Page 6 of Loving Words
The affection lacing Harrison’s words made me reach into my bag for my notebook. I found a blank sheet and jotted a few notes to myself.
“Jack? Is she there?”
I shook free my thoughts and looked around the place.
A middle-aged woman sat on another cushioned chair, her legs bent and under her, a paperback in her hands. Two young moms with babies strapped to their chests were chatting on a loveseat in the corner.
“Unless your sister has a baby or is a cougar, she’s not here,” I said, the older woman raising her eyes from the book to meet mine with surprise. When she flashed me a saucy wink, I grinned before grabbing my notebook.
“She must be at the house then,” Harrison said, unaware of the exchange that had just occurred.
Flipping through the pages, I found my running list of novel ideas. I scribbledsexy cougaron the next line and told Harrison, “But you still haven’t told me when you’re arriving.”
The bell on the door announced a new customer. “That’s because you were too busy being a dick and lying about bailing on me.”
Rolling my head back at the voice, I lowered my cell as I laughed. “And you’re clearly not over it.” Pushing to my feet, I tossed the notebook back on the table and met my pain-in-the-ass friend.
“Nothing a drink at Gran’s won’t fix,” Harrison said, pulling me in for a quick, back-pounding hug.
I chuckled. “Are you trying to butter me up so you can get into my pants?”
“Are you sure it’s not the other way around?”
Shoving my things into my bag, I laughed. “Because your ass is puckered way too tight with your motions and pleas to live a little.”
“Damn, brother, at least I’m talking to real people and not imaginary ones.”
“Fuck off—”
Someone cleared their throat, and I found the barista shooting us a disapproving glare. “Harrison Baker, do I need to call your Granny and tell her that you and this gentleman need your mouths washed out with soap?”
I watched everything but Harrison’s eyes freeze at the threat. His reaction was entertaining, but seeing him check out the woman was comical. After the initial widening, his eyes took her in a slow perusal, starting at her strawberry-blonde hair, pulled back into a bun at the top of her head, to the apron hiding her curvy body.
“Dixie?” Harrison asked with surprise.
“The one and only.”
Harrison peered back at me before ambling up to the counter. Their voices lowered some, and I took the time to finish packing up my things. With my bag’s strap over my shoulder, I glanced around to confirm I hadn’t left anything. As I took a step toward the two chatting, my attention snagged on the cougar licking her lower lip as she lowered the paperback in her hand. I recognized the author and grinned.
Noting the way Harrison was leaning in toward Dixie, I paused by the woman. “Enjoying the book?”
She nodded. “It’s really good.”
“Mind if I take a quick picture of it?”
Her eyes rounded in surprise. I knew it wasn’t common for men to take notice of a romance book, but I knew my online friend would be thrilled to see it out in the wild.
“Sure,” she said, pulling it to her midsection and pushing out her breasts.
I bit back my chuckle, not wanting to insult her. She clearly thought I was trying to get a picture of her under the guise of the book. “Thanks!”
“Would tomorrow night work?” Harrison asked as I escaped the woman visually undressing me.
Dixie’s sparkling eyes flit from Harrison to me and back. “Sure, but don’t you go falling in love with me, Harrison Baker. I’m not leaving Creekside or this coffee shop.”
Harrison dialed up the voltage on his smile. “I can’t make any promises, darlin’.”
My brows shot up at his excessive charm, and I shook my head. “What have you done to my friend?”
