Page 29 of Unlucky in Love
Taylor carefully stacked napkins, keeping her eyes anywhere but on her best friend. “It’s no one.”
“Uh-huh.” Emma tapped her chin, pretending to think. “Tall? Brooding? Ex-Marine with a bad habit of storming into your life?”
Taylor’s head whipped around so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash. “What?”
Emma burst out laughing, clapping a hand over her mouth to keep from waking the baby. “Taylor, please. You’ve had a crush on my brother since you were ten. Did you really think I didn’t notice?”
Heat seared Taylor’s cheeks. “I—I did not—”
Emma arched a brow. “Give it up. I caught you doodling his name in your notebook once. And don’t even get me started on the way you used to stare at him in high school.”
Taylor was mortified. “That was years ago. Ancient history.”
Emma leaned forward, whispering like she was letting Taylor in on a scandal. “So it is Ryan.”
Taylor opened her mouth, ready to deny it again, but the bell over the café door jingled before she could get a word out.
Ryan strode in, sunlight at his back, like he owned the place. He spotted Emma first, gave her a nod, then crossed to the counter where Taylor stood frozen.
“Morning,” he said casually, leaning an elbow on the counter. And before Taylor could even process, he bent down and kissed her. Not a quick brush of lips, but a warm, confident kiss that left her knees weak and the entire café buzzing.
When he straightened, Taylor’s brain was scrambled eggs. Emma, however, looked like Christmas had come early.
“Oh. My. Gosh,” Emma squealed, bouncing in her seat so hard she nearly jostled the stroller. “I knew it! I knew it was you two! This is the best day of my life.”
Taylor sputtered, “Emma—”
“Nope. Don’t even try. I am so telling Mom and Dad.” Emma scooped up her diaper bag with terrifying efficiency. “Actually, I’m telling everyone. By dinner tonight, the entire Carter family will know that my best friend and my brother are finally making out like hormonal teenagers.”
Ryan smirked, utterly unfazed. “Morning, sis.”
Emma wagged a finger at him as she wheeled the stroller toward the door. “Don’t you dare mess this up. She’s family, Ryan. Family.”
Taylor was still stuck somewhere between mortified and melting into a puddle behind the counter.
Emma grinned wickedly at her on the way out. “I told you you were glowing.”
The bell jingled again as she left, her laughter trailing behind her like a victory song.
Taylor groaned and dropped her face into her hands. “I’m never living this down.”
Ryan just chuckled, reached across the counter, and stole one of her muffins. “Told you I’d see you today.”
Taylor’s hands flew to her mouth. “Are you crazy? You can’t just kiss me in front of the whole town like that. There will be repercussions.”
Ryan leaned on the counter like he’d just ordered a latte, unbothered. “God, I hope so. If I openly stake my claim, then maybe your secret admirer will run away.”
Her jaw dropped. “Stake your claim? This isn’t medieval times! And hey—” she jabbed a finger at him “—I happen to like all the fun gifts I’m being given. What if he’s my soul mate and you’ve run him off?”
A throat cleared loudly behind them.
Taylor turned and found Mrs. Abernathy from the quilting circle standing there, arms crossed, glaring at Ryan like he’d just tracked mud across her best rug. “Young man, you do not stake claims on women. That’s barbaric.”
Ryan blinked. “I didn’t mean—”
“And you,” Mrs. Abernathy said, swiveling to Taylor, “soul mates don’t leave notes under café chairs like cowards. They bring flowers and pies and show up on your doorstep.”
“How did you know about the notes—”
