Page 48 of Hearts Like Hers

“That’s my order. The lattice is important tomy routine. So, not a swirl, not a smiley face, but—”

“A lattice,” Kate finished.

Autumn joined Kate at the register and ranghim up. “Kate, welcome to Larry.”

“Wow.”

“Let me guess,” Steve said, rounding thecounter from his break and pointing at Larry. “Caramel lattice drizzle.”

“Yes, my good man,” Larry said. He moved tothe pickup station and looked back at Kate. “Since you’re not staying, makesure you take care of that apartment, young lady.”

“Will do.” A pause. “Am I supposed to commenton your age and gender now, too?”

Autumn suppressed a laugh. “And with that,you have fulfilled your last duty to the Cat’s Pajamas. Get out of here. Goenjoy your day.”

Kate untied the apron. “When do you get off?”

Autumn felt the secret shiver. “Close tosix.”

“Cool.”

That’s when something awful happened. Oliviabreezed in. “Hey, there,” she said, practically to the room at large. She tooka moment to look around. “Wow. Look at this place. Talk about a blast from thepast. I haven’t been in here in, what—three years now?”

“Just under two,” Autumn said, her mouthtight. “What can I get for you, Olivia?”

Kate went still and leaned back against thecounter, taking in the scene.

“I was just out and about, picking up anorder for the gym at a print shop not far from here, and thought I’d pop in fora little caffeinated shot in the arm.”

“An almond latte?” Autumn asked, hoping tospeed this along.

Olivia winked. “You know me well.” Shedropped her voice and moved closer to Autumn. “About the whole faking-a-date tomy wedding thing, I want you to know that it was so not a big deal. A girl’sgotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”

“I didn’t fake a date,” Autumn said. “It wasa misunderstanding.”

“Hey,” Olivia said, placing a hand overAutumn’s on the counter. “You don’t have to be strong with me. You’restruggling. I get it. Listen, Betsy’s offer to train you at the gym is stillavailable.”

Autumn saw Kate straighten in her periphery.

“The thing is, I want you to find someone whomakes you as happy as Betsy makes me, and with just a little bit of fortitude,”a cheerful smile grew on Olivia’s face, “I’m confident you can.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I gotta run.So, I’ll pick you up at six?” Kate asked, pushing off the counter.

Autumn turned, her mind struggling to keep upwith it all. Olivia had just bitch-slapped her, and Kate was referencing aconversation they’d never had, and the haze was all consuming. “Sure, yeah,”she said, absently. Before she knew what hit her, Kate pulled her in and kissedher with the precision of a Renaissance painter, a classical composer, an AmericanNinja Warrior! Holy hell, was it a good kiss, and it still wasn’t over.Oh, keep going. Please keep going.Distantly, she registered Kate’s hand moving through her hair and behind herhead, holding her in place. Distantly, because her body’s instant reaction tothe kiss occupied the forefront of her brain. Her toes tingled. Her shoulderswent slack. The most delicious of tingles moved down her spine, leaving her ina partial shimmy-shake. Kate, at last, released her, leaving Autumn grapplingfor air and equilibrium and halfway to an orgasm.

“Perhaps I’m completely uninformed,” Oliviasaid, looking between them, wildly embarrassed. She stuck out her hand to Kate.“Olivia. Autumn and I used to—”

“Date, right?” Kate said, squinting as iftrying to recall. “I feel like maybe she mentioned you once.”

Bless Kate. Bless her!

She turned back to Autumn. “Six, then? Ican’t wait.”

Autumn nodded wordlessly and watched as Katecalmly walked the length of the shop and disappeared into the Californiaafternoon. That’s when she realized that Olivia was also watching after her intotal and complete appreciation.

“I feel silly now,” Olivia told her.

Autumn, returning to herself, raised aconfident shoulder. “Don’t. Pshh. There’s no way you could have known aboutKate.”

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