Page 21 of Made for Wilde

Koda makes his way to the line and stops behind me. Up close, he smells like pine and something distinctly male that makes my pulse race.

“Morning, Charlotte.” His voice is deeper in the daytime. “Looks like we had the same idea.”

I try to smile naturally, as if I hadn’t spent the night imagining his hands all over my body.

“Great minds think alike, I guess. Though you picked a gloomy day to try this place out.”

He glances toward the windows. His brow furrows.

“Yeah, storm’s rolling in fast. Forecast says it might be a big one.”

“Cooper Heights special.” I’m grateful for the neutral topic. “Beautiful one day, biblical storm the next.”

His lips quirk up, and my eyes fixate on the movement.

“What do you usually get here?” He asks. “Since you’re the expert.”

“The blueberry muffins are non-negotiable,” I reply. “And their coffee is strong enough to wake the dead.”

“Sounds perfect.” His gaze drifts over my face then lingers on my lips for just a heartbeat too long. “I could use some resurrection this morning.”

Heat blooms in my cheeks.

Is he… flirting with me?

We reach the front of the line before I can respond.

“Morning, sunshine.” Lainey Ruins, the diner’s owner, greets me with her usual enthusiasm. “The usual?”

“Please.” I dig in my purse for my wallet. “Large coffee, black, and?—”

“A blueberry muffin.” Koda finishes for me. “Put it on my tab. And I’ll have the same.”

I turn to protest.

“You don’t have to do that. I can pay my own way.”

“I know you can, sweetheart,” Koda replies.

He hands Lainey his credit card without even looking at me.

The endearment makes me blush. When did I stop being “kiddo” or “little Palmer” to him? The casual way he says it, like it belongs on his tongue when he talks to me, makes my stomach flutter with dangerous possibilities.

Lainey raises an eyebrow at us but says nothing as she rings up the order.

We walk to the pick-up counter. A little bubble of awkwardness follows us like a pet. I clear my throat and try to sound casual.

“I didn’t expect to see you at the bottom of the mountain this early.”

I keep my tone light, but I’m hoping he doesn’t notice the way my hands are shaking as I shove them into my jacket pockets.

Koda’s mouth twitches.

“Dana’s got me teaching a beginner boxing class at the gym later. Figured I’d grab breakfast first.”

“A beginner class, huh? That sounds...” I picture him surrounded by suburban moms in workout gear and can’t suppress a smile. “Interesting.”

“That’s one word for it.” His expression turns pained. “They film everything for social media now. If you see me getting humiliated online, just pretend you don’t know me.”