“What do you mean?”
“That cupcake was damn close to living up to the hype.” He smirked. “But not quite better than sex.”
Maggie hummed, her lips curling upward coyly. “No, I think the name is perfect.”
Luke leaned in with a growl. “Do you, now? Maybe we should go back to your place so I can show you it’s not.”
She shook her head, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. “That won’t prove anything, silly.” Tilting her head so she whispered right into his ear, she explained, “Making love is different from having sex. And the cupcake lives up to its name.”
Her emerald eyes sparkled as she waited for his reply. Luke pursed his lips to hide his grin. “Very well. I concede.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and whispered, “Nothing beats making love to you.”
“Get a room, you two.” Mom slid into the booth across from them, leaning her cane against the wall.
“We were just discussing that.” Luke waggled his eyebrows.
Maggie smacked him playfully on the arm. “Later. I’m too full, and it’d be rude to leave before I find out who wins a month of services from Your Watson.”
Luke wrapped an arm around his girl’s shoulders and settled into the booth. “I’ll hold you to it.”
Deb Graham was looking around in awe at their friends and neighbors who’d gathered to raise money for her medical care. The most surprising were the out-of-town folks, tourists who had loved The Busy Bee during their visits. They’d heard about Mom’s injury through Maggie’s social media posts and came out in droves to participate. Maggie had even figured out how to set up a form so people could purchase tickets online in advance. The town mall across the way had turned into an impromptu picnic area, with takeout spaghetti and meatballs.
Even the Mayor was in line for dinner.
Mom hadn’t avoided surgery, but she was on the mend now. “How was physical therapy?” Luke asked her.
She grumbled. “Damn sadist is going to kill me.”
“He’s just trying to get you back to the kitchen you love, Deb.” Maggie reminded her.
“Yeah, I need to get back there so this one can go learn his new job.” Deb patted his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m doing my exercises and everything.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “I have enough time to study and work the line, Mom.” He was taking online classes to prepare himself for the civil service exam. Frankly, he should be able to pass without them, but wanted to refresh his memory. An FBI agent transitioning to parole agent might turn some heads, but he wasn’t the only fed who got burned out. Most of his training would be on-the-job, and Gabe had all but promised him an opening with the county.
“Still. I need to hire more help. Now that school’s out I should be able to find some high school kids that want to make money for college.”
He raised his can of soda to her. “Sounds like a plan.”
Gamenighthadrolledaround once more, one of Felix’s favorite nights of the week. The only thing that topped it was when he and Grace met at his place to watchHouse of the Dragon.
His best friend from school was his neighbor again, having moved back home to help his mother. Luke had quit the FBI to train as a parole agent. While Felix knew his friend was taking a massive pay cut, the other things he was gaining made Felix jealous.
Namely, his relationship with Maggie.
Felix wasn’t jealous because he wanted Maggie. No, she was all Luke’s. But he’d give his first editionDungeons & Dragonsrule books for Grace to look at him the way Maggie looked at Luke.
Like right now, as they entered Underhill Books and Games.
“Hey, guys! You ready to rob a lich?”
“I hope so.” Maggie leaned into Luke’s shoulder. “By the way, Felix, we should get started on your social media soon.”
Felix sighed and pushed his glasses back up his nose. He’d had the lucky ticket for a month of Maggie’s services at Deb Graham’s basket dinner fundraiser last month. “Come in tomorrow during business hours and we’ll talk.” More business couldn’t hurt. The boxes were getting a bit dusty. And he’d been tossing ideas around for events with Grace last week, and she’d suggested a small gaming convention of sorts. Social media would be a good way to get the word out about those.
“Head on down, guys, I’ll be right there.”
Grace strolled down the sidewalk, her dark hair flowing like melted chocolate. Felix leaned against the counter at the perfect angle to watch her without her knowing he was creeping on her.
Sometimes he let himself daydream that she was his.
