Page 15 of A Mate Betrayed

“Ready?”

She turned and nodded.“I think you promised me the best coffee around.”

“That I did.”

Daire walked over to the credenza and slipped his wallet in one of the back pants pockets and cell phone in the other.Then he held out his hand to her and Kinleigh slipped hers into his.After he helped her into his truck, he reached over to secure her with the seat belt and then gave her a quick peck on the lips.She checked him as he sauntered around the front of the truck and slid behind the wheel.

“So,” he began as he headed down his driveway.“What are your plans for the evening?”

“I’m not sure.What areyourplans?”

“I was hoping to convince a certain beautiful honey-blonde woman I know to have dinner with me.”

“Oh, anyone I know?”

“Maybe,” he teased.“She’s beautiful.”

“You said that already.”

“Yes, but it bears repeating,” he said.“She has sky-blue eyes.A very cute button nose.And little angel kisses over her cheeks.”

“Angel kisses?”

“Some people call them freckles.”

“Ah,” Kinleigh said, acting like she knew who he was talking about.“I think that rules out Esmeralda.”

“You are definitely right about that.”

“Linda?Abby?Sue?Ginger?”

“Do you know a Linda, Abby, Sue or Ginger?”

“No.Do you?”

“I think my first-grade teacher was named Sue, but no, not her.Or them.I’ll give you a hint.”He leaned closer, like he was going to whisper a secret.“She’s a good kisser.”

“Is she?”

He nodded “The best.”

“Really?The best?”

“Bestest of the best.”He pulled into a spot in front of a coffeehouse, turned off the engine, and then moved closer.“I don’t know if you realized it or not, but you blew my socks off, lady.”

She batted her eyelashes.“Would you like me to blow something else tonight?”

“And now I’m gonna walk around all day with a hard-on.Thank you for that, Miss Shire.”

She winked, then exited the truck cab.He came around to open the door to the coffee shop for her.

“Thank you, kind sir.”

“Of course, milady.”

Inside the coffee shop, a bubbly redhead waved at them.

“Hi, Daire,” she greeted.“Hi, Daire’s friend.”

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