“Just thought you should know, in case you end up talking to her more,” he says.
“Thanks. I’ll be careful not to share my deepest, darkest secrets.”
He grins at me, his eyes lingering on mine before a shadow is cast over us.
“Can I get two tickets?” someone to my right says. Cooper’s gaze is still fixed on me when I look away, giving a tall white woman with light brown hair my attention.
I pull two tickets off the roll, and she hands me two dollars, which I hand to Cooper to put in the cash box. Once the woman leaves with her tickets, I put their matches in the largeraffle-ticket spinners in front of the two baskets she is hoping to win—one with free passes to various upcoming Bramble Falls events, including the homecoming game in a couple of weeks, the double feature horror night at the drive-in movies in October, the community theater’s presentation ofWickedin November, and the Snow Ball in December, and one basket filled with treats from the Caffeinated Cat. I haven’t tried the pastries there yet, but my mouth waters just looking at them.
“I need a harvest spice latte,” I say, realizing my stomach is empty. “Do you mind manning the table alone for a few minutes?”
“Um, yeah,” Cooper says, standing. My eyes wander to his dark gray dress pants, which fit himperfectly. If staring at him were an Olympic sport, I’d win gold. I swipe at my mouth just in case I’m drooling in public. “I’m not going to let you walk all the way there on a bad ankle. You watch the table. I’ll be right back.”
“It’s been a week. My ankle is fine,” I argue, pulling my eyes back to his (impossibly handsome) face. “Even if it wasn’t, it’s literally across the street.” But he’s already on his way. “Cooper, stop! I can—”
“I can’t hear you!” he calls without looking back.
“At least take my credit card!”
He ignores me and keeps walking.
In the time that he’s gone, I sell twenty raffle tickets between four people, and all four put their tickets in the Caffeinated Cat basket. So when Cooper shows up with my latte and a dark red cookie, I’m ready to see what all the fuss is about.
I break it in two. Inside, swirls of something white mix withthe buttery soft dough. I offer him the smaller half, which he declines.
I shrug. “Fine. More for me. What kind of cookie am I about to eat?”
“Red velvet marshmallow,” Cooper answers as I take my first bite.
It’s possible I moan.
Cooper laughs. “You like it?”
Okay, yeah, I definitely moaned.
“?‘Like’ doesn’t cover it,” I say after I swallow. “This is the sexiest thing I’ve ever eaten.”
Cooper’s eyebrows draw together, but he wears an amused smile. “Did you just call food sexy?”
“I called this red velvet cookie sexy, yes. Try to tell me I’m wrong.”
He laughs. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good. You should be fired from your job, by the way.”
“And why’s that?”
I gesture at what’s left of the cookie in front of me. “Because I’ve been here two full weeks. I’ve gone to that café every single day for coffee. Andnot oncedid you insist I get one of these. Worst employee ever.” I shake my head, take another bite, and fill my cheek with the gooey goodness. “And depriving me of these this whole time? If you didn’t already hate me, I’d fire you from our friendship. Worst ex-friend ever.”
Cooper shifts in his seat. “I don’t hate you.”
“Please.” I lick the marshmallow off my finger. Cooper’s eyes track it, and a strange warmth floods my cheeks. I put myhands in my lap. “You’ve made your feelings clear.”
“?‘Hate’ is a strong word.”
“Oh, okay. Would it be more accurate to say you ‘strongly dislike’ me?” I ask. “Because that would be disappointing. At least ‘hate’ implies something matters enough to be able to elicit such a strong feeling.”
“You mattering isn’t really the issue,” he grumbles.
