She’d barely stepped inside when the door opened behind her. “Aspen—”
She spun. “I’m not wearing pantiesora bra.”
One side of Jesse’s mouth lifted. “I know.”
“Youknow, which meansheknows!” She was shout-whispering, but she couldn’t help it.
Jesse crossed the space between them and wrapped his fingers around the lamp. “I’m going to take this before you swing it again and hurt yourself.”
She’d been swinging it? She hadn’t even realized she was still holding it.
He set it on the dresser and turned back to her, his arms slipping around her waist. “With everything going on, I forgot to mention he was arriving today. He got here early, and you were still asleep, so I left you a note on your phone.”
“You left me a note?”
“I did. But I should have woken you before I left. I’m sorry.”
“I swung a lamp at him!” Her cheeks suddenly felt hot again.
He tugged her closer. “Hey. It doesn’t matter. Although, in the future, if you see a stranger in the house, I’d prefer you run.”
“Of course it matters! He’s your best friend and he’s moving to town and now he thinks your girlfriend’s a psycho.”
This time, both corners of Jesse’s mouth lifted, his dimples on full display. “Girlfriend?”
Shit. They hadn’t spoken about what they were.
“Aspen Davies…are you my girlfriend?”
She swallowed as she looked into his beautiful eyes. “Depends…are you my boyfriend?”
“Absolutely I am.” Then he kissed her, and she almost forgot about every embarrassing thing she’d done that morning…almost.
“You sure thecoffee hasn’t gotten better?” Holden asked.
Jesse’s lips twitched. “Nope. This diner has changed hands twice in the last twenty years, and it’s still the same instant shit.”
Aspen leaned forward. “Soon, you’ll be able to get a good coffee at The Tea House.”
“The Tea House?” Holden asked. “I’ve been to Amber Ridge a lot and never knew about a tea house.”
“Hey, I grew up here, and I didn’t know about it,” Jesse added.
“Oh, it’s here,” Aspen said. “And it has amazing pie.”
“I’m not sure—”
“Trust me,” Jesse interrupted. “You want to go for the pie.”
A waitress stopped at their table. “Hi, what can I get everyone?”
They each put in their breakfast order, and Holden was the only one to order coffee.
Jesse lifted a brow at him.
He shrugged. “I need to see for myself if it’s any better.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. So, did the trip over go okay?” He still couldn’t believe his best friend and former teammate was here in Amber Ridge. But it felt so damn good.
