“Who else put that blush on your face?”
The acknowledgment burns my face hotter. How humiliating. “You caused a scene strutting in here. The gossips can’t pick their jaws up off the floor.”
His lips quirk to one side. “Nah, they were expecting me.”
“Oh?”
“I’m a sucker for the scones.” He hitches a thumb at the large display case near the front.
A snort escapes me. “I bet you are. That doesn’t explain what you’re doing at my table.”
“You didn’t answer me.” He taps my phone that’s still face down.
“Think I did.”
Byron leans toward me and drops his voice. “Not with what I wanted to hear.”
My brain crackles. Fuck, he’s too close. His cologne is cool and crisp like a winter forest. The fresh scent overpowers the strong aroma of coffee, making my mouth water for an entirely different reason.
I stare at him, getting pulled under the dark surface of his eyes. The shades of brown are warm and inviting. It’s like the comfort of a trusted embrace, as if I know how that feels. Everything else fades away until it’s just me and him in neutral territory. That allows me to regain my composure.
The fluttery expression I give him is coy. “Sorry to disappoint, stud. My answer won’t change. You’re better off with anyone else.”
“What if I… sweeten the deal?” Kinky sex practically drips from Byron’s tone.
I squirm in my chair. Shame is quick to douse the flames. Dammit, he snared me again. He’s undefeated when it comes to me. This man needs to get taken down several notches.
My palm finds his leg under the table, squeezing gently. Byron just about jolts straight out of his seat. I allow my grin to spread at the victory.
“Problem?”
He tugs at his collar. “Just unexpected.”
“Isn’t this what you had in mind?” I drift my touch higher along rigid muscle and worn denim.
Byron rests his hand over mine. “Knock it off.”
My pride shrivels into a raisin. How dare he reject me. I rip myself away from his hovering proximity. My back bumps the wall when I put as much space between us as my corner seat will allow.
A thought occurs to me while I recover my dignity. “Did you know I was here? Or are the scones really that good?”
“I put out an alert on our town’s message board. The responses have been rolling in since you sat down an hour ago.” His shrug isn’t apologetic in the least.
Misguided betrayal threatens to choke me. “They gave you my location?”
“Without batting an eyelash.” He waves at them in gratitude.
And that’s my cue. I begin collecting my things, slugging the last of the delicious latte. Byron’s watchful gaze devours my rushed movements. He leans back in his chair, clearly not planning to leave.
“Got somewhere else to be?”
My legs manage to hold me steady under the weight of the crowd’s scrutiny. “Far away from you and your informants.”
That gets him on his feet. I duck around him, rushing for the door. A solid grip on my elbow slows me down.
“Not so fast, little menace. Do you have a place to stay?” Concern softens his voice.
The fact he overheard that conversation at the wedding needles me. “None of your business.”