“Oh, hey,” Asher said a moment later. “We should probably start getting ready. It’s already after eight.”
Cameron groaned. Talon Andrews was a sick, sadistic bastard. That was the only excuse for setting a meeting so early in the morning the day after Thanksgiving. Didn’t the guy have a life?
The only silver lining was that he had agreed to meet them in Mission Grove, so at least he and Asher didn’t have to drive all the way into the city on Black Friday. That would have been a fucking nightmare, and he would haveprobably ended up having an anxiety attack. Not a great way to start the weekend.
Warm fingers slid around the back of his neck, and Asher leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Cheer up, sweetheart. There will be coffee.”
“Fine.” Huffing, he levered himself up from the couch. “I’m going to jump in the stupid shower.”
“That’s the spirit,” Asher called after him, chortling under his breath.
Cameron flipped him off. He’d said he would go. He’d never agreed to like it.
~
A few people wavedin greeting when Asher stepped into the Witch’s Brew. At first, he thought they were waving to Cameron who was just ahead of him, but then he noticed they were all staring in his direction. He recognized some of them as residents he’d met at the Fall Festival, but he couldn’t remember anyone’s name.
He smiled and waved back.
Three steps later, a perky teenager bounced to a stop in front of him. “Good morning, Mr. Dare.”
Out of her café uniform with her sheet of honey-colored hair falling down around her shoulders, Kimmie Picklesimer was barely recognizable. “Hello, Kimmie. Did you have a good Thanksgiving?”
She shrugged and shifted her paper to-go cup to her other hand. “It wasn’t too bad.” Her eyes slid past him to Cameron. “Hi, Mr. Stone.”
Cameron greeted her with a warm smile. “What are you doing out so early?”
The girl ducked her head, but not before Asher saw the blush that swept up her cheeks. “Oh, um, I’m just meeting a friend.”
Cameron glanced around, clearly looking for said friend and completely oblivious to her discomfort. Asher resisted the urge to smack him in the back of the head, but just barely.
“Well, we won’t keep you then,” he hurried to say before Cameron could ask who she was meeting. “Have a good day.” When she’d left, he leaned to the side and elbowed Cameron in the arm. “Smooth.”
“Ow.” He rubbed his arm and glared. “What the hell was that for?”
He wasn’t usually so unobservant, but then again, Asher hadn’t let him get much sleep during the night. Not that he was sorry for it, but the least he could do was caffeinate the guy.
“Come on,” Asher sighed, nudging him toward the front counter. “Let’s get some coffee in you.”
Of all the places he’d visited in Mission Grove, he thought the Witch’s Brew might be his favorite. It wasn’t the type of place he expected to find in such a small town,but it had a charm about it that he appreciated. Soft, amber lighting illuminated the warm, inviting space, and he could picture himself seated in one of the cushy, burgundy armchairs with his laptop and a cup of coffee.
A fireplace on the east wall glowed with dancing flames, its hearth adorned with pumpkins and fake leaves in all different shapes and colors. A spindly broom hung over the mantle, a large sign beneath it claiming it had belonged to some long-dead witch. Small, black cauldrons glowed all around the café, and it took Asher a minute to realize they were actually cool mist diffusers.
The mouthwatering scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingled with undertones of buttery pastries, baked apples, and a hint of cinnamon. Approaching the counter, he eyed the glass display case at the end, grinning at the assortment of muffins, cinnamon rolls, and other sweets.
He was just about to ask Cameron if he was hungry when a young woman with flaming red hair popped up from behind the counter as if she’d risen right out of the floor. Asher thought he might have seen her at the library during his book signing, but they hadn’t been formally introduced.
“Good morning.” Big, gray eyes the color of moonbeams stared up at him. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Dare.”
Asher grinned back, trying like hell to remember her name. Even if they hadn’t officially met before, he was sure Cameron had talked about her.
Thankfully, Cameron came to his rescue. “Hi, Willow. Can I get a Black Cat and one of those cinnamon rolls?” It wasn’t just a polite way to place his order. He sounded like he really thought she might refuse him. “Please?”
“Of course.” Willow tilted her head and scrunched her nose. “I really do suggest an extra espresso shot in your Black Cat, though.”
Cameron dipped his head. “Yes, please.”
“Great!” She tapped the computer screen in front of her a couple of times, then returned her attention to Asher. “For you, Mr. Dare?”
