Page 98 of The Forever Rule

“It’s what I do. Thanks for the coffee, Melody. And it’s nice to meet you, Blakely.” He glared over my shoulder. “Aston.”

Aston narrowed his gaze at the other man. “I wasn’t aware we actually were introduced.”

Weston just winked, though his eyes weren’t filled with humor. “I’ll bring the twins by a little later?” he asked.

“Of course. Now get to work. And I’m going to introduce this Cage to what he’s been missing.”

Weston grunted, and headed out, as everyone else went back to their coffees, and I finally took a look at the menu.

“You have an iced coffee tasting?” I asked, as I clapped my hands in front of me. “We just had a very large pasta lunch, and yet, I’m going to need this.”

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an iced coffee tasting,” Aston said softly beside me.

“They’re not that uncommon at smaller places. You’re not going to see something like this at a chain, of course, as soon as they hear about it and figure they can make money, they’ll hop right on the train and ruin it,” Melody grumbled.

“So you don’t want the Caged Bean to be a nationwide phenomenon that spreads the name all over the country?” Aston asked, and I bumped his side with my elbow.

“You know who can make that happen,” I said with a laugh.

Aston gave me a look, and I blinked innocently up at him.

Melody however, just shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m sure the Cages are spreading enough around.”There was something in her tone though that worried me, but I couldn’t tell exactly what she meant by that.

Aston’s laughter cooled ever so slightly, but then he cleared his throat. “So we just pick our favorite four?”

“Yes, sir. Now have fun.”

“Oh, I’m sure we will,” I said softly, as I looked down at the options. “So what are we going to have?”

“And you want to share something with me?” he asked, his voice a purr.

I swallowed hard, aware we were in public. “If you’d like.”

“Let’s share something, and then head up to the lake.” Again, his tone. This felt like a whole new side of Aston. Like he was trying. Trying what, I didn’t know, but I was so in over my head.

I cleared my throat and went through the options with Aston, both of us keeping it light, trying to breathe.

In the end we had a toffee nut latte, a Belgian waffle latte, a lucky latte that had actual Lucky Charms inside it, and a strawberry and rose flavored latte that tasted much better than it sounded. After we left the place and said our goodbyes, we walked back to the car, and I felt beyond full.

“I have way too much energy now, thanks to all that caffeine, and I probably shouldn’t have had the breadsticks and then a tray of coffees.”

Aston kissed the top of my head, and my stomach fluttered. “Well, looks like we’re going to have to work that off.”

I blinked up at him. “Is that the line you’re goingwith?” I asked, although something did tighten deep inside.

“It’s not a line. It’s a promise.”

And then he pressed his lips down to mine, right where everyone could see, and I felt claimed, needed.

I took a step back, my breathing quickening. “Show me your house? We can look at the rest of the town and the lake later.”

And with that, promise sizzling between us, we practically ran to his SUV.

I might’ve been able to notice the beautiful architecture, the trees and path around the lake. But my pussy throbbed, and I pressed my thighs together, trying to focus, and yet nothing was calming.

“I’ll show you the area, the trees, the resort, everything later.”

“I’m okay with that.”

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