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“This is the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.”

“Thank you.” She took a seat, basking in thecompliment. It wasn’t even close to the first time she’d heard that sentence,but hearing it from Kate, who she was blatantly lusting after, brought a bonusshiver. She took a sip of her own coffee, a cappuccino that would hopefully seeher through the afternoon, and watched Kate, who didn’t seem to mind. Shestared back at Autumn as the air between them danced with a combination ofelectricity and anticipation. It only took a moment before she realized thatstudying Kate might be her new favorite pastime. Kate’s full bottom lip andperfectly formed eyebrows—most likely God given—snagged her attention first,followed by the way her ponytail rested on her shoulder. She had a feeling Katedidn’t have to do too much with her hair. She was just blessed with the kind ofthick, dark, and beautiful tresses that probably tumbled into place when shestood up from bed each morning. The hazel eyes were guarded, though. That muchwas clear. Autumn wondered what was behind them, and what one would have to doto find out.

“So, what’s your secret?” Kate said,gesturing to the coffee. “To the vibrant flavor. It comes right through.”

“I can’t tell you that. You might open up acoffee shop next door, call it the Dog’s Business Suit, and I’d be out ofluck.”

Kate grinned. “I wasn’t planning on it, butnow I’ll think it over.”

Autumn smiled, trying to figure her out.“You’re a mystery, Kate. But I’m immune to mysteries.” They both knew shewasn’t, that Kate had her attention. There was an underlying flirtation to theway they spoke to each other. Eye contact that went on far too long, banterthat said they enjoyed the back and forth, and then there was that unspoken,unseen energy that radiates between people who are drawn to each other. Theydefinitely had that last part.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’reeven prettier up close.” Kate sat back in her chair.

“How could I take that the wrong way?”

Kate glanced at the ceiling and back. “Idon’t know. Might be crossing a line. We don’t really know each other yet.”

Theyetwas not lost on Autumn. Theyetcame with so many fun possibilities.

“It’s not crossing a line,” Autumn said,feeling daring for the first time in a while. “And thank you for what you said,but I’m not sure I can hold a candle to a mysterious out-of-town firefighter.”

Kate offered a small smile, the kind thatmattered. Most of Kate’s smiles did—that much Autumn could already tell. Shedidn’t throw away her smiles. While only occasional, they seemed sincere. “Buthere’s the thing I don’t get.”

“And what is that?” Autumn asked.

“Why you agreed to have coffee with me.Unless…”

“What?” Autumn said, enjoying this.

“Unless we have a thing happening. We do,don’t we?”

Autumn held her thumb and forefingertogether. “Little bit. I think.”

“Then I should come back tomorrow. Get morecoffee.” She took another sip, her eyes never leaving Autumn’s. Her demeanornever far from calm, measured. “Ask you more questions.”

“You haven’t asked me any questions.”

“That’s next. Favorite hobby?” She ran herthumb across the handle of the mug.

Every little detail had Autumn captivated.That’s how intrigued she was by Kate, how infatuated. “Knitting, but I neverhave time for it.” She still owed her friends a variety of promised hats,scarves, and blankets. “As you can see, I’m utterly boring. I don’t evenparticipate in my own hobby.”

Kate leaned in. “There is nothing about youthat’s boring, okay?”

Autumn nodded. Her heart was crazilypounding, having moved into her throat, and her stomach fluttered pleasantly.It’s possible other parts of her…warmed. “Okay,” she managed. “Not boring.”

Kate shook her head. “Nope. I’ll come backtomorrow,” she said, and took another sip of her coffee. “We can talk more.”Without another word, Kate stood and walked away. Stunned by the over-the-topsparks she’d just experienced, it took her a moment to wake the hell up so shecould turn in time to watch Kate walk away, and God was she glad she didn’tmiss that very satisfying opportunity. If Kate’s thick hair, gorgeous lips, andhazel eyes weren’t enough, her body was unreal.

“Help me, Father, for I have sinned,” shemumbled and fanned herself. “And I’m pretty sure there’ll be more sinning tocome.”

* * *

John Grisham was a dick. Though Kate hadnever been a huge reader, her vacation to sunny LA had her wondering why she’dnot devoted more time to books. Randy loved ’em. Started a whole business intheir honor. Blew through them like candy when they were kids as Kate focusedon girls, cross country, and…girls. But this Grisham guy had her eating out ofthe palm of his hand like a little bitch. It annoyed her how vulnerable she wasto his plot twists.

“Something has you incredibly stressed out,”Hadley said, as she approached with a friend.

Kate lifted the book and squinted against thesun that haloed the two. They wore shorts, T-shirts, and fashionable-lookingsunglasses. Very LA. “Yeah. There’s this law firm, and these funds in theCayman Islands, and I don’t know if they’re gonna make it in time, right? I’msweating it out. I’ve never been a book person, but because of Grisham I mightbe. I hate him for that.”

Hadley laughed. “Preaching to the choir asfar as books are concerned. They’re my drug of choice. Need a break? I hearespionage can be taxing. Oh, and this is Gia. She lives next door to me. We’reheaded to the beach.”