Page 24 of Secrets (Lost and Found 2)

Chi-Chi closed her eyes. “Please, no more.”

Luna began to make their usual coffee when Gaines came into the café.

“Marshal! So nice to see you!” Ellie went over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Likewise.” Gaines smiled.

“Please, everyone grab a seat.” Luna gestured toward one of the café tables.

“Cullen said he’d be by in a few minutes. He had to get an invoice ready for a customer who will be here in an hour.”

“Speaking of invoices. Are you really going to clean out Cullen’s house?” Luna asked, as she was frothing the last cappuccino.

Gaines laughed as the other two women looked on in surprise. “No. Just a couple of things. I also want to take a look at what he’s done lately.”

“I would be happy to advise you, but I have never been invited to your place, so it’s difficult to make recommendations.” Luna was feeling a little brazen this morning as she carried the tray of coffee over to the table.

“Well, we’re going to have to fix that. I can use all the help I can get.” Gaines stood up and took the tray from her.

Was that a real invitation?She wanted to kick herself for even putting a negative spin on his words.Practice what you preach, girlie.She puffed up her chest. “Well, you let me know, and I will bring my sketch pad.” It dawned on her that she might get some crazy vibes from his place.Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.She walked over to the counter, where she had prepared a basket of everyone’s breakfast favorites.

Ellie groaned and gleefully snatched a raspberry scone.

“You’ve been working on your place for quite a while, haven’t you?” Ellie asked.

“Yes, it’s been over eight months. I don’t have a lot of spare time these days.”

“Then you surely need Luna’s expert eye,” Ellie said coyly.

“Really. I would be happy to. Any particular color palette you have in mind?” Luna was quite sincere.

Gaines thought a minute. “Is brown a palette?”

“I do believe you need serious assistance,” Chi-Chi said thoughtfully. “Brown is not a color.”

“Not to you. You are a walking rainbow!” Ellie smiled.

“Every color has a vibration,” Chi-Chi explained.

“Doesn’t brown vibrate?” Gaines asked.

“What do you think of when you hear the color brown?” Chi-Chi asked Gaines. “Shoes? Dirt?”

Gaines flashed a big smile. “I see your point. OK, how about blue? Navy?”

“What colors do you have in your house now?” Luna asked.

“Brown sofa. Brown floors. Brown kitchen cabinets. Brown wall paneling.”

“So you were serious?” Chi-Chi seemed surprised.

“I was. But that doesn’t mean I like it.” Gaines clarified his earlier statement. “It’s the original stuff that was in the house when I bought it. Except for the couch. That was from my basement.”

“I think someone should declare a state of renovation emergency.” Ellie clapped her hands together with delight.

There was a moment of awkward silence when Gaines took the next step. “I have Carter this weekend, and the following I have a seminar. How is three weeks from now?”

“I’ll need someone to cover for me here.” Luna was between elation and panic.