Page 7 of Loving Words
Dixie shrugged. “Be careful. Men can’t fight my wily charms and the smell of a dark roast.”
I chuckled. “Duly noted.”
“Hey! Find your own. I’ve already claimed this one for tomorrow night,” Harrison snapped.
Dixie’s hand slammed onto her hip as she cocked her head at Harrison. “I suggest you walk that back, lest you find yourself claiming only the snake in your pants.”
“You’ll have to excuse him, miss. He’s clearly spent too much time with the criminals he defends. I’m sure he’ll find his manners in time for your date. If he doesn’t, I’m sure Mrs. Betty would love to hear about his archaic treatment of women.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“I would.”
“Hmm... I like you,” Dixie replied with a chuckle. “Before this one finishes inserting his foot into his mouth, I have something for y’all to give Kennedy.”
Harrison shoved me the moment Dixie’s back was turned.What the fuck, man?he mouthed.
Dixie returned with a cup in hand. “I’m sure by now the girl’s hankering for another fix.”
“Another fix?” I asked.
Harrison pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it to Dixie. “I wasn’t exaggerating when I said coffee ran in her veins. Go ahead and cover whatever she owes you and another hundred.”
“Your sister will drink a hundred dollars in coffee in the week we’re here?” I asked.
Dixie and Harrison burst into laughter.
My eyes widened at their reaction. “What’s so funny?”
“That girl will drink that in two to three days, tops.”
“Thanks, Dixie.” Harrison put his wallet away and raised the coffee in the air. “We better go before this gets cold.”
I followed him out and spotted his two-door Jaguar down the street. “I’ll follow you.”
The ride to the cabin was idyllic. My mind turned over the idea of setting one of my future novels in a place like Creekside. We drove up a winding path, snow covering the sides of the road and tree branches. The sky above darkened with each passing minute as the waning moon rose above.
It could have easily been the location for a meet-cute holiday romance. Girl meets boy as they ski a black diamond. Boy underestimates girl. Girl not only outshines the boy on the mountain pass but dumps hot coffee over his head.
At the thought of coffee, my mind flitted to Harrison’s intriguing sister. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around anyone consuming that much caffeine.
When we pulled up to the two-story wood cabin, I set my rental to park and leaned forward. Two empty rocking chairs sat on the front porch, and I knew it’d be one of the places where I planned on sitting and writing.
Harrison removed a carry-on suitcase from the back of his Jag and urged me to hurry with a wave of his hand. I cast one more glance at the beautiful home and grabbed my things.
“You fell down another rabbit hole, didn’t you?” Harrison asked as he pushed open the door with one hand and held onto his sister’s coffee in the other.
The scent of apple spices and baked cookies assaulted my senses the moment we stepped inside. “Hazards of the job.”
“Gran!” Harrison called.
The cabin was as inviting and cozy on the inside as it was on the outside. A fire blazed in the corner of what I suspected was the living room. I spotted a wing-back chair in front of the fireplace and knew it was another place I’d work after some time in the rocking chair.
“This place is amazing, Harrison!” I said.
“Told you. Just leave your stuff there until we see what rooms Gran has us in,” he said, pointing to the right of the wood stairs leading up to the second floor.
I padded behind Harrison into the kitchen. We found it empty, but the delicious smells were much stronger in there.
