Page 48 of Rockstar Baby

I didn’t like family scenes, and Happy Acres pretty much screamed family. Hayrides, for feck’s sake? It wasn’t autumn, but that wasn’t an activity that stirred me in any case. The spring equivalent was probably riding ponies and looking for Easter eggs.

God save me.

“We could go there to work, if you’d like.” This person speaking was not me. I’d been invaded by a Crescent Cove body snatcher.

Right now, my alien invader was gaining strength from Polly’s sausage. Which sounded wholly inappropriate.

Kellan sat back in the booth, probably to catch his breath. He’d demolished his food in the same amount of time it had taken me to eat some sausage and a few potatoes. I grabbed a piece of bacon and bit in, sighing inwardly. Definitely not Ivy’s bacon either.

I was becoming obsessed with that woman, and it probably wasn’t due to the deliciousness of her pork products.

“Sure.”

“That’s it? No artistic hissy fit about needing your space to compose?”

Kellan tipped back his head and laughed. “I brought some stuff to get your input on, but we’re still in the early phases yet. It was cool that you got to work at the board during our last visit, but we’ll have time for that later. Besides, I wouldn’t mind meeting Ian. Assuming you’d be willing to introduce us.”

So, hedidn’tknow Ian. Yet he’d extended an invitation to stay with him sight unseen. Oh, to have so much faith.

“That could probably be arranged. I should probably check with him before I invite you out. Hang on.” I pulled out my phone and was halfway through typing a text when a flash of red moved past the corner of my eye. My head jerked up and another part of me jerked to life.

It couldn’t be her. A million women had red hair. But not that exact shade. Not those long braids hanging down over her kelly green coat.

The woman walked past our table, not glancing our way at all. I didn’t think. I reached out and snagged her back pocket with two fingers—tearing off the patch of fabric with a rip that seemed to sound through the diner.

Well, hmm, it never happened like that in the movies.

On the positive side, I could now see her underwear, since her pocket had a hole in it. Just a tiny little peek of pink. Christ, I should be jailed.

She whirled, a fist coming up. Her deep brown eyes flared wide and then her mouth dropped open. “Lucky Charms?”

Across from me, Kellan’s expression changed from shock to amusement. “Thank God you know her, because I don’t have enough cash on me for bail.”

“Lucky Charms?” Ivy repeated, stepping forward. Her gaze lingered on my face for a beat too long before dropping to my plate. “You’re eating a big boy breakfast.”

I nodded mutely. This second meeting was not going like I’d planned.

Or hoped.

“That Polly made you,” she said accusingly, and I blinked.

“Sorry?”

Laughter broke out behind our booth and Ivy looked over her shoulder, wrenching her neck to check out her own very fine ass. She sighed. “Least I’m wearing undies,” she said loud enough for half the diner to join in with her laughter.

Even I laughed. This woman was a wonder.

Instead of yelling at me as she had every right to do, she leaned across the booth and wrapped her arms around me in a quick, unexpected hug. I reached up to hold on, shocked at how much I didn’t want to let her go.

She felt right in my arms. I hadn’t realized exactly how perfect until I’d gone four weeks without her.

“Next time,” she said against my ear, “just say hi.” Her tongue flicked over my neck a second before she eased back and was gone.

I cleared my throat and sat back, barely able to resist cupping a hand over the wet spot on my throat—or shifting to alleviate the pressure down below.

Kellan was stirring his coffee, as calm as could be. Neither of us spoke. Then I picked up my phone to complete my text to Ian.

Looked like I’d be inviting someone else to Happy Acres too. If she would be interested in coming.