When my mouth lands on hers, she lets out a surprised sigh. The kiss is quick but full. I feel the goosebumps on her skin under my palm. Her warm lips under mine. Hear her loudly beating heart.
When I pull away a little to look at her face, I rasp, “Hi.”
“Hi,” she squeaks.
“I came to take you up on your offer.” My eyes dart between hers as I speak.
“That’s—” she clears her throat before continuing. “That’s good.”
That’s good.I really managed to stun her into almost silence. That’s not the comeback my Nora would usually come up with.
My Nora?
What the actual fuck? I’ve known the woman for what? Two months? Three?
Feeling a little conflicted with this new discovery, I give her neck a gentle squeeze before letting go of her and walking back to the other side of the counter. There are only two seats left, both are next to the inspector. I take the furthest from her while her fuming eyes follow my every move.
Fuck. I hope I didn’t get Nora in trouble with this stunt. Even though I wouldn’t take it back for the world, especially considering I haven’t been kicked out of here or smacked on the head, which can be called a success.
“Well, hello Jericho,” the woman says quietly. I only hear her because the silence in the diner is utter.
A quick glance around confirms that every pair of eyes is trained on us and on the show that might unfold. Through the kitchen window, I even spy Roman who’s frozen with a spatula in hand. Perhaps I might have drawn a lot more attention than I bargained for. This will become the talk of the town for the next few weeks. Plus I’m sure I’ve sealed my fatewith all current and future permits from now on if this inspector stays in her position.
Not to look like a complete asshole, I reply to her with a short nod and return my sole attention to Nora who finds her footing and springs to action. Placing a mug that saysIt’s a full moonon it in front of me, she turns to the coffee machine and grabs a pot.
“Black?”
“Do you have any of that witch brew left you gave me this morning?” This is my attempt at flirting. It also should remove any ideas from the inspector’s head about anything possible happening between her and me since I’m clearly establishing the wistful possibility that Nora and I spent the night together.
And that seems to work because Nora’s cheeks suddenly pinken as if my thoughts are true. The inspector must notice it too because I feel her heated stare on the side of my face.
“No,” Nora laughs nervously. “It’s reserved only for mornings.”
“Can’t wait.” I wink, surprising the fuck out of myself and Nora apparently. She hiccups and starts moving around like a squirrel on a wheel, knocking down salt and pepper from the counter as she goes.
Someone coughs. Someone snickers. Someone smacks me on the back with a small, gentle hand.
“Promise to tell me all about that morning brew.” The waitress Karina walks up to my side. “Allabout it,” she adds with a wink.
I laugh in response, and the sounds slowly come back to the room. Forks start clicking on plates, chatter rises above the previously charged air.
Then the door chimes, and Karina’s loud displeasure silences the diner all over again. “You must be shitting me. Is there a wicked coven summit today?”
I glance at the entrance and find the person who seems to cause such strong adverse reactions in everyone around here.
“Jaqueline,” Dick starts with a slippery smile. “I thought I’d find you here.”
“And why is that,” Karina wonders loud enough for the folks in the bathroom to hear.
The newcomer’s gaze slowly shifts to her. “Well, hello Karina. Are you still being salty over your rejection?”
“What rejection?” She doesn’t look bothered even in the slightest.
“C’mon.” He smiles. “It’s okay. Rejections happen. Don’t be so mean about it.”
A loud clatter of dishes from the kitchen draws my attention. The cook’s red face and hard eyes trained on Dick give away a suspicion that he’s about to rip him a new one—during our evenings, Nora told me how Roman is protective of everyone in the diner, especially his own kid.
I don’t know Karina at all, but during those few times I’ve seen her, she’s always tried to stand up for Nora. And this is how I find myself standing up and moving to shield her from the dickhead. She automatically goes under my protection.
