Page 57 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

I struggled to form a coherent thought. Torn between running far from him since he was with the police department, and throwing myself at him because he was incredibly attractive, I basically froze and went with option C. None of the above. “Uh, hi.”

“Hi,” he repeated.

“I’m kind of dying here,” said the woman in the red dress to whom I’d given a medium-size coffee rather than the small her husband had pushed for. She was looking at Stratton and me but on the phone with someone. “This is so sweet it’s making my teeth hurt.”

“Dana, is he okay?” asked Faye.

Dana eyed Stratton. “Not even sure he’s realized he took a cup of steaming-hot coffee to the chest and other special places. He’s swept up in the new barista, Moon Beam.”

“Star Child,” corrected Peggy.

Angela laughed. “Astria.”

“What?” I asked fast, jerking closer to Stratton for some unknown reason.

That earned me a growl from Torid’s direction.

I refrained from growling back although I really wanted to.

Torid vanished and reappeared near me, swaying as he watched Stratton.I still don’t like…him.

“Stop. Wait? Still?” I asked, causing a question to form on Stratton’s face. “Not you. Uh, I was talking to myself. Are you okay? Do you need medical assistance? I’ll get Peggy. Tell her it’s a war injury. She’ll help.”

Stratton chuckled, the sound deep and sexy. “I’m fine. I swear.”

“Yeah,” said Jeffrey. “His hair didn’t get messed up, so all is right in his world still. How does he get his hair to do that?”

“You sound jealous of him, sweetheart,” said his mother. “You do realize you’re mated, and your wife loves you.”

“I do love him,” said Dana. “But even I have to admit that Stratton is a hottie.”

“Oh, well, yes,” said Faye. “He is. No one is saying you can’t admire the scenery, hon. I’m sure to look my fill.”

“Me too,” said Angela.

Stratton’s cheeks turned red. The act disarmed me.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Torid growled at Stratton once more.

Peggy laughed. “Hell, even I sneak a peek at the boy every now and then. I’m old. Not dead. Handsome fellow. Did he ask you out yet?”

“I thought you told us to stop playing matchmakers,” said Faye.

Peggy smiled. “Changed my mind seeing the two of them standing so close. Theywouldmake a cute couple.”

I took a large step back and pulled my wrist free from Stratton in the process. Realizing I still had the towel, I thrust it at him, standing there like a fool. “Here.”

“Thanks.” Stratton eased the towel from me, a devil-may-care grin spreading over his handsome face. It was a grin I’d seen before. I was sure of it. Weirdly, thoughts of Shaggy Professor popped into my head.

“Need anything else?” I asked, knowing it was best I put distance between myself and the man.

He patted his shirt with the towel, totally missing the spot with the coffee as he stared at me, not what he was doing. “I’m good. Thank you.”

Dana grunted, holding the phone from her ear. “Marcy says ‘yes, Astria would love to go to dinner with you tonight.’ So ask her already.”

Stratton raised a brow as Peggy took the towel from him. “It’s like they want to make this as uncomfortable as possible.”

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