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Kate caught the joke. “You must say that toeveryone who walks in here at some point.”

“First time, actually.” Autumn offered a winkalong with that lie.

“How’s the foot?” Kate asked.

“Good as new.”

Kate sent her a skeptical look, and Autumnsoftened. “Okay, it hurts a little when I walk with any real purpose, but itgets better by the hour. A minor sprain.”

“Pay close attention to it. If you notice thepain spike, let me know. After that, call for a doctor’s appointment.”

“I will do that.” Autumn stared at her. “Ithink I just got lectured.”

Kate nodded. “It’s rare, but it happens.Sorry about that.”

Autumn shook her head. “You have nothing toapologize for. It’s nice that you care. Let me guess,” she said, scooping up amug, “whatever is fresh?”

“You’re good at your job.”

“And you’re charming.”

She watched Autumn make her coffee withprecise turns and fluid flicks of her wrist. It was the perfect coffee balletthat left her feeling homey, and impressed, and infatuated. A combo she’d neverquite experienced.

“Joining me today?” Kate asked, inclining herhead to the table they’d shared a few days back.

Autumn offered a sly smile. “I would love to,but I had to let one of my employees go this morning, and I’m down a workerthis shift.”

“Sounds dire.”

“If you have any affinity for cottonwhatsoever, it certainly was.” Autumn began wiping down the counters. Sheworked hard to keep the shop in tip-top shape, that much Kate had picked up on.Autumn took a lot of pride in Pajamas, and it made sense. The coffee wasoutstanding. The atmosphere was unique. The vibe was friendly. She’d createdsomething pretty awesome.

“Then tonight.” She didn’t phrase it as aquestion. The day had been rough for her so far, but Autumn was like a drug.She made things better.

“I’m sorry?”

“Let’s get out of here. Together. Show mesomewhere unique to LA. You choose.”

Autumn tossed the towel onto her shoulder andher eyes sparkled. “Done.”

“That was easy.” Kate leaned up on her toesand then back. Nerves swirled fast and furious as she second-guessed theimpulsive invitation. Maybe it was best to just keep to herself while she washere. Because Autumn was a thread that, if she pulled on hard enough, couldunravel into something she wasn’t in any position to handle. She’d come here tosimplify things, not add to what was already on her plate. “I’ll swing by hereat seven,” she heard herself say, in betrayal of rational thinking.

“Seven thirty, and I’ll pickyouup. I happen toknow where you live.” She pointed at her own face after hearing the words outloud. “Not a stalker.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “If you say so.” Shehanded Autumn a five. “Keep the change, and pay attention to that foot today.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

It was a title she’d heard a million times,but it sounded different coming from Autumn’s lips and sent her a surge ofenergy followed by a noticeable shiver. She didn’t mind the shiver.

As she walked the short distance home, analarm bell sounded. Wait. What the hell did she just do? Yes, Autumn wasbeautiful and had a firm grasp on her attention, but she should swallow theovert chemistry and save herself the inevitable headache. She should. Shouldn’tshe?

Kate was unavailable, plain and simple. Evento herself.

Yet she’d lost her head and gone and askedsomeone on a date? What was wrong with her? She closed her eyes and refocusedon how to take back control.

Okay, okay. She could do this. So she wasflying without a net and would need to resolve that quickly. Easy enough. She’dlevel with Autumn. Put it all out there and apologize if she’d been unclear.Didn’t mean they couldn’t spend a nice evening together and give her thedistraction she sought. She needed to get out, and Autumn was about the onlyperson who could capture her attention and distract her from the train wreck ofmemories holding her captive.

She needed tonight. She needed Autumn.