Page 8 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

“That’s my fault. I tried to be helpful and fill it for you.” I dared a peek at his face. “I must not have gotten the lid on correctly.”

We’d attracted attention, and several customers watched with amusement as I wiped the front of his uniform.

Clutching the wet bag, he glanced at my wet shirt and stepped back. “It’s okay.” He walked over to where Tessa was finishing up with a customer. “I spilled my coffee.”

He’d taken the blame even though the fault was probably mine.

Her shoulders sagged as she looked over at the spill. “Long night?”

“Yeah.” He stared at the empty cup in his hand.

Carrying the mop, she came around the counter. “You working nights all month?”

He nodded. “Four nights on. Two days off. All month. Next month, I won’t be a zombie.”

“Need me to get you a fresh doughnut?”

“Nah. This is fine.”

Tessa cleaned up the floor, then looked at me. “Both of you are a mess. Did y’all throw coffee at each other?”

Eli paled. “No.”

Laughing and hoping it sounded natural and not crazed, I wiped the front of my shirt. “That’s a better story than what actually happened.” I pointed at his shirt. “Need me to wash that for you? I feel awful about this.”

Tessa leaned the mop against the wall. “Do you have a clean uniform? You won’t have time for laundry.”

“I’ll figure it out.” Moments ago, Eli engaged in conversation. Now he only mumbled.

“Take off that shirt. I’ll wash it and have it ready for you when you get up.” She treated him more like a little brother than a cousin. How did she plan to run a shop and do laundry?

He stepped away from her. “I’m not taking my shirt off.” With his cup in one hand and the food in the other, he walked out the door.

“How long until he realizes he didn’t refill his cup?” I dragged the napkins across the counter.

Tessa laughed. “He’s not coming back.”

“Well, he won’t as long as I’m still here. So, I’ll see you later. I need to change and run by the house before I open up anyway.”

“Catch you later.” Tessa picked up the mop and went back behind the counter.

I stepped outside and walked down the sidewalk, pretending not to see the deputy sitting in his SUV in the parking lot.

His door swung open as I entered my store. The poor guy really needed coffee.

* * *

The lingerie businesswas busier than normal even for a Friday, and by the time I closed the doors, I was beyond exhausted. Rather than go out, I changed into my comfy flannel nightshirt. It was long and soft and perfect for when the nights got chillier.

But it wasn’t chilly outside. The calendar said it was spring, but the weather thought it was already summer.

I wore this nightshirt because it was long and not see-through. That made it the perfect thing to wear to bed here at the store. I’d been wearing this to bed even before the towel incident.

After eating my leftover brisket and doublechecking all the locks, I flopped on the bed with my romance novel.

Maybe reading about fictional characters would inspire me. I wasn’t sure how to get Eli’s attention. Correction. I had his attention. I wasn’t sure how to get him to ask me out. Making him spill his coffee wasn’t the right answer. Clearly.

It was too bad he’d refused to take off his shirt.

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