Page 60 of Just Act Natural

“I never eat the leeches.”

Lila’s already sipping at her straw when I sit down across from her. Eyes closed, triumphant smile on her lips, she savors the drink. I have never been so jealous of an inanimate object.

She opens her eyes. “So good.”

I take a drink of mine. The milk tea is pretty good—I’m more of a coffee drinker, but I like the flavor. Then I get one of the tapioca blobs in my mouth. It’s a little disconcerting, but she’s right. It’s got the barest hint of sweetness as I chew. Nothing at all like granddad’s gloppy pudding.

She leans forward, hands braced on the white formica table. “So? What’s the verdict?”

“Not bad.”

Her eager expression falls into an unimpressed glare. “I think you mean it’s incredible.”

I take another sip. “Passable.”

“A party for your tastebuds.”

“Tolerable, I suppose.”

She sits back. Eyes narrowing to slits, she’s frozen in place asshe stares. Five whole seconds tick by. “Did you just quotePride and Prejudice? Or was that completely by accident?”

My smile might be as wicked as hers.

She slaps the table. “That’s a yes. I can’t believe it. I’ve never met a man who’s readPride and Prejudice.”

“You’ve been meeting the wrong men.”

“That’s a fact.” She leans closer to jab a finger into my arm. “But you said it’s ‘tolerable.’ That means you’re secretly intrigued. By the end of the week, you’re going to be all in for this fair drink with the tapioca pearls and fine eyes.”

“I don’t want to think about eyes when I’m chewing these things.”

“You’re a fan now, and I won’t hear anything else.” She takes another happy sip of her drink. “What did you do last night after you dropped me off? Soak in your fancy hot tub?”

“I did. I turned all the lights off and looked up at the stars from the comfort of the jacuzzi.” I decide not to mention the opossum that wandered past in the dark. That might ruin any chance of her joining me there, and a man’s got to have a dream.

“Oh. That actually sounds nice.”

“You’re always welcome.” Probably shouldn’t admit just how welcome.

“Don’t offer because Iwilltake you up on it.”

“That’s why I offered.”

“Okay. It might help my stiff muscles. Is it normal to be this sore after a hike?” She stretches her neck from side to side, and I have to stop myself from staring at all that beautiful skin.

“Of course. You’re not used to carrying so much. It makes sense you’d be sore.”

“Are you sore?”

“Why do you think I got in the hot tub?”

“It’s bad that I’m happy you’re sore too, right?”

I laugh. “Just a little.”

She doesn’t seem all that concerned.

“That’s not the only thing I did last night. I also scrolled throughGenuinely_Lila.”

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