Page 41 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

“No.” She heaved a disgusted sigh.

“Just think, you get to boss me around all day,” he said.

“You’re right. I will enjoy that.” Her smile almost met her eyes.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll report for work in the morning.”

6

It was still dark whenAnnie pushed aside her covers and climbed out of bed. Henry always said that the early bird caught the worm. Annie wondered if anyone had ever asked the worm how he felt about it? She grimaced at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and thought she had a pretty good idea how he felt.

The three days she’d been closed had put a dent in her business and she needed to recoup her losses. No pressure there. She could only hope her regulars returned with renewed appetites.

The fact that she hadn’t gotten any quality time with the insides of her eyelids the night before was not helping. She’d spent the night chewing on Fisher’s news until her teeth hurt. Her business was being watched by the FBI! By him! He thought someone was laundering money through her shop. Could it be possible? The whole thing seemed surreal.

She thought of everyone who had helped her begin her business and everyone who was involved with the business now. How could one of these people be a criminal? She felt as if she’d been stabbed. Who would have betrayed her trust like that?

Anger replaced hurt. She was going to help Fisher catch whoever was doing this. She wasn’t about to let her business, her dream, be destroyed.

Her emotions for Fisher weren’t as clear. What to do about him? Could she trust him? He’d lied to her. He hadn’t told her he was with the FBI, until he was sure she was innocent. Logically, she understood his reasons, but it still smarted. He had conned her, made her believe that there was something special between them, when he’d really only been spying on her.

She supposed she should be relieved that he believed in her innocence, but somehow it wasn’t enough. When he kissed her, she felt magic, a sense of rightness and belonging. Now she realized he was just very good at his job. He was very good at going undercover. Thankfully, she hadn’t let him under her covers.

That he’d fooled her so completely made her feel like an idiot. She was embarrassed and ashamed. What must he think of her? Not only was someone destroying her business right under nose, but she was falling for the man sent to spy on her as well. He must think she was the biggest chump alive. The realization made Annie cranky. She didn’t like to be anyone’s fool.

The kitchen was dark when she arrived downstairs. Flipping on the light switch, she set to work mixing her first batch of muffins for the day. Cooking had always been therapeutic for her. It kept her hands and her mind busy, not allowing her to dwell on big, stupid FBI men with gorgeous brown eyes and great smiles.

She’d just shoved the first batch of muffins into the oven when Fisher’s head poked around the doorway.

“Good morning,” he said, looking as though he were checking to see if she had any sharp implements in the vicinity. Smart man.

Annie refused to let her inner turmoil show. “Good morning,” she answered, showing r teeth.

“It’s not a very good one for you, is it?” he asked. His voice was full of sympathy and Annie had to look away, afraid she might burst into tears.

“No,” she admitted.