Page 74 of Average Joe

“Americano, black, no sugar,” we said at the same time.

I nodded, and she turned to make my drink. Damn. I’d guessed right. Her ass was on full display. Won’t lie. I took a good, long gander.

More headlights hit my rearview, and I looked back. Two cars waited behind me. A Prius and a Honda. More shitheads who didn’t deserve her smile.

When she returned with my drink but refused to take my money, I shoved the twenty into the tip jar, then begged, “I’ll pay you a thousand dollars right now to close shop and let me drive you home.” Meant every word, too.

Marley didn’t miss a beat. “Do you have any idea how many times a day some well-meaning asshole says that to me?”

“Fine. Two thousand if you put on a sweatshirt or something.”

“Ha. Funny.”

Through the rearview, the guy in the Prius drummed a rapid beat on the side of his car, seemingly agitated, and though I couldn’t see his eyes, I felt the burn of his glare.

I wanted to kill the man.

Instead, I asked my neighbor, “Will I see you tonight?”

Marley tugged at her bra strap, then adjusted her boob. When satisfied, she said, “Not tonight. I’ll probably crash the second I get home.”

Wrong answer. “I’ll make dinner, we’ll eat, then I’ll tuck you in, nice and early. No hanky-panky.”

She started to shake her head no, so I threw in, “I’ll bring food to your place tonight.”

Her eyes widened. “No! Not my place. Not tonight. But thanks anyway.”

Knife to the chest.

I had yet to see the inside of her home. I’d never pushed, but it had become clear that she had something to hide.

A horn honked behind me.

Marley rolled her eyes and shooed me away. I leaned out my window and turned to the car behind me.The man glared hellfire in my direction. I huffed a laugh, shifting my truck into drive, and asked, “What’s his deal?”

“He’s my first customer every morning, and he’s probably upset that you beat him to the window.”

My jaw ached from holding back profanities.

“Want me to talk to him for you?” I teased, flexing my arm and shooting her a wink.

She laughed, waving me off again. “Joe. Go.”

“Fine. See you at six. My place. Dinner.” With great effort, I rolled away before she could deny the invite.

Hackles raised, I drove around the block and parked in the alley, where I had a full view of her stand. The Prius was gone, though four different cars filled the space.

Past the lineup of eager cocks, across the intersection, a vehicle caught my attention.

An Escalade. The same silver Caddy that’d been parked outside Emerald Glow Nails. Like me, the SUV that belonged to Johan Harper was parked in the shadows, where he had a full view of Pink Sweets.

What the fuck?

I settled into my seat and lifted the coffee to my lips. Scribble on the cup caught my eye.Thank you for last night.

The knot in my gut loosened but didn’t give.

For thirty minutes, I spied. The line cleared, filled again, cleared, filled. One of Marley’s employees joined her, and the line dissipated once more. Harper chose that time to make his move, rolling up to her window.

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