Page 11 of Heart's Masquerade

He chuckled and sniffed. “You assume correctly.”

“Good. I will be there soon, sir.”

Chapter Four

Jaz pulled the door open to her favorite coffeehouse and held it for her friend, Lawanda. The scent of Cherokee coffee beans hit Jaz, and she breathed them in with relish. How she needed something strong to wake her up and warm her body.

“I’m getting a cinnamon bun,” Lawanda announced as she drew up behind Jaz in the line.

Jaz faced her. “You said you were laying off them, that your butt was getting too wide.”

“Why are you reminding me?”

“Because I’m the voice of reason.” Jaz took in the few tables spread throughout the establishment and saw that every one was occupied. Not that they ever stayed anyway. They usually took their purchases back to the office to enjoy as they dove into work for the day. “If you get a cinnamon bun, you’re going to make me get one.”

Lawanda rolled her eyes. “So in other words, it’s not about me but about you?”

Jaz stuck her tongue out. “Of course.”

Lawanda shook her head. “Well at least you’re honest. I think we should both fall off the wagon for one last time.”

“You said one more time the last three.”

“Don’t be picky.”

Jaz gave up the argument she’d never win, and when she reached the front of the line, the girl behind the counter handed her a coffee. Jaz moaned and she breathed over the hot brew. “See, this is why I come here. Thanks, sweetie. You’ve saved my life another day.”

Lawanda collected her coffee and bun, and the two of them left the coffee shop. The minute Jaz stepped from the protection of the building, she jogged across L Street toward her office, Lawanda keeping in step.

Lawanda set her coffee on the tiny round table at the front of their offices, which looked out over the street. She unwrapped her bun and used a plastic knife she’d found to cut it in half. Jaz pursed her lips as she looked on. “What do you think you’re doing, miss?”

“She didn’t give you a bun, just me, so we’re sharing. I’m not getting fat by myself.”

“Men like big booties.”

“Whatever.”

Jaz removed her coat and hung it on the available hook. Then she took Lawanda’s. “Well, I know your man likes it, right? How are things going?”

Lawanda’s eyes twinkled, and Jaz had to admit to a twinge of jealousy.

“Great! It’s our fourth anniversary tomorrow, and he’s taking me to dinner.”

“Fourth?”

“Four weeks.”

Jaz laughed. “You know you’re crazy?”

“Hey, men don’t last long with me. I’m celebrating every victory.”

“I hear you.”

Jaz understood what her friend was

going through. Lawanda always drove her boyfriends away. The thing was the curvy woman was a bit too clingy. She always declared herself in love like three seconds after going out with a man, and the poor thing tended to have her heart broken often. Men didn’t like to feel they were tied down before they made the decision for themselves. Jaz was just as amazed as Lawanda that she’d hung onto the current boyfriend this long.

“So you didn’t tell him you love him?” she asked tentatively.