Page 32 of Untethered Heart
“Can you hold these? I’ll grab the coffee.” I look back at my phone when it starts buzzing in my palm.
BETH:
!! I knew it!!
MASON:
WHAT?!?! But I didn’t get a chance to meet her and expose her to my charms yet.
BETH:
What charms?
MASON:
Ahhh many a woman find me extremely charming. TYVM
BETH:
Many a woman find you easy.
MASON:
What’s the difference?
Gage has finally managed to balance his phone, the box of pastries and his scowl in perfect synchronicity while dots stop and start over the screen.
“Here are your coffees.” A young girl with dark hair slides the coffees towards me while the first woman places a big box beside them.
“And here’s the rest of your sweets.” She smiles, and I notice the name badge on her shirt.
“Thanks, Liv.”
“Enjoy the rest of your day.” When she turns, the braid over her shoulder exposes an angry scar along her hairline, just peeking through the strands. I shake off the curiosity and pick up the coffees. I groan when I take a sip of the most delicious hazelnut macchiato I’ve ever had. “That’s a damn fine coffee.”
Gage is still scowling at his phone when we reach the car. I look over to Parlour Tricks again, but I can’t see any sign of Claire. There’s a blond guy with a blue backwards baseball cap who seems vaguely familiar. He’s walking with a bear of a man with a thick beard and another younger guy talking loudly with wildly gesturing hands, and one leg covered in tattoos. That’s an odd trio, but still no Claire. My chest deflates, but at least the coffee here is good. I can come back and try to spot Claire another day. I place the coffees in the cup holders as I settle into the car and pull out my phone.
GAGE:
Nothing happened!
BETH:
Umm, we all heard in Royal Harbour when you called her Buttercup…care to explain THAT?
I look over at my brother, waving my phone at him to explain. He picks up his coffee, turning in his seat to look out the windscreen.
“It’s nothing,” he grumbles.
It’s definitely not nothing.
Chapter eighteen
“I left some chow mein in the fridge for you for dinner,” I say as I walk into the lounge room. Claire is folded up on the couch next to my brother. Tonight we’re signing the contracts with the investor for Legacy Malt. Then the real work begins when we can start building the new distillery and transform the shed my brother currently works out of into a tasting lounge.
“Woah, mama!” Claire bobs her eyebrows at me.
“Nice one, Guppy. You clean up like a city girl.” Dylan grins.
