Page 32 of Prospect Year

“Absolutely not,” London snapped. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. There’re plenty of rooms when someone else comes in. I understand you want to be independent. And there is no problem for you to be on your own. Why rent a place when you have this? When you head back to Texas, then you can find a place and pull your things from storage.”

What? Surely, London had misunderstood Mia. Lola stood and walked toward the coffee maker.

“Who’s moving?” Lola asked, strolling past them.

London narrowed her eyes on Lola, popping her fists on her hips. “Are you harassing my friends?”

“Whoa now,” Lola threw his hands in the air, “I did nothing.”

Mia shook her head.

“See, I’m innocent.” Lola grinned and returned to refilling his mug. “Need help moving something?”

“Mia is just thinking ahead to when she returns to Texas,” London informed him, not going into detail.

Lola moved around the island to stand near Mia and London. His eyes widened and he held his chest. “I know you’re not leaving me.” He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind Mia’s ear. “Nobody makes me midnight tea and sits with me like you do. Not to mention all those indecent thoughts we’ve talked about.”

Before his last word left his mouth, her hands began moving so fast, London narrowed her focus on her hands. Lola stepped back and also focused on the message Mia was relaying to London as if he were not there. He raised his mug smiling behind the rim.

“Aw,” escaped London quietly as she “listened” to Mia. Then she turned toward Lola. “This is private.”

“I gathered that when she began all this stuff.” He wiggled his fingers in the air, playfully mocking her sign language.

London crossed her arms. “Then how do you two communicate?”

“I’m a perfect prospect. I leave the women alone, focusing on the club only.”

“Oh, please,” London huffed.

“But, when we do cross paths,” Lola teased, glancing toward Mia as he finished his thought, “when we do, I just read her mind.” Noting the color begin to rise above the high collar she was tugging on, he winked.

“Get out,” London demanded.

“Problem?” Rash asked, stepping back into the room.

“Take him with you,” London told Rash without looking away from Lola’s smug grin.

“Are you harassing my prospect?” Rash accused London, hands on his hips.

“He's harassing my friend,” she corrected, now standing face to face with her husband.

Without taking his gaze from his wife, he asked, “Lola, what did you do?”

“Once again,” Lola began, “I’m a perfect prospect. I leave the women alone focusing on the club only. Not my fault she has indecent thoughts of me.”

Mia’s mouth dropped open, and London crossed her arms again.

“You having indecent thoughts about my prospect, woman?” Rash asked London, keeping his features serious.

“Not me!”

“Oh, so, you’re encouraging this young lady to be indecent and corrupting her? I may just have to take you over my knee,” Rash informed London with a tilt of his head and a glint in his eye.

London laughed shaking her head. “Get out of the kitchen and take your side kick with you. We need to finish cooking.”

Grabbing a plate of cookies that London had just taken from the box, Rash flashed a grin toward her. “You gals know where we are when that image isn’t enough.” London shoved Rash toward the door, where Lola followed him.

***

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