“So, it’s working out?”
“I haven’t pissed anyone off.”
“Hugh still doesn’t come here.”
“Another gift from fate,” she said as she slid my drinks to me. “Have fun with whatever you’re getting into. Though, it’s you, so I doubt it’s anything too wild.”
“Yeah, you know me.” I tried to sound convincing, but I wasn’t sure it landed when Kelsey tilted her head at me. “Anyway, gotta go!” I grabbed both drinks and nearly ran.
As I turned the corner, I saw Dean at his truck. He was balanced on one of the wheel wells, grabbing wiring out of the bed.
I got the pleasure of seeing his thick arm flex, and my body immediately responded. Suddenly, I was grateful for the cool air.
“Hey,” I said as I got close.
He saw me and did a double take. “Grace?”
“Yep. It’s me. I’m trying to solve a mystery this morning and I’m hoping you can help me.”
Dean hopped down and put the wiring on the ground. “What kind of mystery?”
“You see, I had this stair that was loose. And suddenly it’s not, and I’m trying to find the very kind fairy who did it.” I held up the extra cup. “Whoever did it gets free coffee.”
“Whoever did it doesn’t need a thank-you. It was just the right thing to do. You don’t need to be falling over.” He sounded so different. Instead of the emotionally stunted playboy I’d talked to just the day before, he seemed more real.
I handed over the cup. “I owe you one.”
“You’re not here to yell at me?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Usually when I help someone who insists on doing things herself, it doesn’t go well for me.”
“How many people do you help?” I asked. “I didn’t think you stuck around long enough to.”
He looked to the ground and then back at me. “Not many, admittedly. But my mom is one of them.”
“And she yells at you?”
“Sometimes. It’s usually when she gets money in the mail.” He looked at the coffee and then to me. “I wanted to try Theo’s shop, but I didn’t think I’d get the chance. What did you get me?”
“I actually let him guess.” Now I wondered if I shouldn’t have. “He said you’d like coffee with cream and sugar. Hopefully that’s not too boring.”
“That is my actual order,” he said slowly. “How the hell did he know?”
“He also gave me a recommendation,” I said, holding myown up. “Let’s see if he was right.” I took a sip and had to bite back a moan. “Dammit. He was.”
“Is it really that good?” he asked. “I’ve been to his sister shop, so I have high expectations.”
“Try it and you tell me.”
He lifted the cup to his mouth. The second he got a drink, his eyes rolled back. “Fuck, that’s good.”
And I was blushing again. I really couldn’t handle him saying anything like that around me. I also couldn’t handle him beingniceeither.
Clearing my throat, I smiled. “Glad you like it. And that I could pay you back for the step.”
“You don’t owe me anything for helping you out.”