Page 15

It was true. Common Grounds’s games nights were gaining a reputation throughout the Northeast Philly suburbs.

“I’m glad you wandered along,” Sam went on. “Maybe you can help us decide on prizes for costumes, too.”

“I’m happy to help,” I said, settling back in my chair.

It was uncanny. I’d come to Common Grounds in search of Marco so I could apologize for…for what? For liking him and acting on it? That seemed silly now. Silly, but it had led to me sitting at a table with some of the most competent business owners in our little section of Glenside, participating in a meeting to decide on one of the most looked-forward-to community activities of the year.

“And if we have Closed Mondays cater part of the refreshments, we can get them involved, too,” Gilbert said as the meeting wound down about half an hour later.

“I heard the owners are trying to sell that place,” Sam said, frowning.

“That’s a shame,” Gilbert said. “I have a lot of fond memories of that bistro.”

“So do I,” Sam agreed with a smile. “Although I did hear that Emanuel is trying to scrape together the capital to buy it.”

“What, Emanuel that cute server?” Marco asked.

I tensed with worry. No, with jealousy. I could admit my negative emotions when I felt them. Even if I didn’t think Emanuel the cute server was actually my competition.

“If Emanuel is trying to buy it, I think he has competition,” Sam went on. “It’s a popular spot, and that investment firm thing that’s been buying up businesses around here has been sniffing around lately.”

“I hope Emanuel gets it. The last thing we need is for a faceless corporation with a headquarters someplace like New York to be buying up all the local businesses,” Gilbert said, then planted his hands on the table and pushed himself to stand. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I officially declare this meeting adjourned so that I can finish inventory and place an order.”

“Yep,” Sam said, standing as well. “I’ve got payroll to do, since these knuckleheads like to get paid now and then. Can you imagine?” he asked me teasingly, then winked.

Warm fuzzy feelings washed through me, like I was Sam’s friend and a member of the team of local businesses.

Those warm fuzzies fizzled a bit when the two Meyers brothers walked away, leaving me and Marco sitting across the small table from each other, alone.

“I’m glad you stopped by,” he said, reaching for the mug of coffee in front of him. The way he hid his sweet smile by taking a sip was so endearing it made my heart hurt, especially since his blue eyes never left me as he drank what had to be cold coffee.

“I’m glad I stumbled into the meeting, too,” I said, forcing myself to be honest with my feelings, no matter how uncomfortable they might make me.

“You have some great ideas,” Marco said as he set his mug back on the table, staring at it instead of me.

“So do you,” I complimented him in return, then couldn’t think of anything else to say.

We sat in silence like that for a few seconds before Marco dragged his gaze up to meet mine. The air between us was suddenly charged. His look wasn’t the usual innocent enthusiasm that Marco faced the world with, it was something deeper, hotter.

“Have you had any interesting readings on your app from the equipment in my house?” he asked, eyebrows lifting like he was asking a deeper question.

“No, the equipment is out of reach of my phone,” I explained using my honey voice. That was the best I could do in terms of flirting. “I need my phone to be near the detectors so they can download all the information collected.”

“Oh,” Marco said, nodding. “Then it sounds like your phone needs to come back over to my house sometime soon to gather all that information.”

The corners of my mouth tweaked up. “My phone definitely needs to do that. It was impressed with your house and the work you’ve done on it so far, especially the kitchen. And the bedroom.”

I caught my breath over how outrageously flirty I was being. It wasn’t like me at all.

But maybe it actually was like me and I’d just never had a chance to express that side of myself until now.

“I would be more than happy to give your phone a more thorough tour of the house,” Marco said, eyes dancing with mischief. “And I’d love to cook for it again.”

I relaxed into a laugh and leaned back in my chair, stretching my legs under the table. I accidently on purpose brushed the side of Marco’s leg. “I’d like that. I mean my phone would,” I said, grinning at him.

“Then it’s a date,” Marco said. “I mean, for your phone. Polo will be glad to see it again.”

“Oh, so now my phone and your dog are in a relationship?”