Page 56 of My Casanova

She looked around nervously, then took another small step closer. “Yes.”

My stomach tightened. Something was wrong. Had Boone and Gibbs gotten to her? Was something wrong with the shop? “What is it?” I demanded.

Dani exhaled shakily. “You didn’t call me, and I don’t want a hummingbird.”

I blinked and tried to process her words. Not calling her. Okay, I got that. But a hummingbird?

“I want Casanova.”

“Angel,” I started, but she cut me off.

“And I want that, too. I want to be your Angel.” She motioned around the common room. “And I don’t care whoknows it. I know you and I just started, but I’m not wanting it to end anytime soon. I want my puffin.”

Sloane cleared her throat from the card table. “I don’t mean to interrupt what I think is a romantic moment, but I have to ask if maybe you dipped into the wine samples before you came over.”

“Did she say puffin?” Dove asked from behind the bar. “I can’t quite hear back here.”

“I’m going to Google this,” Olive announced and was already typing. “Why would you want a puffin?” she mumbled.

Dani laughed nervously. “I guess I do sound a bit tipsy. I was talking to Stan before I came over.”

“Oh,” Adalee and Fallon said in unison.

“I could see how things could get crazy when you talk to him,” Adalee said with a grin. “He is the keeper of the stinky cheese.”

Fallon wrinkled her nose. “Odd.”

“Puffins mate for life. They are also mongooses.” Dani frowned. “Oops, I mean monogamous.” She glanced down at the drink Poppy handed her. “How strong did you make this?”

“Strong, but you haven’t even taken a sip yet,” Poppy laughed. She finished the drink for Dani and handed it to her.

Dani took a cautious sip and looked pleasantly surprised. “That’s delicious.”

Poppy grinned. “I know.” She waved her hand. “Carry on with the hummingbird and puffin talk.”

Olive, still typing, muttered, “Why don’t you want to be a hummingbird?”

“Does anyone else think this shit is weird?” Aero asked.

Sloane shushed him. “This is great info for Winter. I should be taking notes.”

“I think Winter has plenty of stories to write without you emailing her everything we say,” Cue Ball muttered.

Sloane rolled her eyes. “She asks me to send her this stuff, and for your information, I’m not going to email this to her. We are going to Frisco in a couple of months to see her at the next Motorcycle, Mobsters, and Mayhem book signing.”

“Oh hell no,” Pirate called. “You are not dragging me to that bullshit again.”

Sloane scoffed. “I wasn’t asking you to come. I figured Aero and I could go together. That is where we met.”

Aero leaned toward Sloane and pressed a kiss to her lips. “We can go, baby. We can reenact us meeting.”

Dove pointed at Cue Ball. “That is where we met too, but I’m pretty sure we hated each other back then.”

Cue Ball nodded. “Yeah, we did.”

“Hummingbirds have a highly specialized diet and constantly need nectar,” Olive announced. She looked up. “Girl, do you have stomach problems?”

Dani tilted her head. “Um, no.”

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