That started a long conversation about my time on a Colombian coffee farm and the popup shops I’d done to build a customer base for my shop.
I became wrapped up in the conversation talking about my favorite topic as of late. But now and again, I would catch sight of Brutus. While most of the time, his gaze lingered on me, I would often see him surveying the room. He was doing that scanning thing of his where he was assessing everyone he saw. Try as he might take a night off, he was in his protector mode.
But not once did I feel like he paid more attention to security issues than to me.
“Brutus, can we talk to you for a minute?” Joseph asked about thirty minutes after we arrived.
I didn’t need to know Joseph well to hear in his voice that this was a private matter. He was asking to speak to Brutus alone.
My man’s eyes dropped to me. I felt his reluctance to leave me. Indecision warred in his eyes.
“It’s okay,” I said to him in a low voice. “You’re needed.”
With a pinch in his lips, he lowered and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll be back ASAP.”
CHAPTER23
Mia
Brutus’ ASAP turned out to be longer than expected. More than twenty minutes had passed since Joseph called him away. Yet, I didn’t feel out of place among the invitees who attended the gala.
“Wait, what’s the name of your shop?” Kayla asked after I’d spent almost all of that time describing how to make the perfect cup of coffee.
“Cup of Joy,” I answered proudly.
“Perfect,” Destiny said.
“What’s perfect?” a deep voice said out of nowhere.
The two couples in front of me parted to reveal Aaron Townsend and his wife, Patience. I’d seen pictures of the couple in a few business articles. While the Townsends kept their personal lives as private as possible, there were pictures of the couples at fundraiser events.
“This is Mia,” Tyler introduced.
“Brutus’ Mia?” Patience asked, excited. Her brown eyes widened. “It’s nice to meet you finally.” She went to shake my hand, but a grunt from her side stopped her
My eyes landed on Aaron as he remained scowling. There wasn’t a hint of a smile to be found on his face. This man was almost as intimidating as Brutus … no, maybe more so, though he didn't hold Brutus’ height or physicality.
Patience made a tutting sound and waved a dismissive hand in her husband’s direction. “Pay him no mind. He’s still angry that our oldest son beat him in a basketball game this week.”
“He cheated,” Aaron nearly snarled.
Patience rolled her eyes again, looking exasperated, as she stuck her hand out for me. “Nice to meet you.”
“So,” Tyler said, slapping Aaron on the shoulder, “your old ass is finally getting schooled by the kid, huh?”
Almost everyone laughed, apparently unbothered or used to Aaron’s demeanor.
“Wait until those triplets are running circles around you on the football field,” Aaron shot back.
That caused Tyler’s smile to drop.
But Destiny cackled. “I tell him every day.”
Tyler pulled his wife into his arms and whispered something in her ear. While I couldn’t hear what he said, I could imagine since Destiny’s eyes glossed over. I was sure that if she were a few shades lighter, I would’ve been able to spot her cheeks turn crimson from whatever he’d whispered.
Also, I didn’t miss the possessive way Aaron wrapped his arm around his wife’s body as soon as she was back by his side. He continued to look on at me in an assessing manner. I would’ve grown uneasy if it wasn’t for the rest of the family.
“Let me introduce you to Donnell. He loves coffee,” Kayla offered, taking me by the arm as we made our way around the large room.
