend ages ago.” I point at the coffee cup. “This is a great financial investment.”
She rolls her eyes. “Stop flirting with me and join your friend over there. She’s been mumbling over her computer for an hour. I think she needs some help with her swinger book.”
I guffaw and grip the strap of my laptop bag. “Okay, but I should probably give my girlfriend some sugar before I eat her sugar.” I pucker my lips and lean over her counter expectantly.
“You are so lame.” She giggles and pauses when she sees I’m genuinely waiting for a kiss. Finally, she huffs out a noise and leans over the counter. It’s a quick, soft kiss, but it’s enough to remind me how good she always tastes.
When I head over to join Kate, she’s staring at me like the cat that got the cream. “You guys are seriously so cute.”
“I get free coffee now.” I smile and slide into the booth while pulling out my laptop. It takes a moment to realize I can’t stop smiling. Almost like I’m a lovesick puppy, which is ridiculous. I clear my throat and try to shake the euphoria out of my brain that I get whenever I’m around Norah.It’s just the good sex…that’s all this is. Good sex makes a guy loopy.
“Lynsey and I died watching the two of you together in Aspen. You were so cute,” Kate says, abandoning her laptop and perching her elbows on the table to waggle her brows at me. “And now here…how you just walked in and casually kissed her over the counter. Why have you been holding so strongly to your mountain manwhore ways when you are so clearly excellent boyfriend material?”
I pause and take a sip of my coffee. “I guess I just hadn’t met the right girl.”Who would agree to have casual, stringless sex with me.
Kate shakes her head. “Gah, I still can’t believe Norah agreed to go out with you in the first place. I had no idea all these years of you coming in here, taking a number, and eating loads of her baked goods, when I know you are obsessive about your fitness, was you playing the long game with her. It’s impressive, Dean. I tip my hat to you.”
I watch Norah as she emerges from the back kitchen with a fresh batch of croinuts. “I didn’t realize I was playing a game, but I guess it’s working out for the best.”
“Would Norah be into a weekly game night?” Kate asks excitedly while taking a sip of her coffee. “Lynsey and I were thinking the eight of us could do something every Friday night. Board games, card games, we could go bowling sometimes. You two, me and Miles, Lyns and Josh, and Maggie and Sam. Now that you’re finally wife’d up, we can do coupley stuff like this.”
“I am not wife’d up,” I retort, feeling tension build in my neck as Kate continues on the subject of Norah and me. I take a sip of my coffee and add, “Don’t forget this is all still new.”
“It didn’t look new in Aspen,” Kate replies with a smile. “You two looked like you were made for each other. She softens your bullshit ways. And you bring her out of her shell. It’s really cute.”
“Let’s chill it on the couple stuff, okay?” I grumble and open my laptop to check the market for the eighth time today. “I’m not the one getting married in less than two weeks. You are.”
Kate groans knowingly and then begins venting about some issue with her florist. I tune it out and turn to watch Norah frost things like it’s my favorite category on Pornhub. She looks happy too. Smiling more than usual while she’s working.
It’s just good sex. Sex makes people happy. That’s what Kate sees. Nothing more.
The bell on the door dings behind me, and a chill runs up my spine. I turn around to see that it’s Norah’s mother, Elaine, striding into the bakery. She’s dressed in activewear, and her silver hair looks extra spikey as she makes her way toward Norah with laser focus.
Last night, Norah told me her mother hadn’t spoken to her since we became a couple and apparently going a week without talking is unusual in Norah’s world. You would have thought I was some sort of drug dealer for her to be so resistant to the idea of Norah being in a relationship with me, but Norah said it has to do more with her embarrassing the family in front of all her friends that night at the party. Either way, Elaine Donahue is clearly good with mind games because I could tell the lack of contact was bothering Norah.
I wonder what Elaine’s business is today?
Norah’s blue eyes are wide as Elaine steps to the side of the counter and begins talking softly with her. When Norah glances over at me for the briefest of seconds, I’m on my feet and making my way over to them. Fake boyfriend or not, I’m going to be supportive.
“Mrs. Donahue, so nice to see you again,” I say casually as I prop myself on the counter and grab a sample of the croinut from the sample tray. Strawberry cream might be my new favorite.
“Oh…you’re here,” Elaine says crisply, her eyes looking me up and down like she’s judging my entire outfit. I get the impression that Mr. Donahue is more of a brown, oversized suit wearer, so I’m sure my style choices aren’t her cup of tea.
“Dean,” I state my name as a reminder. “I’m here a lot.”
“Yes, Dean. Nice to see you again,” she grinds out, clearly not pleased to see me in the slightest as she turns her attention back to Norah. Man, I connected with Norah’s dad in seconds, but Ice Queen here is going to take some serious thawing.
“My mom just invited me out for dinner with her and the Hawthornes,” Norah says through a pasted-on smile.
“Oh, how nice…which night? I’ll clear my schedule.” I smile warmly to Elaine, who’s not melting a single drop.
“Oh Norah, this is just a couple old families getting together. No need to bore Dean with all our reminiscing.” Elaine smiles crisply at me and turns away from me like I’m dismissed.
