“Just another day at the office.”
They changed out of their pajamas, and he drove them to a diner that served breakfast, lunch, and dinner twenty-four hours a day.The packed parking lot promised good food and strong coffee.Exactly what they needed.
They slid into a booth, and a minute later, a waitress popped over, pulled a pen from behind her ear, and, without missing a beat, tossed out oversized menus.“I’m Mauve.What can I get you?”
“Coffee,” they said simultaneously.
“That kind of morning, huh?Got it.What else?”
“Bacon, hash browns, two eggs over easy, and a side of sausage.”Callum flipped the menu over.“Are the desserts any good?”
“The pie’s better than the brownies.Get the potapple.”
“What’s potapple?”she asked.
“Potapple pie.Think if sweet potato pie and apple pie had a baby pie.Potapple.It started as an experiment when Eddie, back in the kitchen, had a little bit of filling left from each but not enough to make a whole pie.Bam.Potapple.Bestseller.”
“I’ll have that too.But first…” She stared at all the choices and ran smack into decision paralysis.“How about…”
“Don’t want what your man’s having?”
Did they really look like they belonged together?“He’s not my man.”
“Matter of time.”Mauve shrugged.“I’d fall over dead from clogged arteries if I ate that at once, but he looks like he can handle it.”
“I’ll have the whole-wheat pancakes and fruit salad.”
Mauve snickered.“Gotta balance him out.Got it.All right.Give me a minute, and I’ll bring over a fresh pot of coffee.”
“Awfully quick to say I’m not your man,” he said when they were alone.
Grace’s chin shot up.“You’re not.”
“Didn’t say I was.Just noting your light-speed-like clarification.Especially considering what we were on our way to do before we were interrupted.”
She could already feel her cheeks heating.“Interrupted?We were attacked.”Though it astounded her how casually he could discuss them when she couldn’t even wrap her head around him wanting to kiss her.“Besides, sex doesn’t make youmy man.”
He looked like she’d issued him a challenge.“Doesn’t it?”He winked.“It sure as fuck would make you my woman.”
A full-body shiver ran from her head to her toes and left her speechless.
Mauve returned with their coffees.
Grace shut her jaw after realizing it was hanging open.She needed coffee before replaying what he had just said.Callum was offering everything she ever wanted, and she simply couldn’t process it.
Mauve brought the syrup and broke the trance Callum had on Grace.
She took a sobering breath and tried to pivot the conversation.“Why don’t you think Dominic did it?”
He flicked a sugar packet back and forth between his fingers without opening it.“I didn’t say that.”
“You saidifit was his people.Who else would it be?”
“That’s one hell of a question.Got any ideas?”
“No.”She tugged on the long-sleeved shirt that covered her cat scratches.“Do you?”
He slowly shook his head as if someone else might actually be behind the fire.“Vivian found Alicia a nice rental house that will take the dogs and Sherlock.”
