Page 46 of Hearts Like Hers

“You slept with her,” Gia said. Her intuitionnever failed to surprise Autumn.

“Yesss,” she said, drawing the word out asshe scrambled to figure out how to explain that particular detail. “But it’snot going to happen again. We’re both in agreement there.”

“And things were…better there, too?”

Heat spread across her skin at the memory ofthat night. Her stomach dipped. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

Gia took a moment and sent Autumn a look ofhesitation. “I suck at advice. This is more Hadley’s area.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You happen to bethe best listener I know.” She stole a glance at Steve to make sure he had thecounter under control, as Simon-the-Nodder had emailed that he was sick,apparently sticking to that vow of silence and avoiding a simple phone call.Satisfied all was well, she turned her full focus to Gia. “Lay it on me. Forthe good or bad. I don’t care. What’s your take?”

Gia rolled her shoulders. “Okay. I knowyou’re set on having this baby right now, but I’d hate to see you miss out onwhat’s right in front of you.”

Autumn took a moment with the comment. “Andyou think that might be Kate?”

She shrugged. “I guess I’m just wondering ifyou think so and are just too far down the parent road to say so?”

“If you think what about Kate?” a familiarvoice asked. Autumn turned to see Kate herself standing just a few feet fromtheir table, which sent her into recovery mode. No. Scratch that.Overkill-recovery mode—the ridiculous behavior that strikes when one is tryingto cover their stupid guilty tracks.

“I was just asking Gia here if she thoughtyou’d be good, uh,” her eyes scanned the room for help, “working behind thecounter.”

Gia, who was apparently better atstorytelling, didn’t miss a beat. “Told her you’d be great. How could you notbe? You’re great at everything.”

“You want to hire me?” Kate asked.

“No. No!” Autumn said, now sounding reallyover the top with way too much animation in her voice. “That would be silly.”She took a moment to laugh like a lunatic. “We just had an employee call insick. Sorry, email in sick. And I thought, who could help out? Maybe Kate fromnext door could, but it was just a passing thought. I’m over it now. Over it!”She smiled and waved it off in a big, stupid gesture she hated herself for.

Kate glanced at the counter and back at Autumn.“I can help.”

“You’ll need an apron,” Gia said and took along, last swallow of coffee and headed for the door. “You two have fun.”

Autumn stared after her, jealous of theescape.

Kate looked around. “Show me the way to theaprons, then.”

“You know what?” Autumn shook her head. “I’vechanged my mind. We can handle it. You probably just want to grab a cup and getback to your book, or your sexy truck.” Kate raised an eyebrow and Autumncontinued to ramble. “I mean yourregulartruck, or whatever you have lined up today. Is the air heavy inhere? I feel like I’m choking. I’ll check the AC.”

But Kate followed her. “I figure you’ll passthe aprons sooner or later.”

Autumn shifted her lips to the side as shepondered her options. Theywereshort-handed. And she’d made a big deal about considering Kate. Maybe it wouldeven be fun having her around for the morning, even if the whole thing was abig, fat sham. She adjusted the thermostat and gestured behind the counter.“Aprons are this way.”

While Autumn handled the register, Kateoutfitted herself in a blue Cat’s Pajamas apron and returned looking ratherproud of herself. “Reporting for duty. Where would you like me?”

Autumn took a moment, because she haddefinite thoughts on the topic. Kate pulled her hair into a ponytail andnervously smoothed the front of her apron as if trying to look her mostprofessional. “Since you’re not a trained barista, let’s give you a try onregister.”

“Right. The register. Okay.”

She was anxious and doing this for Autumn.Yet again showing her generosity of spirit. “Not a big deal. I’ll give you acrash course. Honestly, most of the buttons do the job for you, and they’repretty clearly marked.”

“Thank God.”

Thirty minutes later, it was clear the buttonsystem had failed Kate. She’d struggled with most every order but was so niceto the customers they didn’t seem to mind. She’d pushed aside her shy natureand truly rose to the occasion.

“I have no idea how to get you your change,because the drawer closed and locked on me,” Kate told a local surfer chick. “Iwill figure it out, but while I do, please know that you’re gonna kill it outthere today on those waves.”

“Thanks,” the girl said, and smiledgenerously at Kate. “You can keep the change. How’s that? Solved.” And with awink to Kate, she moved on.

Unbelievable. Apparently, Autumn wasn’t theonly one Kate affected.

---