Sam giggles as we all move back to the table and sit. “Oh, but that’s exactly what you did. And I, for one, am proud of you for that.”
“So, if I find him,” I look to Dad, “you aren’t going to try and put a restraining order on him, are you?”
“No, baby girl. Not unless he hurts you.” He pauses for a second, then adds, “If your book is true, then I need to shake that man’s hand, look him in the eyes, and thank him for saving your life.”
***
Rubbing my sweating palms onto my jeans, I take a deep breath.In. Hold. Release.
“Chill out, Esme. Lucy May’s not gonna bite you.”
I’m sitting beside Ashton in a quaint coffee shop-slash-bookstore called Books and Beans intheLucy May’s hometown of Juniper Grove, Mississippi. My all-time favorite author. Ashton picked me up on his way through, and we drove nearlytwo hours north to attend The Sweet Tea Writers Association's quarterly in-person gathering.
“Esme.” Ashton waves a hand in front of my face. I snap to attention, pulling my gaze off the flourishing bird-of-paradise plant sitting on the windowsill by the door.
“I’ve read all her books, Ashton. I’m nervous. She’s like a legend to me.”
Ashton folds his arms across his dark green Henley shirt. The color pops nicely against his tanned skin and brings out the green in his hazel eyes. The familiarity of him eases me, and once more, I’m awestruck that I found a friend in him so quickly.
My said friend, however, is scowling at me. “You only fangirled for a half of a second when it came to me. And that half of a second was an hours-long afterthought.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Really, Ashton? You told me you had a twin who apparently wanted to marry me before I lost my memories and that we both almost died because of some kidnapper. But no, I was supposed to focus on the fact that you’re one half oftheAshton Ashley.”
“He’s always had a bit of an ego when it comes to his stories,” a feminine voice retorts from beside us. My mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water as a curly-haired redhead with hazel eyes and a tremendous amount of freckles on her face stretches out her hand, a toddler wrapping himself around her leg. Lucy May acts as if she doesn’t even notice the boy. “Hi. I’m Lucy Harper. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Esme. Noah went on and on about you. I’m sorry about the memory loss. That sucks.”
Swallowing the starstruck lump in my throat, I grab her hand, and in the process, knock over my coffee, which proceeds to spill all over the table. I yank my hand back, squealing a string of apologies as I hunt down napkins to clean the mess.Where are the napkins in this place?
Just as I move to go check the front counter, the blonde barista walks over carrying a towel. “I got it!” she says, setting to work easily cleaning up my mess.
When she’s done, she kisses Lucy on the cheek. “Good to see you again, Luce.” The barista bends and ruffles the blond hair of the boy still attached to Lucy’s leg. “And good to see you, too, Mr. Andrew Harper. Where’s your twin?”
Andrew roars like a monster as he hollers, “Daddy!”
Lucy laughs, shaking her head. “Patton’s with Stone heading to Dasher Valley. We divided and conquered today. I’m leaving to join my boys after our meeting. Speaking of,” Lucy motions me over. I feel like the Tin Man as I force my joints to work. I’d been standing back, watching the madness unfold with a slack jaw. “This is Esme Jenkins. She’s joining our writing group.”
My heart thuds as I shake the barista’s hand. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. Sorry for the mess.”
The woman waves me off, her bright smile infectious. “It’s no big deal, girl. I’m Emma Jane, by the way. The owner.”
Mortification doesn’t begin to address the feeling that implodes through me. The owner of this place cleaned up after my mess? If this had happened back at Main Street Coffee, Katie would have thrust a mop into my hands and told me to get to work, relishing in the role reversal where she could boss her former teacher around. “Again, I’m so sorry,” I hurriedly state.
Emma Jane waves me off again and then tells Lucy May that she’ll watch Andrew. Lucy thanks her with a hug, and then Emma Jane pries Andrew off his mother’s leg. “Whew, what a start to the meeting,” Lucy says, taking her seat across from me.
“I just watched from afar,” comes a masculine voice from behind me. “Y’all didn’t even see me come in. That was chaotic.”
Lucy and Ashton, at the same time, shout, “Chase!” and jump up. Lucy hugs him like a brother and then Ashton does the bro-pat on his back. I stay firmly seated to not cause any more messes.
“Meet Esme,” Ashton says. I get a good look at the tall, chiseled, lean man. He’s got honey-blond hair and gorgeous dark blue eyes. “Esme, this is Chase Hayes. Also known as Rac—”
“Stop it!” I shout before he finishes as I connect the dots, going over the mental list of Mississippi authors I keep in my head. I cover my mouth with both hands. Everyone laughs as I stare wide-eyed at yet another one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. I drop my hands, making the decision that I couldn’t possibly embarrass myself further. “You’re a guy?”
He shrugs with a smirk, then walks with Lucy to sit across from me and Ashton.
“I feel like I’m in the presence of romance royalty,” I say, still dumbfounded. Emma Jane returns and sets a new iced caramel latte down in front of me before rushing back to a mischievously giggling toddler.
“Never a dull moment when we all meet up,” Ashton says through a wide smile. “Where’s Katy, though? I thought she was flying in.”
“Oh! She texted me this morning and said she woke up late. She said she’s going to sit this meeting out but will join our Zoom one next month.” Lucy shows us the message from Katherine Newcomb.
