Page 16 of You Are Enough

“Thank you. What can I help you with?”

Leila ordered a half dozen donuts, a cinnamon roll, and some coffee.

“How’s your week been?” Desiree asked as she boxed up her order. The door chimed, announcing the arrival of another customer.

“Surprisingly, it’s been great. Sky’s even been really cooperative. Not her usually fussy self.”

“Sky? Who’s Sky?”

Leila jerked toward the unexpected addition to their conversation and shook her head. Well, the daywasgoing well. Then there was this.

Adler was next to her, leaning against the counter. His hair looked like he’d just climbed out of bed and went to sleep with it wet, yet there was an organized look to the chaos. He wore black pants and a green polo withWarfield Meatsembroidered on the breast pocket—relaxed, yet business casual, and he carried it with his typical air of egocentric conceit which boiled her blood.

“It’s none of your business who Skylar is.” She turned to Desiree. “How much?” She reached up and took her coffee, sipping it carefully, suddenly needing the caffeine.

“Add hers to my tab,” Adler interjected.

Her gaze shot to him. “No thank you.” Venom dripped from her voice. “I don’t need a handout from you, and I sure don’twantone either.” Raising an eyebrow, she took a step back from the counter. She hadn’t known she could sound that hateful. But also, decisive. She shrugged inwardly. Maybe she should sound that decisive more often. She liked it.

He pushed off the counter and turned his full attention to her. “It’s not a handout. It’s a friend giving to another friend.”

Leila took money from her purse. “Well then save it for a friend. That’s not us.”

“Come on, we’ve danced, we’ve talked,” he raised his brow and smirked, “we’ve touched, and we’ve had dinner.” His hands were out, palms up, and he gave her that smile.

She lifted her eyes toward the ceiling. “I’m sure that smile works on others, but I know better. Put it back in your pants. You’re wasting your time.” She faced him, square on. “We were forced to dance, which made us talk, and the touching was not something we both enjoyed, and we had burgers at your house with everyone else. Don’t make it sound like a date.” She slapped her money on the counter.

He brushed it away.

She breathed deeply and drummed her fingers on the glass. “Take my money, Des.” She slid the cash across the counter.

“You know what I think?” Desiree asked, looking at Leila while ignoring Adler. “I think if someone’s this determined to pay for you, you should just let him. Your refusal has already hurt his ego, but we both know it takes a guy with brains to know when to give up. Trust me. That’s not Adler. There’s only one brain he thinks with, and it’s not the one in his head. Well, the head that sits on his shoulders.” Desiree winked.

Leila bit her lips, holding back a laugh. “You’re right.” She grabbed her money from the counter and turned her attention to Adler. “Thanks, but don’t think this means anything.” Shegrabbed her box of baked goods. “Elizabeth and Mrs. Stanzel say thank you, also.” She tilted her head at him, said bye to Desiree, and grabbed her coffee before walking out the door and crossing the street.

Desiree’s chuckled. “I can’t believe it.”

“What?” asked Adler. “I’ll take two dozen glazed donuts.”

Desiree shook her head and started boxing up the donuts. “You like her.” The first box was filled, and she started on the second one. “I thought you were acting weird yesterday. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I see it now.”

Adler leaned on the counter and shook his head. “No, it’s not like that” He really hoped he sounded more convincing.

“Yeah, well fine, but promise me two things.”

What could he possibly promise her? “What?” He turned and faced her.

She held up one finger. “One. Let’s not be weird when we see each other. We need to be friends always.”

“Of course. It won’t be weird, and friends sounds great,” he promised.

“I’m not done. That was all in number one. Two. Leila is a sweet, innocent girl. Don’t hurt her. She has her daughter and will always choose her.”

Adler took a step back. Daughter? Did he hear that right? His heart plummeted in his chest, and his hands became clammy. He rubbed them on the back of his pants, shaking his head as he dug through what he knew about Leila but came up blank. He’d never heard that she had a daughter. She hadn’t said a thing.

A laugh escaped from Desiree. “You look like you just found out she’s a serial murderer. I’m guessing you didn’t know she’s a mom.”

He stared and hoped his heart would start up again. “Why didn’t she ever say anything? Not once did she mention it.”

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