“I’ve got five on Maxie.”
They shook on it, but then met each other’s eye.“Roxie,” they agreed.
“Somebody say my name?”she asked.
“Just wondering what you wanted for breakfast.”Zac gestured to the counter.“It’s on me.”
“Why thank you, Sheriff Sexy.”She patted him on the chest and arched an eyebrow at Cam before stepping up to order.
Maxie went next, and Becky was waiting when Zac arrived.The coffee maven’s curls were as bouncy as ever, but tame compared to her wild look from the day before.“Good morning, Spider Man.How’s our town hero today?”
He shook his head.Trust the rumor mill to already have that circulating.“I’m fine, but let’s stick with Sheriff Ford.”
“Better than fine, I’d say.”She beamed.“The regular?”
He barely stopped himself from wincing.“Let’s make it orange juice and a blueberry muffin today.”He nodded at the register as she totaled up the orders.“I hear that the cashbox case was solved and you got your money back.”
Her expression turned serious.“Thanks to you and Deputy Hanson.”
“And Maxie, she’s the one who spotted the kids.”He pulled out his wallet.“Hanson said that none of you wanted to press charges.Are you sure about that?”
“Well, those kids will be paying us in other ways.One parent has already made arrangements for his little monster to wash dishes here for a month.”
“That will teach them the value of a dollar.”Lexie laid her hand on Cam’s arm.“Could you order a coffee and an apple tart for me?”
She excused herself to the ladies’ room while the rest of them found a table.Martin came in about that time with eagerness lighting his face.He smiled when he saw Becky at her appointed position behind the counter.
“I don’t know why those two don’t just get it on,” Roxie muttered.
Maxie cocked her head.“Becky and Martin?You think so?”
Her sister shrugged, not looking entirely comfortable.“Sometimes best friends make the best lovers.”
Zac grunted.He was all for that.Anything to keep the too-friendly old schoolmate away from his girl.
Martin saw them from across the room and waved.“Hi, Maxie.Hey, coz.”
“Hey, back at ya,” Roxie said with a wink.
“Lexie?”he guessed.
“Roxie.”
He let out a frustrated sound.“I’ll get it right one of these days.”
She laughed.“Not if we have anything to say about it.”
They were all smiling when Becky arrived with their orders.She set down their drinks first, followed by their pastries.Maxie’s eyes rounded when she saw the funnel cake placed on the table in front of Roxie.Apparently, they’d sold so well at Park Art, Becky had put them on the regular menu.
“That’s huge,” Maxie said.
Roxie rubbed her hands together in delight.“I’ve been wanting one of these for the past two days.”She tore off a chunk and took a bite.She closed her eyes and moaned in delight.“These small-town shindigs are where it’s at.”
She reached for her coffee, and Zac flinched.He grabbed for the cup instinctively.“I wouldn’t—”
Maxie sucked in a breath.“Oh, careful—”
They were both too late.Roxie came up sputtering after her first sip.She snatched up her napkin and wiped her mouth as if trying to get something off.“Oh my God!”Her tongue worked like a dog that’d just had peanut butter.She looked around, desperate for something to clear the taste from her mouth.Maxie passed her some tea, but from the expression on Roxie’s face, the tastes didn’t combine well.“Oy-zun.”She pointed at the coffee cup.“She tried oo oy-zun me.”
