“Of course. I’m awesome.”
I stare at her for a beat, and she holds my gaze. She raises an eyebrow, and I nod. “As long as you know it.”
Noli:Gotta run. Nelson’s home. Love you both!
I shove down the pang of anxiety that hits my chest at the mention of Noli’s boyfriend, choosing instead to focus on how much I love my sisters and how grateful I am that we can still be close even in different states. It’s making me feel confident about the prospect of staying in Cashmere Cove.
Rose and I stow our phones and push open the door to the café. It’s full of all sorts of people we’ve met since moving to Cashmere Cove a month ago. I love being plugged in to a small town like this. I scan the crowd and spot Mayor Witmore sitting at a table with Abner, the head of the streets department, and a group of townsfolk, who seem to be in a heated discussion about something or other. The new road project that’s slated to begin next spring, perhaps?
I love that I know that.
Nearby, Heather is sitting with a baby stroller tucked in next to her table. Her little Kenny is two months old now. She’s been texting me about Party in the Park details, and it’s been great to be able to honestly say I have everything under control. I hope I’m doing enough to earn me a full-time gig.
Across the way is Jameson, the licker from the zoo trip, digging in to a platter of homemade mac and cheese. I catch his eye and wave, smiling at his dad who’s sitting across from him. I feel a rightness about it all settle on my shoulders, made complete when I notice Mack tucked into a booth on the far wall.
He’s wearing his Mack Electric baseball cap turned backward, so I can see his face. That means there’s no question that his eyes are laser focused on me. When our gazes connect, his lips quirk up ever so slightly.
“Should I leave you to your ogling?” Rose says, breaking the trance Mack’s attention has put me under.
“What? No.”
“Then move forward. It’s almost our turn to order.” Rose points ahead, and I realize the line has advanced while I’ve been caught up in staring at Mack.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s sweet.” Rose loops her arm through mine. “I’m happy for you, Poppy.”
“Thanks. But enough about me. Tell me about the bookstore. What do you guys have going on?”
Rose’s face brightens. “We’re bringing Daisy Reid in for an author event and book signing early next week. I can’t wait.”
“TheDaisy Reid? Your favorite author?”
Rose nods. “Turns out all my Instagram fangirling paid off. I was able to get in touch with her manager and get Cashmere Cove a last-minute slot on her book tour.”
We make our way up to the counter and order our food, chatting about Mood Reader and other events Rose is looking forward to planning. “Now that you’re thinking seriously about staying in Cashmere Cove, I want to stay too.”
“I’m glad you’re happy here.”
Rose gets a look I can’t place in her eyes, but she blinks it away before I can ask her about it. “I am.”
We finish up paying and turn to find seats as the door to the café blows open.
Tricia saunters in with her baby on her hip and another woman, whom I haven’t met yet, behind her.
I might be imagining it, but I swear the conversations in the café quiet a couple notches. Everyone swings their gazes from Mack to Tricia and back again.
Tricia zones in on Mack and squishes up her nose in a scowl. She turns to her friend and, loudly enough for most of the café to hear, says, “He’s like a nightmare that I can’t stop having.”
My entire body tenses. I glance over at Mack, who has his head down. He’s moving the remains of his food around with his fork. Darla is across from him, wringing her hands together as if she still can’t believe that her son didn’t end up with the woman who currently disses him every chance possible.
Something inside me snaps.
I stride to Mack’s table, and he raises his head when he notices me in his periphery. His eyes widen when I plop down on his lap.
I grab his cheeks with my hands, enjoying the coarse feel of his beard under my fingers, and draw his lips to mine. I take my time with a slow, meaningful kiss. I can tell the moment Mack gets over being stunned. His hands tighten on my hips, and the muscles holding his jaw tense relax. He kisses me back, and my entire body sighs.
When I’m pretty sure I’ve given everyone enough of a show, I ease back and trail a line of kisses through the stubble of his five o’clock shadow and up toward his ear.
